College Counseling

The College Counseling Office provides guidance to students and their families as they navigate the complex landscape of college admissions, starting in the freshman year and leading all the way through senior year as students complete applications, write essays and ultimately decide where to attend. We emphasize “right fit” in every step of the process.

For us, it matters not the “name” of the college. The most important service we can provide is to help students find the colleges that “fit” them best – schools that are going to fuel their ambitions, sharpen their talents, and shape their futures. To that end, it is our duty and privilege to walk alongside students and their families, helping them build their college lists, seek financial aid, prepare for the SAT and ACT, and provide feedback as they write persuasive and personal application essays that reflect who they are as students and contributors to their communities.

College admission and selection can be a stressful endeavor, but it is a rewarding one as well, one strengthened and made better by the teamwork of student, parent, and college counselor. It is a pursuit that engages the heart and mind with hope and anticipation, and one best tackled with investigation, preparation and a healthy dose of good humor. We’re proud that the vast majority of OVS students, once they make their college choices, end up graduating from those schools they selected as seniors.

Contact College Counselor Fred Alvarez by email at falvarez@ovs.org or by phone at (805) 646-5593 ext. 2314 for more information about college counseling.