Academics

College Counseling

The college matriculation process at Nichols School is certainly a personal one for each student and family. Our College Counseling Center is designed to help empower each individual student to calmly, thoughtfully and competently navigate the many stages and find the right fit.
This is one of the first significant life decisions students will make and own for themselves, and we want our students to consider their values, passions, interests and needs. From that foundation, they will research colleges and universities that meet their individual criteria, and evaluate how their credentials will position them for admission at each institution.

We welcome freshmen and their families at any time with questions. Each Nichols student will meet individually with a college counselor in the spring of sophomore year, a meeting during which a relationship will be established, and the counselor will begin to know the student and their family while offering thoughts on academic and broader goals.

Beginning with their junior year, students learn to take ownership of their search, to advocate for their needs, to master the many details and pieces of the complex college process and to place it in a broader context of their lives. From our view, the most important and thoughtful process is with the student driving and the College Center and family right there in support. This yields the best outcome for each student.

In addition to regular individual meetings, guest speakers, traditional print, social media and internet resources, the College Center utilizes web-based technology from Naviance. Naviance creates an open and transparent link between the college office, the student and their family, powered by the most comprehensive and practical database available for college research. Each student will receive a Naviance account in the spring of sophomore year.

Nichols seniors and juniors also benefit from having over 150 college and university admission representatives visit campus during the fall application cycle each year. This gives each student another opportunity to advocate for themselves.

Nichols’ student-to-counselor ratio is the best of all schools in Western New York, and we work thoughtfully to provide an intimate, long-term process of introspection and research to all our students as they prepare for the next step in their educational journey. The Nichols College Center is committed to providing a deeply enriching, student-centered experience in line with our school’s mission.

Meet the College Center

List of 4 members.

  • Photo of Kelly Jorgensen

    Kelly Jorgensen 

    Director of College Counseling
    Read Bio
  • Photo of Kerry Bennett

    Kerry Bennett 

    Associate Director of College Counseling
  • Emily Olczak 

    Assistant Director of College Counseling
  • Photo of Lisa Caywood

    Lisa Caywood 

    Administrative Assistant to the College Office & Testing Coordinator

Contact Information

Office
Albright Hall Room 102

Phone
716-332-5185

About Us

Nichols School is a nationally recognized college preparatory coed independent school with a 130-year history.
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