College Advising

Welcome

As the college advising team at Trinity Christian School, we recognize that each of our students has been uniquely created by God for his purposes. As our students grow in their grasp of truth and in cultivating character and a life of service here at Trinity, we trust that they are becoming more like Christ and are being prepared to be salt and light in the world when they graduate from our school and move on to college and careers.

By providing information, guidance, and assistance throughout the college search and application process, our goal is to help students discover which college option will offer the academic and social environment that will help them thrive and bring glory to the Lord Jesus. One of our greatest pleasures is celebrating with our seniors when they are accepted to a college that is just the right fit for them.

Please click on the links on this page to learn more about the support and resources we offer to our students along the way.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Mrs. Blair Gilchrist and Mrs. Dana Weigand
College Advisors

Trinity Christian School is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC). As such, we affirm NACAC's Statement of Principles of Good Practice and the Statement of Students' Rights and Responsibilities in the College Admission Process.

Overview

Trinity's student-centered college advising program is a comprehensive process involving a variety of services that provide students and parents with resources for applying to college.

Upper School Profile 2022-2023

College Advising Handbook

Meet our Staff

Blair Gilchrist
College Advisor
bgilchrist@tcsfairfax.org

Dana Weigand
College Advisor
dweigand@tcsfairfax.org

College Programs & Resources

College Programs & Resources

These programs help students and parents learn more about the application process.

College Night: An overview of the college search and application process for sophomores and their parents.
Financial Aid Night: A comprehensive look at the financial aid process, usually led by a college financial aid officer.
Junior College Meeting: A detailed look at the timeline of the college application process for juniors and their parents. We seek a diverse panel that will include a Virginia public university, a Christian college, and a selective private institution. Recent participants included admissions representatives from University of Virginia, Grove City College, and Johns Hopkins University.
Course Selection Advising: Through an evening event for parents and grade-level seminar meetings for students, families are advised how to make wise decisions regarding the progression of Upper School courses. Topics include homework considerations, the difference between Honors and standard college-preparatory courses, AP placement, graduation requirements, etc.
College Admissions Representative Visits: Representatives from a wide variety of colleges and universities come to campus to meet with students Annual visits include schools such as Virginia Tech, UVA, Christopher Newport University, the College of William and Mary, Grove City College, Wheaton College, Baylor University, Bucknell University, University of Alabama, Florida State University, Vanderbilt University, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University.

Advising

Advising

The college advising team works closely with each student and his or her family to support them through the college search and application process. All students are encouraged to pursue admission to colleges that provide an appropriate match for their unique intellectual abilities, passions, talents, personal values, and career goals. Advisors provide support by:

Praying with and for students as they seek God's will concerning a good college match
Providing training and guidance for research, college correspondence, decision-making, and development of a comprehensive list of schools to pursue
Guiding students through scheduling for academic courses, testing, applications, and enrichment opportunities
Sharing professional knowledge of current and historical trends in college admissions
Supporting the college essay workshop in the senior English classes
Writing recommendations and serving as advocates through the entire college search process
Sending supporting documents to the colleges to which students are applying