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College Access Program

College preparation starts from day one!

Our focus on college and life-readiness doesn’t wait for the latter years of high school. We support the development of these skills from the first year through graduation. Our on-campus UC-certified counselors leverage their decades of expertise in college admissions and work 1:1 with students from their first year. From college selection criteria and application assistance to financial aid forms and essays, our counselors work with students for multiple years to ensure students find the best fit academically, socially, and financially to thrive in college while reducing financial burden.
The core goals of the four year program are:
  • to reinforce HNHS commitment to preparing intellectually competent and publicly engaged students who are ready for college
  • to develop students knowledge of college admissions
  • to encourage and celebrate students' contribution to their family, their school and their wider community
  • to support students' plans to find purpose and personal fulfillment in their post-high school lives.
 
The Program begins in 9th and 10th grade with a series of workshops covering the foundations for an enriching and joyful high school and post high school life. These workshops focus on:
  • expanding talents and exploring new opportunities
  • developing a basic understanding of the college admission process and requirements
  • creating strong presentation, public speaking, project management skills
  • developing good study habits
  • learning how to advocate for oneself and how to ask for help or guidance
 
Starting in Spring Semester of Junior year students are assigned a college advisor and:
  • attend regular Individual meetings in which all aspects of the college admissions process are covered
  • attend workshops that focus on test planning, activity lists, college search, application procedures and other important themes
  • with their families, attend evening workshops on the college process and the cost of college and how financial aid works.
 
In the Fall Semester of Senior year students work closely with their college advisor and:
  • finalize their balanced college list
  • complete applications
  • write essays
  • with their families, attend FAFSA workshops.
 
And in the Spring Semester of Senior year students work closely with their college advisor to:
  • understand financial aid letters
  • discuss college admittances and rank their choices
  • prepare for transitioning to their post high school life.
Rachel Sommerville is the Coordinator of the College Access Program. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley Extension's Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning. She received a  B.A. from the University of Adelaide and M.A. from the University of Melbourne.  Previously, Rachel worked for many years as a licensed California Private Investigator. She is in her eighth year at Holy Names advising students on college admissions. Rachel is a published author and particularly enjoys working with students on their college essays and University of California personal insight questions.
Kristen Fenn graduated with a B.A. in Social Science from UC Berkeley and earned a professional certificate in College Admissions and Career Planning from UC Berkeley Extension. She has worked at Holy Names High School for eight years. Kristen loves guiding Holy Names students through the college application process. She is a Bay Area native and lives with her family in Orinda.
   
HNHS college advisors identify colleges and universities that match each student's talents, experiences, and future goals. Below is a list of the college and universities to which the HNHS Classes of 2019, 2020, & 2021 have earned admission.
 
Agnes Scott College
Albion College
Allegheny College
Arizona State University
Bard College
Beloit College
Berkeley City College
Brandeis University
California Lutheran University
Cal Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)
CSU Chico
CSU East Bay
CSU Humboldt
CSU Long Beach
CSU Los Angeles
CSU Northridge
CSU Sacramento
CSU Stanislaus
Carleton College
Chapman University
Clark University
College of the Holy Cross
College of Wooster
Denison University
DePaul University
Diablo Community College
Dominican University
Duquesne University
Eckerd College
Elon University
Emory & Henry College
Fairfield University
Fordham University
Georgia State University
Gettysburg College
Gonzaga University
Goucher College
Guilford College
Holy Names University
Hofstra University
Hollins University
Howard University
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark University
Louisiana Sate University
Loyola University, Chicago
Loyola Marymount University
Macalester College
McDaniel College
McGill University
Merritt Community College
Mills College
New York University (Abu Dhabi)
Northeastern University
Northern Arizona University
Pomona College
Purdue University
Rhodes College
Ripon College
San Diego State University
San Jose State University
San Francisco State University
Santa Clara University
Seattle University
Smith College
Sonoma State University
Southwestern University
Spelman College
St. John’s University (New York)
St Mary’s College (California)
Stonehill College
Trinity College (Dublin)
Tulane University
Tuskegee University
University of Arizona
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Davis
University of California, Irvine
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Merced
University of California, Riverside
University of California, Santa Cruz
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Reno
University of North Texas
University of the Pacific
University of Portland
University of Puget Sound
University of Redlands
University of Richmond
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of St. Andrews (Scotland)
University of Washington
Wheaton College (MA)
Whittier College
Whitman College
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Xavier University (Louisiana)
Please register for visit by contacting Rachel Sommerville: [email protected]