Expert College Counseling | Hampton Roads Academy | VA
Source: https://hra.org/college-counseling
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:34
Expert College Counseling | Hampton Roads Academy | VA
Skip to content
College Counseling
Hampton Roads Academy
2026-04-02T10:46:27-04:00
College Counseling
College Preparation from Day One
At HRA, college preparation starts well before Grade 12—it begins the moment a student joins our school. The college admissions process may seem daunting at first, but our objective is to inform students about their options, ensure that they feel supported throughout the application process, and ultimately help 100% of our seniors gain admission to colleges and universities that align with their goals and passions. Our college counselors guide students and their families through every step, working to understand our college-bound Navigators’ values and help them chart a path toward their personal vision of success in college and beyond.
A Values-First Approach to College Admissions
HRA’s College Counseling Process
College preparation is integrated into our
curriculum
and
student life
at all levels, but the process begins in earnest in Grade 9. In this first year of
Upper School
, faculty advisors help students plan their coursework and balance academics with extracurricular activities and athletics. In the ninth and tenth grades, college counselors meet with students and hold regular parent information sessions. Formal counseling intensifies in Grade 11, starting with our annual Junior College Day, which kicks off that year’s college application process.
During their junior year, students and their parents meet one-on-one with a college counselor early in the spring semester to create an initial list of colleges. Students and parents work closely with the college counseling staff, from the first meeting through graduation. Here is a closer look at how we help students at each grade level prepare for a successful college application process:
Grade 9
The Counseling Office offers information sessions for students and their families, covering the college counseling process, the current state of college admissions, and how to understand standardized test results.
Grade 10
The College Counseling Office holds initial meetings with students and families, starting a conversation that will continue throughout their Upper School years centering on their values.
These meetings provide information on course selection and career planning, starting the college search process, and understanding PSAT results.
Grade 11
At Junior College Day, students and their families learn about the process of submitting a college application, requesting and obtaining recommendations, parent reflections to inform the writing of letters on students’ behalf, and matters of finances during a student’s college years.
We organize a multi-college tour for juniors, highlighting schools of various sizes and campus types. Each visit includes information sessions with admissions staff, tours, meals at the dining hall, and meetings with HRA alumni.
The College Counseling Office hosts a mock admissions session with current admissions officers for students and their families, providing insight into what is important to application readers.
Students and their families meet with the College Counseling Office to plan their senior-year courses, create a list of colleges to consider, and develop a standardized test schedule. This discussion helps our counselors guide students as they assemble lists of colleges and universities and provides valuable information to assist teachers as they write letters of recommendation.
In the spring of their junior year and into their senior fall, students participate in a series of application essay-writing workshops organized jointly by the College Counseling Office and their English teachers. They also take part in an advisory program consisting of activities and workshops to help students assemble effective applications early.
Between the junior and senior years, the College Counseling Office hosts a college application “boot camp” and invites students to participate in informal, one-on-one conversations about their college search process at summer coffees with Director of College Counseling Elizabeth Cavallari.
Grade 12
Throughout the fall, college counselors continue to conduct application essay-writing workshops and advisory sessions and meet one-on-one with students.
Our Senior Transition Program for soon-to-be graduates offers sessions on financial literacy and making responsible choices in college.
Meet the HRA College Counseling Team
Our experienced college counselors are excited to help HRA students and their families navigate the college application process. These dedicated professionals are here to guide you and your student at every stage, from assembling a list of colleges and universities and crafting compelling essays to preparing for interviews and making a final decision about where to enroll. Our counselors provide personalized support, getting to know each student and their values to help them find their best-fit college and excel after graduation. Learn more about our team!
Meet The Team
College Counseling Resources
What is HRA’s College Board code?
471533
Where can I access HRA’s college profile?
Click
here
to explore HRA’s profile.
What is the college representative visit schedule?
See the visit schedule
here
. To make a guest account, follow these steps:
Select:
I’m a guest
Enter as a guest
Colleges
View all upcoming college visits
What memberships does HRA have?
