Written by Dr. Steve Whitaker, Head of School

Throughout this week we have been celebrating College Week at The First Academy. It has been such a joy to see all of our students traveling through campus in their favorite collegiate t-shirts and sweatshirts. Our Upper School College Advisors have also been busy this week; hosting a coffee for Lower School parents, classroom meetings with 8th-grade students, and meetings with Upper School students and parents to plan and prepare for life after graduation.

Our Upper School College Advisors begin working with students in the ninth grade to help them prepare for their academic and career goals. They start the conversation early so that our students are well-equipped to understand that the effort they apply now really makes a difference for their future. The choices that they make today will open doors for them in regards to college acceptances. All of our College Advisors have worked in College Admissions prior to their current positions at TFA, and it’s so valuable to have that knowledge and experience! The College Guidance Department supports all of our students; emphasizing that college choice is an individual process and there is no one-size-fits-all option when it comes to career goals and future planning.

Each year, TFA’s College Advisors meet with students individually or in groups to engage them with college information and available opportunities (extracurricular activities, internships, etc.) to impact and enhance their high school career. They also introduced SCOIR last year, a platform that allows students to research colleges and assists with organizing college application documents during their senior year. Every year, TFA host’s a Christian College Fair in the Fall, with 40 plus various colleges from across the country visiting campus to meet with our students. We also partner with private schools in the Central Florida area to organize a College Fair in the spring. UCF is hosting that fair THIS Saturday, and over 140 colleges will be in attendance. You can learn more about this College Fair HERE,

It truly is a partnership between our College Advisors and our students and parents. It is because of this strong partnership that members of the Class of 2020 have already been accepted to colleges and universities such as Dartmouth College, Pepperdine University, Clemson University, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt University, Auburn University, Florida State University, Baylor University, Northeastern University, Pennsylvania State University, Samford University, Savannah College of Art & Design, and many more. The Class of 2020 has received a total of 151 acceptances to 67 various colleges & universities across the country so far! We are so blessed to offer a second-to-none college preparation experience at The First Academy, one that begins in our Lower School. Daily, we are preparing the minds of our students for the academic demands of college, while also preparing their hearts for the challenges that they will face defending their faith in today’s culture. Thank you for choosing us to be your partners in preparing your children for the path ahead, whether the next step is Kindergarten or college.