The Path to Graduation
The Class of 2005 was Monte del Sol's very first graduating class and since that time we have developed a strong and successful strategy to guide students towards Graduation and beyond.
At the end-of-year 8th Grade parent conferences, Advisors go over the Four Year Plan through High School with all parents and students to prepare each one for their high school career at Monte del Sol. The path to graduation begins in earnest in the Fall of 10th Grade when all students take the PLAN (practice ACT) test.
In 11th Grade, students take the PSAT test in October and in January of the Junior year we begin to discuss post-graduation options using test scores and five semester's worth of grades to help us guide each individual student, set goals, and take corrective measures as necessary. Approximately 92% of Monte del Sol's graduates attend college--about 20% percent begin their higher education at Santa Fe Community College and 70% go to four-year colleges here in New Mexico and across the nation. The remaining 10% choose to take either a 'gap' year or begin working right away.
Also during the Junior year, we invite parents and students to attend College Night where we provide information on all aspects of the college application process, (considering options, research, visiting colleges, testing, completing applications, financial aid and merit scholarships). The College Guidance Counselor meets with all Juniors and their families in order to determine the next steps in the process. Some students may not be considering college and therefore we discuss their future training and occupational goals.
In Senior Year, students meet with college representatives who visit Monte del Sol and begin work on college applications and essays. The Guidance Counselor is available to meet with students to discuss appropriate college choices, proofread applications and edit essays. We encourage all students to meet with the Guidance Counselor at least once during the Fall Semester of Senior Year and as often as necessary as the decision-making process continues.
Below is a list (in alphabetical order) of all the universities and colleges who have accepted Monte del Sol students since our first graduating class. Please note that one or more Seniors may have been accepted by these universities.
College Acceptances
A
Allegheny, American Dramatic and Musical Academy,Ny, American University, Wash. DC., American University, School of Internationals Relations, Antioch College, Arizona Animation Institute, Arizona State Univeristy, Art Institute of Chicago, Art Institute of Colorado, Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, Austin College.
B
Bard College, Beloit College, Bennington College, Berklee School of Music, Boston University
C
Cal. State Poly., SLO; Carnegie Mellon University, College of Santa Fe, Colgate University, Colorado College, Colorado Mountain College, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Columbia College of Art, Chicago, Cooper Union, Cornish School of the Arts, Culinary Institute of America. CU, Boulder (Honors)
D
DePaul University, Dickinson College, Drew University. Duke University
E
Earlham College, Eckerd College, Elon University, Emerson College, Emily Carr Institute of Fine Arts, Vancouver, Eugene Lang College, Evergreen State
F
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Fordham University, Ft. Lewis College
G
George Washington University; Goucher College, Grinnell College
H
Hamilton College, Hamline University, Hampshire College, Hendrix College
I
Ithaca College
J
Johnson & Wales University
K
Kalamazoo College, Knox College
L
Lafayette, Lake Forest College, Lewis & Clark College, Long Island University (Friends World College), Loyola Marymount University, Ca., Loyola University of New Orleans
M
Macalester College, St. Paul, Maine College of Art, Marlboro College, Maryland Institute College of Art, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), McGill University, Mills College, Millikin College, Montana State University
N
Naropa University, New College of Florida, New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech), New York University (Tisch School of Film), New College of Florida; Northeastern University, Northern Arizona University, Northland College, North Carolina School of The Arts
O
Occidental College, Oklahoma City University, Oregon College of Arts & Crafts, Otis School of Art and Design
P
Pacific Northwest College of Art, Parsons, Pitzer College, Portland State University, Pratt Institute, Principia College, Prescott College
R
Reed College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rhode Island School of Design, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, Rollins College.
S
San Antonio Community College, Santa Barbara, Santa Fe Community College, Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Sarah Lawrence College, Savannah College of Art & Design, Scherer Institute of Natural Healing, NM, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Scripps College, Seattle University, Skidmore College. Sonoma State, John's College, Annapolis, Md., St. John's College, NM., St. Mary's College, Morago, Ca., SUNY, Platsburg, SUNY Purchase.
T
Trinity College, Tufts University
U
United World College, NM., United World College, Singapore, United World College, Wales, Universal Technical Institute, University of Arizona, University of California at Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Los Angeles, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz., University of Colorado, University of Denver, University of Hawaii, University of Maine, University of Malaga, Spain, University of Massachusettes, Amherst, University of New Mexico, University of Oregon, University of Portland, University of Puget Sound, University of Redlands, University of Rochester, University of San Francisco, University of University of Texas, Austin, University of Victoria, BC, University of Washington
V
Vassar, Virginia Tech
W
Warren Wilson College, Wesleyan University, West Virginia University, Western NM University, Western Washington University, Wheaton College, Whitman College, Whittier College, Willamette University