National Association for College Admission Counseling
(NACAC)
Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling
(PCACAC)
Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools
(ACCIS)
The Cum Laude Society
, which recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence (Areté), justice (Diké), and honor (Timé)
Where can I learn more about the At the Helm speaker series?
Click here
for a video of the inaugural
At the Helm
presentation, featuring
deans, directors, and vice presidents of admissions at regional colleges and universities. The January 2025 session, open not only to HRA families and faculty, but also to the wider community, offered insider perspectives to help demystify the college admissions process.
College Counseling News You Can Use
Haven’t We Heard This Before?
Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling Students and parents get a window into the College Counseling Office's close [...]
Read More
Help Us Help You
Christopher Hailey, Associate Director of College Counseling Juniors complete a survey to help HRA's college counseling team better [...]
Read More
Wait, and Wait, and Wait More
Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling Associate Director of College Counseling Christopher Hailey and Upper School English teacher [...]
Read More
The Magic of Hot Chocolate
Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling Instant connection: just add hot chocolate When I first started at HRA, [...]
Read More
DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS
Schedule a Tour
At Hampton Roads Academy
"
*
" indicates required fields
Learn More about HRA
Ready to experience the Hampton Roads Academy difference? If you have a question that you do not see answered, contact our Office of Admissions. A member of our team will contact you shortly.
Get in Touch
Call Admissions
Text Admissions
Email Admissions
Visit Us
Charting Futures, Shaping Leaders
(757) 884-9100
739 Academy Ln, Newport News, VA 23602
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Copyright
Hampton Roads Academy | All Rights Reserved
Hampton Roads Academy | Hampton Roads Private School
739 Academy Ln, Newport News, VA 23602
|
(757) 884-9100
Policies and Accessibility
Page load link
Accessibility Bar
visibility_off
Disable flashes
title
Mark headings
settings
Background Color
zoom_out
Zoom out
zoom_in
Zoom in
remove_circle_outline
Decrease font
add_circle_outline
Increase font
spellcheck
Readable font
brightness_high
Bright contrast
brightness_low
Dark contrast
format_underlined
Underline links
font_download
Mark links
Reset all options
cached
Go to Top
Skip to content
College Counseling
Hampton Roads Academy
2026-04-02T10:46:27-04:00
College Counseling
College Preparation from Day One
At HRA, college preparation starts well before Grade 12—it begins the moment a student joins our school. The college admissions process may seem daunting at first, but our objective is to inform students about their options, ensure that they feel supported throughout the application process, and ultimately help 100% of our seniors gain admission to colleges and universities that align with their goals and passions. Our college counselors guide students and their families through every step, working to understand our college-bound Navigators’ values and help them chart a path toward their personal vision of success in college and beyond.
A Values-First Approach to College Admissions
HRA’s College Counseling Process
College preparation is integrated into our
curriculum
and
student life
at all levels, but the process begins in earnest in Grade 9. In this first year of
Upper School
, faculty advisors help students plan their coursework and balance academics with extracurricular activities and athletics. In the ninth and tenth grades, college counselors meet with students and hold regular parent information sessions. Formal counseling intensifies in Grade 11, starting with our annual Junior College Day, which kicks off that year’s college application process.
During their junior year, students and their parents meet one-on-one with a college counselor early in the spring semester to create an initial list of colleges. Students and parents work closely with the college counseling staff, from the first meeting through graduation. Here is a closer look at how we help students at each grade level prepare for a successful college application process:
Grade 9
The Counseling Office offers information sessions for students and their families, covering the college counseling process, the current state of college admissions, and how to understand standardized test results.
Grade 10
The College Counseling Office holds initial meetings with students and families, starting a conversation that will continue throughout their Upper School years centering on their values.
These meetings provide information on course selection and career planning, starting the college search process, and understanding PSAT results.
Grade 11
At Junior College Day, students and their families learn about the process of submitting a college application, requesting and obtaining recommendations, parent reflections to inform the writing of letters on students’ behalf, and matters of finances during a student’s college years.
We organize a multi-college tour for juniors, highlighting schools of various sizes and campus types. Each visit includes information sessions with admissions staff, tours, meals at the dining hall, and meetings with HRA alumni.
