College Counseling

College Counseling

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Welcome

Taft views the college counseling process as an integral part of the school's educational mission because the process is rich in opportunities for student learning and growth. In college counseling, we are committed to supporting students along the college application journey; we want every student to attend a great-fit college. Taft students invest a lot of time and energy into many important creative and intellectual pursuits, and when met with the question, “What’s next after Taft?” we take our roles as educators around the college process very seriously. We work hard to get to know colleges and universities as well as college admissions officers so that we can best advise students throughout the process.

Importantly, the college process at Taft is about more than just applying to college. In today’s world, it is very important that students know how to articulate their own stories and dreams, as well as their understanding of their place in the communities in which they exist. College counseling works in concert with the goals of the Portrait of a Graduate to teach students how to engage with this process using a growth mindset and self-reflection. It is important that students know how to articulate their story — their values, experiences, and dreams — to admissions officers. But understanding oneself is a lifelong skill that will serve them well long after the college process.

While engaging in this type of reflection, the college office encourages students and families to stay open-minded and thoughtful throughout the process. The college counselors help students think through the various stages of the college application process while also encouraging them to dig deeper within themselves to use this process as an opportunity for growth.

Meet Our Team

Lydia Mann

Lydia Mann

Director of College Counseling
Carla Ambrosini

Carla Ambrosini

Testing Coordinator
Steffon Gales

Steffon Gales

Associate Director of College Counseling
Catherine Ganung

Catherine Ganung

Senior Associate Director of College Counseling
Cheryl Gatling-Galloway

Cheryl Gatling-Galloway

Administrative Assistant, College Counseling
Jon Gottsegen

Jon Gottsegen

Associate Director of College Counseling
Max Rosner

Max Rosner

Associate Director of College Counseling

"The college process is often thought of as a series of steps: research schools, visit, take tests, apply, and choose. However, when done well, the college process is also a time when you can get to know yourself better. You get to examine where you've come from and dream about where you are going. The college office at Taft will encourage you to use this process as a time for larger personal growth that will serve you well long after you have graduated from college."

—lydia Mann, Director of College Counseling

Fast Fact

More than 100 representatives of colleges visit Taft each year, giving students the opportunity to learn about them and enabling the counselors to maintain the rapport and professional understanding that marks Taft's relationship with these colleges. The excellence of our academic program leads to outstanding options for students' post secondary education.