Secondary School Counseling

The Secondary School Counseling Office assists ninth graders and their parents in the process of selecting a secondary school to attend following graduation from Cardigan.

Working with information gathered from students, parents, teachers, advisors, coaches, and dorm parents, a list of suggested appropriate schools is compiled by the placement director and international student placement director and sent to you in the summer preceding your son’s ninth-grade year. During the fall, representatives from approximately 80 secondary schools visit Cardigan to talk with interested students.

Families should plan to visit and interview at a series of schools before applying to a limited number—usually no more than six to eight schools. The counseling office is also responsible for assembling and mailing a placement packet for each student which includes recommendation letters from teachers, a transcript showing all term grades earned at Cardigan (including the ninth grade fall term), SSAT scores from the ninth grade, a graded writing sample (if required by the secondary school), and a general recommendation letter drafted jointly by the head of school and the director of counseling or director of international student counseling.  

Seniors should conduct their visits to schools on Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day (also known as Sandwich Fair Day at Cardigan, there are no classes), during the Fall Term Long Weekend, and if necessary, the week following Thanksgiving Recess. During these visits, students should interview with prospective secondary schools, as interviews are required for admission. All arrangements for these visits are to be made with permission of the dean of student life and the director of placement.

Boys and their families should plan on completing their portion of the application process by January 1.

Testing

The Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) is administered to the ninth grade on October 13, November 10, and is optional on December 8. Cardigan’s Secondary School Counseling office registers students for these test dates. Any requests for special accommodations should be forwarded to the director of secondary school placement and the director of studies.

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