Ethical Culture Fieldston School’s College Counseling Office is dedicated to guiding each student toward institutions that will challenge, empower, and inspire them in the next phase of their lives. From regular check-ins with students to family consultations, the College Counseling staff creates an environment where students can envision their futures and find the best match for their unique goals, interests, and potential.
“We are not just sources of knowledge and insight; we’re educators,” says Director of College Counseling Akosua Yeboah. “We’re here not because we just want to support students but because we want to know them. We want to be in community with them. Some of our favorite things to do in this office are going to all their games and concerts and looking at their art. We’re developing relationships with them, and we want families to rely on and trust that we will always have their best interests at heart.”
The most important thing to remember about the experience as a whole here is that Fieldston is built for dreamers and doers, and I love it when students get to do both.
Amidst students’ excitement about pursuing a new path, Yeboah also recognizes how daunting the college search can be, particularly for seniors in the uncertain throes of applications.
“The college process for many students is quite possibly one of the more significant executive functioning tasks that they take on,” she shares. “You are not doing the college application process in a silo; you’re layering it on top of life. You still have to be a student; you still have to be on top of your work. You still have personal relationships to maintain. You want to spend time with your friends, family, and people who matter to you, and then you’re putting this process on top. One of the most common challenges is actually figuring out how to do that. Everyone wants to know how the end will turn out before they even begin, and you have to take this process one step at a time.”
Having previously worked in college admissions, Yeboah’s familiarity with Fieldston students goes back many years. “The diversity of where students picture themselves and the diversity of places where they invest themselves in the community and beyond is one of the richest parts of the Fieldston experience,” Yeboah says. “They’re not afraid of leadership, whether leading a team, an idea, or a project. I also think that Fieldston students have found, more often than not, the ties between the heart and their minds. Their values show up just as much as their intellect does. I think that’s amazing and not the easiest thing to cultivate.”
Another key element of the College Office’s mission is connection and transparency with parents and guardians, ensuring that families and their students can confidently approach the process and seek the same outcomes — themes highlighted during a recent P+T parent/guardian coffee. At this event, over 40 parents/guardians from all divisions gathered for a candid and informal conversation with Yeboah, who offered insights into the college landscape, described the unique profile of a Fieldston student, and explained the enduring benefits of a progressive education. Yeboah relayed the importance of celebrating the process as much as the outcome, offering practical advice and encouraging families to navigate this exciting chapter with joy and purpose.
The diversity of where students picture themselves and the diversity of places where they invest themselves in the community and beyond is one of the richest parts of the Fieldston experience.
She and her staff are also there for support when adults are struggling with their child facing a more independent phase. “Ultimately, as much as we want to go off to college with them, the kids are the only ones going,” she says. “There’s no space in the dorm. It’s hard to give your child the room, and it’s not because you don’t want them to have it; it’s because you’re scared and want things to work out. You’re used to being there. We recognize that this is the moment when you want them to actually start exploring and experiencing all the answers that life gives. What we are mostly helping families do outside of the tactics and the tasks is just helping them make sense of the process.”
As the Class of 2025 finalizes their college choices and the rising seniors begin their searches, Yeboah has universal advice for those feeling pressure about the college application process.
“The most important thing to remember about the experience as a whole here is that Fieldston is built for dreamers and doers, and I love it when students get to do both,” she says. “So just allow yourself to do enough of both, and everything will work out.”
