College Counseling

College Counseling

Finding the Right Fit

At Porter-Gaud School, the college search focus is on fit, not name recognition or prestige.

We encourage our students to take ownership of their college search and explore a variety of college options to discover which characteristics are important to fostering their continued growth and development.

Comprehensive College Planning

The College Counseling Office seeks to advance the school’s mission by acting as advisers and advocates, empowering students to embrace opportunities throughout their years in Upper School so they can grow confidently in a sense of purpose, a love of learning, and a commitment to service. With personal support, we nurture self-reflection and resilience, assisting students in navigating the journey of self-discovery, exploration, goal-setting, and decision-making.

Our structured advising program is divided into two phases:

Self-Discovery (9th - 10th Grades) - We facilitate student self exploration and discovery and encourage students to embrace their academic environment, establish healthy habits, and embrace their passions. We provide time and space for introspection and goal setting where students can reflect on their individual strengths and areas for growth.
Applying Your Potential (11th - 12th Grades) - Utilizing the momentum fueled by students’ introspection and growth, juniors and seniors are empowered to maximize and apply their potential. In addition to continued opportunities for self-discovery and reflection, junior year is dedicated to exploring college options that align with students’ personal attributes, support their intellectual growth, and provide exciting options for continued education. By senior year, students understand the college admissions process and confidently present themselves in their applications to the best of their ability.

Our College Counseling Team

Jennie Harris

Director of College Counseling

Jennie Harris joined Porter-Gaud in 2019 and has served as the Director of College Counseling since July 2022. In this role, Ms. Harris is dedicated to working with each of our students in some capacity as they navigate the college admissions process. Previously, she served as Porter-Gaud’s Associate Director of College Counseling. She also worked at Wake Forest University as the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admissions prior to joining us at PG. She holds a BA from Wake Forest University.

P: 843.402.4702

Shannon Page

Registrar/Database Manager

Shannon Page joined Porter-Gaud as the Upper School Registrar/Database Administrator in 2024. She is the resource for families with regard to transcripts, South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy, and Blackbaud. Previously, Mrs. Page taught at Charleston Day and held various roles at Qingdao No. 1 International School in China, including Lower School Principal. Before that, she worked at A. B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary in Raleigh as a teacher and Technology Coordinator. Mrs. Page holds a BA from Longwood University and an M.Ed. from Endicott College.

P: 843.402.4710

Alex LeBlanc

Associate Director of College Counseling

Alex LeBlanc joined Porter-Gaud in 2022, where she works with upperclassmen as they formally apply to colleges and with ninth grade students as they begin the college search process. Additionally, Ms. LeBlanc works directly with students interested in specialized areas of collegiate athletics and art and music schools. She grew up in Columbia, SC, is a graduate of Cardinal Newman High School, and holds a BA from Winthrop University. Prior to joining Porter-Gaud, Ms. LeBlanc was the Director of Recruitment at Savannah College of Art & Design, and an Admission Counselor for Georgetown College in Kentucky.

P: 843.402.4758

Emily Wingfield

Administrative Assistant for College Counseling/Registrar

Ms. Wingfield joined Porter-Gaud in 2024 as the Administrative Assistant for College Counseling/Registrar. They work with the rest of the College Counseling team to ensure students are supported and empowered throughout the college process. They also serve as the Upper School’s Testing Coordinator. Prior to joining PG, Ms. Wingfield worked in Marketing and Communications in the nonprofit sector. They hold a BA in History with a minor in Education from Arcadia University.

P: 843.402.4805

Timeline

Ninth Grade Year
College Counseling begins in ninth grade and is part of the year-long Ninth-Grade Experience curriculum. Students are encouraged to explore courses, clubs, and activities that both challenge and engage them. In the fall, students and families attend Ninth Grade College Night, which outlines our comprehensive college planning approach and features a keynote speaker to help demystify the world of college admissions. In the spring, the PSAT 8/9 is administered.
Tenth Grade Year
We encourage sophomores to build on their progress from ninth grade and focus on life as students, not on the college search. Sophomores have opportunities to touch base through both structured meetings during study halls and more informal conversation-based meetings with college counselors and peers. Students and families attend Sophomore College Night, where experts from different colleges and universities give workshops on a wide variety of college admissions topics. Sessions help to debunk admissions myths and cover how to create an appropriate college list, plan college visits, and approach standardized testing. Sophomores take the PreACT in the spring.
Eleventh Grade Year
Juniors begin to explore a variety of colleges and start to craft a list of schools that might meet their criteria. They also have the opportunity to meet college representatives who visit the Porter-Gaud campus throughout the fall. Juniors take the PSAT in October and are encouraged to take both the SAT and ACT at least once during the school year. Students and families also attend the Junior College Night in the fall, which is designed to kickoff the college application process. Additionally, students meet with their college counselor one-on-one about their personal application process.
Twelfth Grade Year
Senior College Night kicks off application season in August. Counselors meet with students as needed to refine college lists and touch base about the application process, teacher recommendations, and standardized testing plans based on a student’s list of colleges. Most deadlines for early action and early decision are in November and December of senior year, and regular decision deadlines are typically in January. While the actual process of applying to colleges winds down with January application deadlines, the conversation around fit and where to enroll continues through the spring. Students will meet with college counselors throughout the spring to discuss options and where to enroll by the May 1 national deposit deadline. We then celebrate the accomplishments of our seniors as they head out to make a difference in the world!

For College Reps

We are delighted that you are interested in meeting our students at Porter-Gaud! You can sign up here for visits in SCOIR. We offer either in person or virtual visits.

If your school is offering virtual admissions events through your own admissions page and you would prefer that students register for those sessions for their visit, please let us know and we will gladly point interested students to your website.

If you have questions about your visit or are not able to find a time that best suits your schedule, please contact our office.

Thank you for thinking of Porter-Gaud, and we look forward to seeing you soon!