PHILIPSBURG--The Learning Unlimited (LU) Preparatory School senior class students, under the guidance of the LU College Counselling Department, have earned more than US $1.81 million dollars in merit-aid scholarship offers from prestigious universities around the world.
LU’s Class of 2018, 27 graduating seniors in total, will attend colleges and universities from Vancouver in Canada to New York City to Miami, Florida, and across the ocean to London and Amsterdam. Several of the students received full four-year scholarships.
A small sampling of university acceptances to date include Georgetown University, New York University, Bentley University, Northeastern University, Fordham University, Boston University, George Washington University, DePaul University, Hofstra University, University of Miami, Clark University, Clarkson University, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Brock University, University of Waterloo, Concordia University, De Montfort University, Reading University and King's College.
“The college counselling process here at LU entails us working with them really for their entire career with us,” said LU Principal Daunesh Alcott on Sunday. “The key focus is on their high school years because all of those credits start in grade 9 and go to a permanent transfer; it stays with them for life. "So, we tell our students what they do in 9th grade is as important as what they do in 12th grade in terms of their grades. They need to maintain that.”
Alcott laid high praise on LU’s College Counselling Department. “With the other accredited schools in our accrediting body, I believe we are at the top end of any of those schools. Considering we are a small school, on an island, what we do and what our students accomplish is very impressive in comparison. There is constant communication with students and parents.” he said.
LU is accredited by the US Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). LU is a certified registered member school of SAIS, SACS/AdvancED, National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and International Studies Association (ISA). Universities and colleges throughout the world traditionally honour diplomas granted by both SAIS and SACS/AdvancED.
The school’s College Counselling Department is headed by Mark Beland. By the time LU students reach the 12th grade and during the course of the application period, from September through February of the senior year, each student works with Beland on various issues such as the implications of early decision/action, crafting of the student’s extracurricular resume, mock interview sessions, teachers’ recommendations, and financial aid investigation.
“Our College Counsellor, English teachers, and administrators work with students across the course of the academic year as they complete and perfect their applications, essays, and letters of motivation. Throughout the school year, representatives of several of the colleges to which our students apply come to LU to meet and provide insights to our juniors and seniors,” Beland explained.
“The LU College Counselling programme supports each senior throughout the admissions process and helps students identify and gain acceptance to the college or colleges which suit their academic, lifestyle, extracurricular interests, and financial circumstances. This demonstrates the comprehensive process, yet again, of the value of an American-accredited LU education.”
Alcott added that the Class of 2018 will be more than prepared for their future endeavours, but this did not just happen overnight. There were many carefully-planned segments and artfully-executed sequences along the way.
“This college exploration, application and acceptance season was no exception and was both an exciting and stressful time for the Class of 2018. Now, they have all received their acceptance letters, financial aid, and scholarships; they have made decisions that will potentially impact the rest of their lives. This was an exceptional group of students.
“With what our senior students have earned this year, once again the value of an LU education proves itself as it has been doing for years. We are very proud of that fact and very proud of the students, our teachers and staff,” Alcott said.
