University Counseling

As a young school, we are one year away from having our founding class graduate in 2027. We have built a robust university preparatory curriculum, covering all the essential academic content needed for entrance into selective universities around the world, while maintaining our focus on deeper learning methods like project-based learning and Socratic seminar.

We expect HIS students to attend a wide range of excellent universities around the world. We also support other pathways, such as a gap year between high school and university to explore a personal passion, or for some students a direct leap into entrepreneurship, activism, industry, or other pathways that speak to them.

Our University Counseling program begins in 9th grade, not to pressure students into early conclusions, but to help them understand routes available to them and to address any anxieties or questions from students or families. From there, we help students tailor their course selection, identify extracurricular activities, and explore options, all with an aim of finding what they most love.

With students’ authentic passion comes their greatest learning potential, resilience, and their best contributions to the world. Universities receiving applications from HIS will see students with both strong academic grounding shown in a transcript, as well as a project portfolio showing their talents and passions expressed through real-world projects and feedback from outside experts.

Resources for Students and Families

2025 - 2026 School Profile
2025 - 2026 Course Catalog

University Counseling Contacts

We are fortunate to have two university counselors on-staff, in order to provide robust individualized support to each student. As with so much of our educational philosophy, we believe that education should be personalized, with each student discovering areas of passion worth pouring their heart and effort into. Finding the right steps after HIS is one of the most important expressions of this approach.

Lynne Kenney, Principal & University Counselor

Chris Paxton, Math guide & University Counselor

Timeline for University Counselling

  • September

    • Take a strong, appropriate course load

    • Be an active community member

    • Build relationships with HIS faculty

    • Work hard in all classes

    October

    • Meet with advisor to create a three-year Academic Plan

    • Start planning for summer programs

    • Practice for PSATs (materials at collegeboard.org)

    December

    • Receive PSAT results

    Feb–Mar

    • Register for spring SAT and/or ACT tests

    Apr–May

    • Meet with advisor to schedule fall courses

    Jun–Aug

    • Work, pursue passions, volunteer, and read

    • Preliminary university visits to get a feel for campuses

    • SAT/ACT prep, if desired

  • Sept–Nov

    • PSAT testing

    • Fall Family Weekend: University Counselling presentation

    • Register for December ACT + Writing (by Nov 1)

    • Register for December SAT with Essay (by Nov 1)

    Dec–Jan

    • Meet with University Counsellor: develop exploratory university list

    • Begin ongoing research of universities

    • Register for April ACT

    • Plan and schedule university visits for March break

    Feb–Mar

    • Register for May SAT with Essay

    • Register for April ACT + Writing

    • Attend university visits

    • Communicate with parents about schools to apply to

    Apr–May

    • Register for IELTS and/or TOEFL exams

    • Meet with counsellor to review university list and visits

    • Attend weekly University Planning Meetings

    • Review senior year curriculum with counsellor

    • Register for June SAT/ACT (if applicable)

    • Complete Guide Recommendation Form

    • Draft personal statement and supplemental essays

    • Create/update CV of activities, work experience, interests, community service

    • Work on portfolio/audition (if applicable)

    June

    • Take IELTS/TOEFL exams

    • Continue university visits (June or August)

    • Organize and review applications

    • Continue drafting essays and updating CV/portfolio

    • Research scholarships

    • Productive summer: work, study, volunteer, summer reading, and enjoy some downtime

    • SAT/ACT prep, if desired

    August

    • Rollover Common Application and UCAS accounts

    • Start supplemental questions

    • Plan remaining university visits and interviews

    • Create chart of universities, deadlines, and tasks per application

  • July

    • Register for SAT (Aug/Dec) and/or ACT (Sept/Dec), if needed

    Aug–Oct

    • Attend HIS 3-day University Bootcamp

    • Take IELTS/TOEFL exams, if applicable

    • Create application accounts (Common App, UCAS, Student Link for Netherlands, etc.)

    • Finalize application list with counsellor and create timeline of deadlines and tasks

    • Attend weekly university meetings

    • Finalize personal statement and supplemental essays

    • Complete required university visits and interviews

    • Notify counsellors of Early Decision/Early Action plans by Sept 15

    • Register for any remaining SAT/ACT tests

    Oct–Nov

    • Submit Early Decision/Early Action applications

    • Complete UCAS/Common App applications and essays by Nov 1

    • Check and meet all application deadlines (e.g., University of California system: Oct 30)

    Dec

    • Submit all remaining university applications (no later than Dec 10)

    • Take SAT/ACT, if applicable

    Jan–Feb

    • Submit financial aid forms (FAFSA, CSS Profile, or international aid)

    Mar–Apr

    • Receive final winter term grades

    • Continue scholarship research

    • Meet with counsellor for final university decisions

    May

    • May 1: Decision Day

    • Send final transcripts to chosen university

    June

    • Graduation

University FAQs

  • Portfolio-based, Mastery Transcript Requirements:

    • Mastery level for competencies in each of the following domains: Flourishing, Communication, Making Ideas into Reality

    Credit Requirements:

    • One school year = 3 terms (fall, winter, spring)

    • One Term = 1 credit (3 credits per academic year)

    • Upper school = grades 10-12

    • Recommended courses:

      • English - 9 Credits (taken every term)

      • Mathematics - 9 Credits

      • Science - 9 credits

      • Social Studies - 9 credits

      • World Language - 9 credits (including one year Japanese)

      • Electives -6 credits

      • PE/Winter Sports - 3 credits

      • OEL and Service-related requirements

    • Competencies: People who can learn and can contribute to new communities

    • Content: Foundational knowledge - depth and breadth

  • Application Components:

    • Biographic/Demograph Information

    • Transcripts from each high school

    • Standardized Test Results

    • Recommendation letters (1-3)**different function from the Japanese system

    • Personal Statements

    • SAT or ACT 

    • TOEFL or IELTS 

    • AP Exams  

      • Required for some universities + may be recommended for universities not familiar with PBL

    • University Visits: 

      • College Fairs

      • Online Visits

    • Advisory: 

      • High-school specific needs

      • Portfolio assembly

    • University Counseling

      • Chris P, Lynne

      • All Guides

    • Admissions Tests

      • PSAT, SAT and AP Exams at HIS

      • ACT (coming soon)