College Planning

The primary goals of Friends Select’s college planning office are to guide students through the college planning and college application process, to assist students in identifying a list of colleges and universities that best reflect each student’s unique abilities and ambitions, and to provide guidance, support, and advocacy throughout the college process. Following Friends Select’s motto, “The Whole of Life,” the college planning office supports and upholds each student’s academic and extracurricular passions and strengths in an effort to help the student discover multiple colleges where they will thrive.

Friends Select’s college planning process is structured, individualized, and collaborative. In ninth grade, we provide guidance on how to effectively approach high school. For tenth and eleventh grade students, we focus on standardized testing, course selection, and co-curricular opportunities. Students and parents meet individually with college counselors beginning in the eleventh grade. In the senior year, we work intentionally with each student on their college list, essays, and standardized testing plan. The college planning office also hosts programming for students and families in grades nine through twelve.

Friends Select’s college list reflects the range and variety of our students’ interests, strengths, and talents. This is demonstrated in the colleges where our students apply and matriculate.

College

FOR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVES

Directions for Visiting Friends Select School

To schedule your fall visit to Friends Select, please click here.

By Car
From the Northwest, West, or Southwest, take I-76, the Schuylkill Expressway, to I-676 East. From the Northeast, take I-95 South to I-676 West. From New Jersey, take the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to I-676 West. From I-676, exit at Central Philadelphia/15th Street. Follow 15th Street south to Cherry Street and turn right. The school is on the right, at the corner of 17th Street.
By Public Transportation
SEPTA Commuter High-Speed Rail, SEPTA Trolleys, and Market-Frankford Subway—Exit the Penn Center Suburban Station at either 16th Street or 17th Street and JFK Boulevard and walk two blocks north to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 17th Street. Broad Street Subway Exit the Vine Street Station and walk two blocks west to 17th Street. SEPTA Bus Routes 2, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 44, 121, 124, 125 and C all stop within three blocks of the school. PATCO Exit the 15th-16th Street Station on Locust Street. Walk two blocks west to 17th Street and four blocks north to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Parking
Metered parking is available on many streets near the school, and parking garages surround the school on almost every block. Parking garages close by: Philadelphia Gateway Parking, 1540 Vine Street, 215.246.0300 Central Parking System, 1717 Cherry Street, 215.567.0971 Central Parking System, 17th Street at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, 215.569.0899 Inter Parking, 18th and Cherry Streets, 215.496.1070 Philadelphia Parking Authority, 1501 Arch Street, 215.683.9812 Network Parking, 18th and Callowhill Streets, 215.751.0485

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MEET THE COLLEGE PLANNING OFFICE

Tracy Matthews

Director of College Planning and Testing/Registrar
Email

Rachael Polton

Associate Dir. of College Planning

Email

College Planning