The College Counseling Office hosts a mock admissions session with current admissions officers for students and their families, providing insight into what is important to application readers.
Students and their families meet with the College Counseling Office to plan their senior-year courses, create a list of colleges to consider, and develop a standardized test schedule. This discussion helps our counselors guide students as they assemble lists of colleges and universities and provides valuable information to assist teachers as they write letters of recommendation.
In the spring of their junior year and into their senior fall, students participate in a series of application essay-writing workshops organized jointly by the College Counseling Office and their English teachers. They also take part in an advisory program consisting of activities and workshops to help students assemble effective applications early.
Between the junior and senior years, the College Counseling Office hosts a college application “boot camp” and invites students to participate in informal, one-on-one conversations about their college search process at summer coffees with Director of College Counseling Elizabeth Cavallari.
Grade 12
Throughout the fall, college counselors continue to conduct application essay-writing workshops and advisory sessions and meet one-on-one with students.
Our Senior Transition Program for soon-to-be graduates offers sessions on financial literacy and making responsible choices in college.
Meet the HRA College Counseling Team
Our experienced college counselors are excited to help HRA students and their families navigate the college application process. These dedicated professionals are here to guide you and your student at every stage, from assembling a list of colleges and universities and crafting compelling essays to preparing for interviews and making a final decision about where to enroll. Our counselors provide personalized support, getting to know each student and their values to help them find their best-fit college and excel after graduation. Learn more about our team!
Meet The Team
College Counseling Resources
What is HRA’s College Board code?
471533
Where can I access HRA’s college profile?
Click
here
to explore HRA’s profile.
What is the college representative visit schedule?
See the visit schedule
here
. To make a guest account, follow these steps:
Select:
I’m a guest
Enter as a guest
Colleges
View all upcoming college visits
What memberships does HRA have?
National Association for College Admission Counseling
(NACAC)
Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling
(PCACAC)
Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools
(ACCIS)
The Cum Laude Society
, which recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence (Areté), justice (Diké), and honor (Timé)
Where can I learn more about the At the Helm speaker series?
Click here
for a video of the inaugural
At the Helm
presentation, featuring
deans, directors, and vice presidents of admissions at regional colleges and universities. The January 2025 session, open not only to HRA families and faculty, but also to the wider community, offered insider perspectives to help demystify the college admissions process.
College Counseling News You Can Use
Haven’t We Heard This Before?
Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling Students and parents get a window into the College Counseling Office's close [...]
Read More
Help Us Help You
Christopher Hailey, Associate Director of College Counseling Juniors complete a survey to help HRA's college counseling team better [...]
Read More
Wait, and Wait, and Wait More
Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling Associate Director of College Counseling Christopher Hailey and Upper School English teacher [...]
Read More
The Magic of Hot Chocolate
Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling Instant connection: just add hot chocolate When I first started at HRA, [...]
Read More
DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS
Schedule a Tour
At Hampton Roads Academy
"
*
" indicates required fields
Learn More about HRA
Ready to experience the Hampton Roads Academy difference? If you have a question that you do not see answered, contact our Office of Admissions. A member of our team will contact you shortly.
Get in Touch
Call Admissions
Text Admissions
Email Admissions
Visit Us
Charting Futures, Shaping Leaders
(757) 884-9100
739 Academy Ln, Newport News, VA 23602
Monday – Friday: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm
Copyright
Hampton Roads Academy | All Rights Reserved
Hampton Roads Academy | Hampton Roads Private School
739 Academy Ln, Newport News, VA 23602
|
(757) 884-9100
Policies and Accessibility
Page load link
Accessibility Bar
visibility_off
Disable flashes
title
Mark headings
settings
Background Color
zoom_out
Zoom out
zoom_in
Zoom in
remove_circle_outline
Decrease font
add_circle_outline
Increase font
spellcheck
Readable font
brightness_high
Bright contrast
brightness_low
Dark contrast
format_underlined
Underline links
font_download
Mark links
Reset all options
cached
Go to Top