Our College Counseling Philosophy
In the College Office at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS), we help each student find institutions that will challenge, empower, and inspire them to grow as ethical leaders and lifelong learners. As part of the college research and application process, we encourage our students to explore new ways of envisioning themselves and think about options for the future that they may not have considered before. This process is personal and specific to each student and each institution. At ECFS, we know that finding the right post-secondary home is about finding the best match for each individual student.
College Counseling Program at ECFS
ECFS’s formal college counseling program begins in 11th Grade (Form V) with programming that addresses the processes, timelines, and opportunities within college research and application. The College Office offers early exposure and programming for 9th (Form III) and 10th Grade (Form IV) students and their families, including an initial introduction to general college planning tools, support, standardized test prep, and research. This early awareness is valuable for getting to know the College Office and its counselors, as well as understanding the college admissions timeline.
We take pride in helping students explore career paths and academic interests through a variety of programs and resources, such as individualized college counseling, career exploration workshops, and experiential learning opportunities that connect academic learning with real-world applications. This all ultimately helps our students to make informed college choices.
Director of College Counseling Akosua Yeboah states, “Fieldston students feel and are so well prepared for academics at the most rigorous institutions and are well suited to invest in their communities because of what they learned and experienced here at ECFS. What sets Fieldston applicants apart is not only the depth and breadth of academic experiences but also the strong sense of purpose and community they carry with them. It is not just what we teach but how we teach and the relationships graduates develop with their teachers. This is true from their very first semester of college.”
Meet Our College Counseling Team
ECFS has a strong and dedicated team of educators who grow to know each student’s strengths, interests, and goals in order to find the best post-secondary match. Our college counselors have worked in undergraduate admission offices at highly selective universities and across the spectrum of student-services and our families can be confident that this extensive knowledge of the college admissions process will be valuable to each student and their family. Ultimately, our goal is to use our combined expertise to provide the essential tools for a successful and positive college search experience.
Meet the team
Akosua Yeboah
Director of College Counseling
Samara Antolini
Associate Director of College Counseling
Noelle Bellamy
Associate Director of College Counseling
Fritz Burgher
Associate Director of College Counseling
Rachel Ehrlich
Associate Director of College Counseling/Ethics Department Chair
Avram Schlesinger
Associate Director of College Counseling
Zoraida Montanez
Manager of College Counseling Services
Where Our Graduates Go: College Destinations
The list linked below represents the educational institutions where our students have matriculated over the past five years.
Alumni spotlight
ECFS alumni are living the mission of our School long after graduation. Get to know our impressive alumni community through these interviews with our valued Eagles.
Click here to read about what our alumni are up to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ECFS College Office provide support and resources for the college application process?
How does the ECFS College Office provide support and resources for the college application process?
As counselors, we take a student-centered approach, tailoring our program to meet each student’s needs and allowing them to find the right fit for success after ECFS. The College Office provides individualized meetings with students, presentations on the college admissions process, campus visits and panels from admissions representatives, and a formal College Symposium for 11th Grade students and parents/guardians. Students receive personalized support when researching colleges, selecting schools that align with their educational and professional aspirations, preparing for interviews, writing effective essays, and applying for financial aid and scholarships as applicable. Beginning in 11th Grade, students have access to Scoir, a platform for researching and comparing colleges, managing deadlines, and tracking their college applications.
What kind of support does ECFS offer for standardized testing (SAT/ACT)?
What kind of support does ECFS offer for standardized testing (SAT/ACT)?
The College Office recommends standardized test prep for many students every year as it provides familiarity with the format of these exams. The testing timeline varies for every student; some may begin in the summer before junior year, while others choose to wait until the fall/spring of their junior year. Via an established partnership with a test prep company, ECFS administers both the PSAT and mock ACT test for all students in the spring semester of 10th Grade. With guidance from the College Office, students can use the results from this test and those from the PSAT to determine whether the SAT or the ACT is a better fit for them.
ECFS students also have the opportunity to enroll in a College Office and Bespoke Education partnership test-prep course for either the ACT or the SAT during their junior year. Students whose families are receiving financial aid at ECFS are able to take the course at no charge.
When should students start preparing for college?
When should students start preparing for college?
Our ECFS team recommends starting to prepare for college as 9th Graders. While the formal college application program begins in 11th Grade, laying a foundation early on with strong academics, exploring interests, and building a meaningful extracurricular profile can significantly ease the transition and prepare students for their ultimate application to and matriculation into college.
What makes ECFS’s college counseling program unique?
What makes ECFS’s college counseling program unique?
Our college counseling program prioritizes an intimate, student-centered approach that focuses on individual needs and aspirations, encouraging students to explore options they may not have initially considered. Our counselors build strong partnerships with students’ parents/guardians to both communicate progress and advocate for them. We aim to help students find high-quality institutions where they can grow as ethical leaders and lifelong learners, rather than emphasizing prestige or rankings.