Gilmour Academy College Counseling Office

Gilmour Academy College Counseling Office Sponsored by Mrs. Stockard, Ms. Reidy and Mr. McDermott The College Office consists of:
Mrs. Stockard-Director of College Counseling
Ms.

Reidy-Associate Director of College Counseling
Mr. Dan DeCrane, Assistant Director of College Counseling
Mrs. Lynch-Administrative Assistant

The final stop in Arizona required a 1:45 drive down south to Tucson, AZ where the University of Arizona is located. Est...
04/08/2026

The final stop in Arizona required a 1:45 drive down south to Tucson, AZ where the University of Arizona is located. Established as the first public university in Arizona, this university also offers a plethora of majors and educational opportunities for its undergraduate population just shy of 50,000 students. In many ways, it parallels ASU with its academic offerings, designation as a RI research campus and strong honors program for top students. This might be why ASU and UA are such strong rivals both on and off the athletic fields!

The Tucson campus sits on just about half the size of ASU’s Tempe campus but is characterized for red brick architecture in most any building. On the day that Mrs. Stockard visited, the main campus was buzzing with the Tucson Book Festival, the third largest in the USA, attended by well over 130,000 people! Authors from all over the world come to guest lecture and sell books. The gathering was a thing of beauty for any lover of the written word!

The University of Arizona has a very active Greek population that serves about 16% of its student population but athletics does reign supreme, especially men’s basketball. The Wildcats have made it to the NCAA Final Four numerous times, and won a National Championship in 1997. The baseball team can also claim great success, having
secured four national championships during its tenure. When you have year-round warm temperatures and sunshine, practicing and playing becomes much easier on a daily basis and makes for some strong teams!

The University is the primary economic driving factor in Tucson but tourism also brings in a major financial boom. Consequently, there are a multitude of festivals, restaurants and shopping that all explore the local cultural flavor. If you are looking for a large school offering that is a tad bit smaller than their rivals to the north, UA is a wise choice.

Arizona State University was next on the schedule and boasts of being one of the largest public universities in the nati...
04/08/2026

Arizona State University was next on the schedule and boasts of being one of the largest public universities in the nation. ASU has four campuses in the metro Phoenix area but Mrs. Stockard’s visit was on the largest campus in Tempe, which houses over 55,000 students! ASU, however, treats all their campuses as distinctive with specific offerings and not branch campuses, which is typical of many public schools, especially here in Ohio.

Tempe houses both graduate programs and undergraduate studies that are more research-based. The Polytechnic campus prepares for professional and technological programs for direct workforce preparation. The West Valley campus is focused on the liberal arts. The Downtown Phoenix campus hones in on majors in nursing, public policy, criminal
justice, journalism and business. There is also a robust on-line learning presence if you are so inclined to go that route in some of your courses. Tempe’s campus is beautiful but expansive, consisting of over 600 acres. What’s not to love when your campus
consists of pedestrian walkways and is surrounded by an arboretum with palm trees galore?

Try not to get mesmerized as one is there for an educational purpose and can take advantage of the nearly 350 college majors or the prestigious Barrett Honors College where a 3.8 and 29 ACT will typically render you a spot along with 7,000 plus of your closest friends. In 2022, ASU was designated as a Hispanic serving institution as nearly 25% of students are of Hispanic descent. If research is important to you, this RI institution spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year and secures close to a billion dollars in external funding.

With big academics comes big extra-curricular options for anyone who is a member of the Sun Devil nation. Sports are clearly a big part of student culture as a member of the DI, Big 12 conference and have secured twenty-four national championships in a myriad of sports. ASU also offers a robust student media department that consists of radio, print and an on-line presence keeping its constituents informed of happenings on campus and the local area.

Sure, ASU can feel a bit overwhelming at first, but for the student who wants to get lost in a sea of opportunities, consider making this campus one to visit. You will not be complaining of the lack of opportunities.

Over spring break, Mrs. Stockard spent time in Arizona touring three very popular options in the Grand Canyon state:Ariz...
04/08/2026

Over spring break, Mrs. Stockard spent time in Arizona touring three very popular options in the Grand Canyon state:

Arizona State University (ASU), the University of Arizona (UA) and Grand Canyon University (GCU). Her first stop was to Grand Canyon University, a private and Christian school located in Phoenix. GCU has an interesting story. For many years it was a for-profit university, but in 2025, after many legal battles, it was granted full non-profit status. If you look at its student population, you might do a double take when you see over 100,000+ students. After a closer look, you will learn most of those students are taking on-line classes. The total in-person student population is closer to 25,000, with about 17,000 residing on campus. GCU offers over 200 bachelors, masters or
doctoral degree programs spanning ten colleges, including business, engineering, nursing, natural sciences, arts, an media. The school also offers a seminary option as well. With its location mere minutes from downtown Phoenix and the Scottsdale area, internships and experiential learning are plentiful.

