- 40:1 Student-to-Counselor ratio
- 81% admitted to a top 3 choice of destination
- 100% receive personalized, comprehensive support
Navigating the Journey
WPS College Pathways
Willows Prep Graduates
Our College Acceptances
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American University Amherst College Arizona State University Bard College Bates College Baylor University Bentley College Cal Poly Pomona Cal Poly SLO Case Western Reserve University Central Washington University Colby College Colorado University Boulder Durham University (UK) Eastern Washington University Emerson College Evergreen State College Florida International University Florida State University Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering George Washington University Gettysburg College Gonzaga University Knox College Lehigh University London School of Economics (UK) Loyola University Chicago Marist College McGill University (CA) Middlebury College Michigan State University Northeastern University Occidental College Ohio State University Oregon State University Pace University Pennsylvania State University Purdue University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology Rutgers University San Jose State University Santa Clara University Seattle Pacific University Seattle University Seton Hall University St. Lawrence University St. Martin’s University State University of New York Texas A&M University of Arizona |
University of British Columbia (CA) University of California Davis University of California Irvine University of California Los Angeles University of California Merced University of California Riverside University of California San Diego University of California Santa Barbara University of California Santa Cruz University of Durham (UK) University of Edinburgh (UK) University of Florida University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Indiana Bloomington University of Iowa University of La Verne University of Leeds (UK) University of Manchester (UK) University of Maryland College Park University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Miami University of Minnesota Twin Cities University of Notre Dame University of Oregon University of Portland University of Puget Sound University of San Diego University of Southern California University of St Andrews (UK) University of Texas Austin University of Toronto (CA) University of Virginia University of Washington Bothell University of Washington Seattle University of Washington Tacoma University of Waterloo (CA) University of Wisconsin Madison University of York (UK) Vassar College Virginia Tech Waseda University (Japan) Washington State University Western Washington University Whitman College Whitworth University Willamette University Soka University of America Southern Oregon University Swarthmore College Syracuse University Tufts University |
Strategic Support
& Personalized Guidance
HUB OF COMMUNICATION
At Willows Prep, our college counseling office is strategically located at the very center of the main building, allowing for not only students of all grades but also parents to freely and organically engage with their counselor at any time of the day.
STRATEGIC GUIDANCE
Starting in middle school, students and parents start collaborating with their counselor to develop individualized long-term roadmaps and manage extracurricular resources.
Notable statistics (as of June 2025):
- Our high school student-to-counselor ratio is 40:1 (compared to WA state average 441:1)
- The average SAT score of our Class of 2026 is 1453.3 (equivalent to national 97th percentile)
- More than 90% of our high school students are actively involved in nonprofit volunteerism
A Comprehensive Approach
General Timeline
The journey to college at Willows Prep is well-structured, with a timeline of activities across 8th to 12th grades. These orchestrated milestones aid students in discovering their strengths, interests, and identifying colleges that best align with their aspirations.
Nurturing Organic Interests
During middle school years, students are guided to learn about the world outside of school and discover intellectual/academic interests. Attending Career Fairs, engaging in explorative activities, and observing how high school students interact with their counselor, students organically become comfortable with sharing their passions and discussing what intrigues them with the adults around them.
Extracurricular Exploration
At the same time, students are strongly encouraged to explore and participate in a diverse range of extracurricular activities. Parents actively communicate with their counselor to discuss optimal ways to facilitate their students’ extracurricular endeavors according to a long-term plan, ultimately leading towards a post-secondary pathway.
Developing Fundamental Skills
In preparation for our particularly rigorous IB curriculum, middle school students are guided to understand their strengths and weaknesses, build sustainable learning habits, and develop impactful executive functioning skills that can empower them to thrive throughout their WPS experience and beyond.
Establishing Communication
At the beginning of high school, every family has an individual kickoff meeting with their college counselor, during which they help the counselor understand their background and interests, identify areas in which they would need support, and build rapport as a team.
Forming a 4-Year Roadmap
In collaboration with their counselor, each family puts together a 4-year roadmap for their student, incorporating timelines for extracurricular activities, standardized testing, etc. This roadmap will align with school coursework and other school endeavors for optimal efficiency.
Kickstart College Exploration
As high school freshmen, students start participating in college prep events, such as College Rep Visits and College Fair field trips. During these events, students get the chance to not only firsthand learn about higher education, but also listen to the questions that the seniors and juniors ask, and open lines of communication with college representatives to showcase demonstrated interest.
Continued Growth with Ownership
In their second year of high school, students become increasingly comfortable with the pace and expectations of our IB program, and find confidence in pushing themselves in and out of the classroom. In collaboration with their counselor, students continue addressing their areas for improvement and discovering next opportunities to further develop their interests.
Envisioning College
As sophomores, students dive deeper into actively learning about college education and the value it can present. Based on their student’s grade 9 performance and developed interests, families communicate with their counselor to establish rough goals and set more detailed expectations.
Preparing for Standardized Testing & National Merit Scholarship
Based on PSAT results and individual evaluation, each student works with their counselor to put together a personalized testing timeline and strategic study plan. Advanced students will separately work towards National Merit Scholarship.
(Note: 40% of our Class of 2025 qualified for National Merit Scholarship.)
Reinforcing the Diploma Programme
As juniors at a college prep school with a challenging IB program, most of our students are expected to enroll in our IB Diploma Programme (DP). In this process, students work with their counselor to ensure that their DP work (extended essay, CAS project, etc.) is both well aligned with their college aspirations and properly complemented with extracurricular opportunities.
College Selection and Testing
In addition to attending college rep visits, now for the third year, juniors will now join seniors in field trips to college fairs and campuses to further cultivate their relationships with college reps and build a preliminary college list. Most of the students complete their standardized testing within their junior year, which enables them to strategically refine their college lists.
Summer Utilization
Junior year summer is a prime opportunity for students to engage in extracurricular/supercurricular activities to bolster their college admissions profiles. Ranging from independent research and internships to pre-college programs and nonprofit volunteer work, each student works closely with their counselor to identify their best opportunities, set an appropriate support structure to help them succeed, and guide them in executing their work.
The College Application Process
Senior year is the culmination of their WPS journey. Students frequently meet with their counselor to finalize their college list, write their essays, secure impactful letters of recommendation, negotiate scholarships, and strategically engage in the exciting game of college admissions.
Working with the Parents
The college admissions process can be stressful not only to the students but also the parents. As such, our counselor works closely with parents to offer real-time insight, discuss concerns and desires, and manage parental anxieties. In many cases, the counselor may serve as a communication bridge among the student, their parents, and school faculty in collectively moving towards a common goal.
Post-Application and Beyond
Once college admission is completed and their choice of destination is finalized, students get to reflect and prepare for transition to higher education. More information about this stage will be provided as the academic year progresses.
