BPCS High Student Life
For high school students, advisory class combines curriculum with activities, discussions, and reflections to help students develop open minds, persistence in learning, caring attitudes, and the ability to reflect and think critically about themselves and their world. Students meet regularly to hone interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, improve personal and academic organization, and explore possible career opportunities. Our advisory curriculum is geared to help students succeed as individual members of the global community.
To complement their academic study, Brooklyn Prospect students are also expected to lead themselves in developing their full potential in arts, sports, and other domains. Each campus provides ample opportunity for students to pursue interests beyond traditional academic subjects, both inside and outside of the classroom. Our Downtown Brooklyn elementary students explore dance, art, community, and world language. At the Windsor Terrace middle and high school campus, students can participate in or take leadership roles in over 30 extracurricular student organizations and athletic teams.
College Counseling
The college counseling program at BPCS takes advantage of our small size to provide individualized counseling for each student. Through 1:1 family meetings, college prep presentations and family workshops, students and parents are actively and intrinsically involved in the college admissions process.
At BPHS, we seek to ensure that each student pursuing a post-secondary education is able to do so at a college or university that is best suited to his or her unique goals. Our college counseling program is designed to introduce students to the admissions process as early as 9th grade so that by 12th grade, each student is fully equipped with all the necessary tools to submit a competitive entrance application to a range of colleges and universities. We want to help our students find schools that are academically, financially and socially a good ‘fit’ for their interests and needs.
9th Grade
In the first year of high school, students continue to engage with the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program. As students look towards the upperclassmen years, they may meet with our school guidance counselor to plan a course track that best prepares them for success in high school and beyond. Meanwhile, special advisory courses build the study habits and analytical skills needed for students to be highly successful in high school and prepared for college.
10th Grade
By the spring semester of the second year of high school, students and families attend 1:1 meetings with their college counselor to begin charting an individualized college application plan. Starting with an introductory workshop to the college admissions process in the winter of the 10th grade, parents have the opportunity to take part in a series of workshops throughout the 10th, 11th, and 12th grade years. These presentations cover topics ranging from identifying best fit colleges to the completion of financial aid forms. Through advisory class, students acclimate to all elements of the college application and learn how best to navigate the Common Application. They are introduced to the online college planning software, Naviance, in the spring of their 10th grade year, so they may launch their college searches and explore the wealth of options available. Students can also sign up for campus visits and college tours, arranged by the school’s college counseling department.
11th Grade
During this critical year, students continue to meet with their college counselor on a regular basis and work on crafting their potential application list. 11th grade students increase their knowledge base by attending talks held at the school featuring college admissions officers, touring college campuses on their own, and attending school-organized campus visits in the spring. Using the Naviance college planning software, 11th grade students also begin to explore their interests as they brainstorm possible majors and/or career paths. To best prepare students to pursue these options, students discuss college and other post-secondary options in their advisory course. In addition to this preparatory work in advisory, an after school SAT prep course is offered through the winter and spring.
12th Grade
12th grade students work with their college counselor to finalize application lists in the fall. Then, with the assistance of their advisor, each senior takes time during advisory class to complete college applications, plan campus visits, and search and apply to various scholarship opportunities. To ensure that each student graduates with an exciting and affordable post-secondary path ahead of them, students and families may take part in financial aid workshops to complete and submit all financial aid paperwork.
For Admissions Representatives
Brooklyn Prospect hosts admissions visitors throughout the fall and spring semesters. All representatives interested in scheduling a visit to BPCS should contact our College Counseling Team at collegecounselor@brooklynprospect.org.
- Enuma Menkiti: Head of College Counseling
- Tony Wright: College Counselor
- John Ianniello: Senior Internship Coordinator (Leave Replacement for Ms. Menkiti)
- Jamie Vaughan: College Counselor