In 2006 and 2009, GCU spent tens of millions of dollars to improve the facilities, which included new dorms, athletic facilities, and food options. As a result, the student population boomed. A fun fact is that GCU does not have a traditional dining hall on campus. All of their 30+ food options are food court style offerings. GCU also shot to national recognition when their men’s basketball team secured a spot in the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament in 2021, their first time as a DI sport; previously GCU participated at the DII level. GCU also has a roller
hockey team on campus so if you would like to move from the ice to the floor, this might not be a bad option.

While the overall student population might be overwhelming at first, for the student looking to make their home at GCU, you will find a welcoming and walkable environment that caters to all a student’s needs. Warmer temperatures and an abundant amount of sunshine make this an idyllic setting where young adults from all walks of life are making
their way. While it may not have the name recognition like other schools in the state, GCU still deserves a deep dive if your desire to take your college experience out to the Southwest

Mrs. Stockard spent part of her spring break at the state's annual OACAC conference. She sat in on sessions pertaining t...
03/14/2026

Mrs. Stockard spent part of her spring break at the state's annual OACAC conference. She sat in on sessions pertaining to 529 plans, college essays, test prep updates, and NIL information, to name a few. This year she also presented with her colleagues from Kent State, OU, Denison and Estrela Consulting on Admissions Counselor Advisory Boards. Such a fun and informative time!

This past November Mrs. Stockard visited the college counseling office at Deerfield Academy and spent some time followin...
11/17/2025

This past November Mrs. Stockard visited the college counseling office at Deerfield Academy and spent some time following former Gilmour Academy chemistry teacher, Ms. Fidanza, to learn about life at a boarding school. Mrs. Stockard then made her way over to one of the top liberal arts colleges in the US, Williams College. Located to charming Western, MA, Williams has a population of about 2,200 students and nearly everyone lives on campus for 4 years. The college is divided into 3 academic divisions: Language and the Arts, Social Sciences and Science and Mathematics.

It was clear from the tour that this is a friendly campus where students feel valued and well resourced in all they do. They should, as Williams does meet 100% of demonstrated need for those fortunate to be admitted. These days Williams is accepting around 8% of their applicant pool. Looking to increase your chanes of admissions? Have stellar grades, be a recruited scholar athlete or apply Early Decision. D3 athletics are popular as The Purple Cows take on their down the road rivals from Amherst College. If you are looking to escape the small town charm, Boston and Hartford are under three hours away while Albany, NY is an hour from campus.

When they talk about the quintessential small, liberal arts college, Williams set the mark high. I urge you to explore this idyllic campus that is certainly student-centered.

09/04/2025

🎉 Honored to be a part of the lineup at ! I'll be sharing my expertise on College Advisory Boards. Looking forward to connecting with everyone. See you in Columbus! nacacconference.org

~ Mrs. Stockard

As students at Gilmour seem to be looking for more DII offerings in athletics, it made sense to visit Chestnut Hill Coll...
07/28/2025

As students at Gilmour seem to be looking for more DII offerings in athletics, it made sense to visit Chestnut Hill College in the beautiful neighborhood of Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia. This gorgeous Catholic college (found on the National Register of Historic Places) was also originally founded as a women’s college in 1924 but became co-educational in 2003 and has seen enrollment that hovers just over 1,000 students. Chestnut Hill College offers degrees in the BA, BS and a BS in Nursing. Some of the more interesting majors are Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, Pre-Law and Legal Studies, and Cybersecurity, to name a few. If Chestnut Hill College feels a bit too small for you, know that they are a part of the SE Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education and students can enroll in classes at other campuses like Arcadia University (see above), Rosemont College, and Neumann University As an added bonus, all full time undergraduate students who enroll receive a merit scholarship to help keep costs affordable.

Like Arcadia, Chestnut Hill offers the best of both worlds. It is a beautiful campus where students will find themselves to be part of a close knit community. Don’t, however, expect the rah rah atmosphere of a big time college football program but if watching games with the pigskin is your thing, Chestnut Hill does offer sprint football (players need to weigh less than 178 lbs.). The city of Philadelphia is within reach as public transportation makes it easy to come and go from campus. If I had my way, I would stay on or near campus all the time as the school is located in one of the most beautiful parts of Philadelphia, in my opinion. Do yourself a favor and check out this charming campus and its surrounding area. Make sure you have your camera ready too!

In late July, Mrs. Stockard went to Eastern Pennsylvania where she visited two lesser known schools that still have plen...
07/28/2025

In late July, Mrs. Stockard went to Eastern Pennsylvania where she visited two lesser known schools that still have plenty to offer! First up was Arcadia University in Glenside, PA, just fifteen miles from downtown Philadelphia. Over the years, several GA women have looked here as a strong offering for DIII hockey. While hockey may be an option, Arcadia’s size and charm offers so much more. With a total population of around 3,000 students on campus, classes are small and a personalized education is truly a benefit of attending Arcadia. Students can choose from over sixty majors in the areas of global business, arts and sciences, health sciences, and education. For all students, studying abroad is a major component and Arcadia is often at the top of guidebooks for having the highest percentage of students who choose to study overseas at some point in their college career.

