We will be traveling all over the country to some of the top institutions in order to further our education. But I know if you switched any of our places, we would thrive, because that is what OVS has taught us to do.
— Sebastian Wayman-Dalo (L16, U20), Bowdoin College
The OVS 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 fill out applications, write essays and ultimately decide where to attend.
We emphasize “right fit” in every step of the college application process. For us, it matters not the “name” of that college of choice. The most important service we can provide is to help our students find the colleges that “fit” them best, to identify and explore those 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 through this process, 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 of the fact that over the years the vast majority of OVS students, once they make their college choices, end up graduating from those schools they selected as high school seniors. It tells us we’re doing something right when it comes to helping them find the “right fit,” and that through this process they have discovered colleges that support their interests and passions.
For more information, contact College Counselor Fred Alvarez by email at falvarez@ovs.org or by phone at (805) 646-5593 ext. 2314. Click the link below to view the Academic Profile for 2023-2024, which includes a list of recent college acceptances.