High School College and Career Counseling
High School College and Career Counseling
Our HS College and Career counseling has been designed with all students in mind. Our goal is to assist all families and students in post high school planning. The majority of students will apply directly to four year institutions, but some students might choose to take a GAP year, go straight to work or start at community college. We are able to provide individualized attention to students through their time at TEA to prepare for life after high school, whatever their chosen path.
Our small but mighty school has big things to celebrate!
In addition to celebrating a College Program that helps our graduates find colleges and universities that meet their individual needs, we are very proud to share that we have acceptances to every school in the University of California system! With students also attending schools across the country including Stanford, Georgetown, Northeastern, and The Berklee College of Music, it is safe to say that the experiences we provide our students are truly helping them stand out in their college applications.
Setting our Students Apart
Snapshot of real-world problem solving over four years of high school at TEA
With an average of over 100 days/nights in the field over four years, our graduates are comfortable with change, uncertainty and traveling the world. Through dozens of stewardship and service-learning projects, our graduates understand how to do good for others and the environment. With over 300 hours spent working alongside industry experts from organizations like NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NOAA, California Department of Juvenile Justice, Universal Studios, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, and the Bureau of Land Management, our students have learned how to combat important issues in the world that are happening now. This world map previews a small selection of the real world problems and field study highlights experienced by students from the class of 2026.
Nevada Residents Who Attend TEA Can Receive California In State Tuition
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Yes, you read that right. Under California State Law AB 540, certain non-resident students who have attended high school in California and receive a high school diploma can be exempt from payment of non-resident tuition at any public university. This includes all University of California schools and all California State colleges. View the applicable University of California admissions page here, which includes contact at each university should you like to inquire directly.
We can confirm that this exemption is available to graduates from our high school program with several graduates who resided in Nevada are receiving California in-state tuition! If any families in Incline Village, Reno, or any other out of state towns are interested in discussing this more, please contact us here. We will connect you with our College Admissions counselor if you would like to ask additional questions.
Overview of our 4-Year College and Career Planning Process
Ninth and Tenth Grade Planning
- Combined parent night for grade 9/10 (Fall)
- Meet 2-3 times a year via CREW to explore general topics such as: extracurricular activities (commitment, leadership etc), what is testing? (SAT/ACT), intro to Method Test Prep, career exploration via YouScience,
- Upgraded topics for 10th include a deeper dive into academic opportunities (community college, AP Exams), special summer programs, and even attending virtual college fairs to learn more.
- Individual meetings for families to discuss further planning as needed
Eleventh Grade Planning
- Parent night (Fall)
- Meet 2-3 times via CREW in the Fall to cover topics such as testing strategy (when to take etc), diving deeper into activities, summer programs, other academic opportunities (community college, AP exams), college list building, visiting colleges (virtual or otherwise) etc.
- Individual meetings/checks in with each Junior in early 2nd semester to start planning
- Junior Year College “bootcamp”, usually May. Topics include: college list, financial aid, what’s in an application, essay/supplements/PIQ (writing!), planning dates/deadlines, using summer wisely, recommendation letters, update on college admissions landscape
- For students not applying to college; research their next step- GAP year, employment and/or community college programs
Senior Year Applications
- Parent night (Fall)
Senior Year College Intensives (non graded), roughly September through December - Focus on applications, writing review/editing, balanced college list, financial aid/scholarships, understanding deadlines (EA/ED/RD). One to one attention and group work
- For students not applying to college we focus on helping them to identify the path that is right for them and take the necessary steps (i.e., resumes, interviews) to achieve their goals
Methods of Instruction and Communication
- Group CREW lessons
- One to one student/parent meetings/check ins
- Parent Square updates, directly to parents
- Updates on grades 9-11 CREW and College Counseling google classrooms
Meet the College & Career Counselor
In July of 2015, Katy Watts joined Tahoe Expedition Academy to prepare the current class for graduation in June 2017. Since then, she has had the pleasure of guiding and helping every graduate with post-high school options, including direct entry to college/university, a GAP year, community college, and entering the workforce.
With over 23 years of experience in high school academic and college counseling, Katy Watts has witnessed drastic changes in the college application landscape. At TEA, she can directly apply her experience from various high schools and as an application evaluator for multiple UC campuses to help students stay current on the latest changes and requirements. Without the need to focus on a very narrow and strict AP curriculum, she can help students develop holistically and focus more on the "what else" that is so essential to college admissions. TEA has provided a very unique environment to navigate with students, and it has been exciting to see the growth and post-high school success of its alumni.
To learn more about TEA’s College and Career Counseling, please contact Katy at kwatts@tahoeexpeditionacademy.org.