For some history, Arcadia originally was a women’s seminary and then became a coeducational school called Beaver College. In 2000, Beaver College changed its name to Arcadia University but it still is heavily skewed towards the female influence as about 60% of its population is female. Never fear, between sports, e-sports, theater, music and a castle restoration club (yes, Grey Towers is a castle on campus and also a National Historic Landmark so upkeep is imperative) there is much to do. Arcadia is also in a charming area that is close to Chestnut Hills, which is known for its quaint shopping, restaurants and cultural activities. If students want to experience the hustle and bustle of the big city, all the amenities of downtown Philly are well within reach. Arcadia truly offers the charm of a beautiful campus that is attentive to your needs, but if you feel the need to explore or experience something bigger, that is an option too thanks to its location and study abroad opportunities. You will be impressed at all this campus has to offer!

The final tour was MIT. Who knew that one could find both pinball machines and pingpong on a college campus that caters...
07/09/2025

The final tour was MIT. Who knew that one could find both pinball machines and pingpong on a college campus that caters to the most brilliant minds? Yes, it’s true. As much as students love to learn at MIT, they also like to have a good time. That is why you will find an outdoor movie theater, arcade games, and even a women and non-binary students only lounge that is a meeting and gathering special for those individuals, complete with coffees, teas, and a kitchenette.

When it comes to academics, MIT was founded under the polytechnic model where laboratory sciences accompanied all majors. For anyone who wants one of the best educations in engineering, computer science and the sciences, in general, MIT is always on one’s list, especially due to the large amount of money the school spends on research. MIT students and professors remain tops in their field and can boast of a wide array of Nobel Prize winners, MacArthur Fellows, and Pulitzer Prize winners.

Geographically, MIT sits along the Charles River in the city of Cambridge, MA. While the campus offers mainly DIII sports, greek life, a wide array of student activities and the ease of biking, running and boating along the river, students can easily explore all parts of Boston. The subway system offers two lines right on campus. While housing can be difficult in Boston, MIT allows for students to live all four-years on campus, giving the school a nice community feel. If you want a stellar education and have the academic wherewithal and nerves to enter into this academic powerhouse, consider MIT. Just note, only a few are admitted each year.

The final day of the tour was in the Boston area visiting two of the most selective colleges in the nation: Harvard and ...
07/09/2025

The final day of the tour was in the Boston area visiting two of the most selective colleges in the nation: Harvard and MIT. Let’s be honest, not only do you have to have superior grades and a very challenging academic schedule, but you should also come with some outstanding trait, talent or experience to really set you apart at schools where the admit rate is below five percent. That being said, Harvard University was a bit of a bummer as we were not allowed into Harvard Yard due to reunion weekend. Despite that minor blip, Harvard remains impressive as the oldest university in the United States. Between it’s rich traditions, academic prominence, large endowment and status of a member of the Ivy League, Harvard has much to offer, but it is not without its controversy. In 2023, just six months into her Presidency, Harvard’s College President, Claudine Gay resigned due to allegations of antisemitism and plagiarism. More recently, Harvard has been embattled with the Trump administration over their ignoring government demands. Everything from money to allowing international students has been threatened upon Harvard. Keep checking back as it seems this battle changes on a daily basis. Despite the challenges, Harvard is too powerful and steeped in tradition to let these setbacks derail all it has done for academia.

Northeastern (NE) was the final visit of the day. Let’s just say, the experiential learning and travel that is going on...
07/09/2025

Northeastern (NE) was the final visit of the day. Let’s just say, the experiential learning and travel that is going on at this campus is incredible. NE’s admit rate has dropped dramatically in the last decade so top grades and a rigorous schedule are a must for admission.. The good news is that NE has gotten creative and has made different pathways for students to begin their career as a NE student, not just in Boston. First-years can start off studying in London, California or even NYC for the first semester and then decide to make their way to Boston. If adventure is your game, consider looking at these different paths for admission.

For those who attend NE, know that the incredible co-op experience will certainly be part of your college experience. At some point in time, a student will stop taking classes and go to a company that has them working on projects related to their major. This is great for experience, networking and as an added bonus, students are fully paid while on co-op. Also, they are not paying NE tuition!

With just under 40,000 students, NE is the largest private university in Boston and offers over 300+ majors. Business, engineering, and computer science tend to be the most popular, but regardless of the area of study, all students will be educated in the liberal arts and take courses across all disciplines.

Between varsity and club athletics, coupled with four-hundred student organizations, students will remain busy on campus. If one does get bored, both the green and orange line run on campus, so public transportation can take you anywhere in the area. If you consider yourself someone who is adventure-seeking and won’t get overwhelmed by a large campus in the city, NE should definitely be a school to consider. The resume you produce once leaving college will be unmatched!

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34001 Cedar Road
Gates Mills, OH
44040

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+14404738087

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