The Indian Creek Advantage

Please use Rep Visits to schedule an in-person or virtual visit to Indian Creek School this fall.  Contact Maggie Melson at mmelson@indiancreekschool.org if you have questions.
Our intentional, balanced education brings powerful results. Not only are Indian Creek School (ICS) graduates well-prepared for college by our rigorous curriculum, but they also demonstrate qualities of character that contribute to success throughout college and beyond.  Our teachers help students build non-cognitive qualities - from self-management to social intelligence to curiosity – by providing students with meaningful opportunities to develop and practice them. The goal of the Indian Creek College Counseling program is to not only help students and their families discover the college or university that is the best fit for the student’s academic, extracurricular, and social desires and needs, but also to ensure that our graduates will thrive in college.

Our College Counseling Office guides each student and family through the college search and application process. Highlights of the ICS College Counseling program include individual meetings with students and parents, essay and resume review, interview prep, college visits and tours, Parent Information Sessions, application prep and submission, and hosting college reps on campus.  College Counselors Maggie Margiotta Melson and Nadine Marks enjoy working closely with each student to provide helpful guidance and support.

Timeline

List of 5 items.

  • Freshman Year

    • Families participate in Freshman College Counseling Meeting-Overview of Process in October
    • Parents, if your child receives accommodations or would like to receive accommodations in school or on standardized testing, please contact Ms. Taylor Dalisera, tdalisera@indiancreekschool.org
    • Document any community service hours, including volunteer opportunities from home, using the form on the Indian Creek website
    • Start a spreadsheet with resume-worthy activities.
    • Consider Indian Creek Summer Programs
  • Sophomore Year

    • Sophomores participate in College Admission Representative Visits offered September-November.
    • Students and parents participate in College Admission Fairs
    • Students take PSAT at Indian Creek
    • Students receive PSAT scores online at collegeboard.com
    • Parents and students participate in a sophomore information session focused on an overview of the college search and standardized testing (ACT/SAT) in Spring
    • Specialty students (athletes, visual arts, or performing arts) should be in touch with coaches, teachers, and the College Counseling Office, May
    • Document any community service hours, including volunteer opportunities from home, using the form on Indian Creek website
    • Continue spreadsheet with resume-worthy activities and draft your high school resume
    • Explore what matters to you in preparation for your college search process. ICS College Counseling will provide questions.
    • Begin researching colleges online. Participate in virtual college fairs and digital campus tours as part of the college research process. Keep notes to share with your college counselor.
    • Research college costs and potential financial aid with the FAFSA4Caster at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/estimate
    • Consider Indian Creek Summer Programs and other online summer enrichment experiences
  • Junior Year

    • Students participate in College Admissions Representative Visits offered September-November
    • Students and parents participate in virtual College Admission Fairs
    • Students take PSAT’s at Indian Creek School
    • Continue researching colleges online. Participate in virtual college fairs and digital campus tours to create a list of colleges that appeal to you.
    • Students receive PSAT scores in their College Board account
    • Research test-optional schools using fairtest.org
    • Athletes interested in playing Division I or II sports in college should register with the NCAA clearinghouse, eligibilitycenter.org, and contact Director of College Counseling Mrs. Melson at mmelson@indiancreekschool.org
    • Juniors and parents receive Naviance instructions and login information, January
    • Families sign up through the College Board website to take SAT’s in December, March, May, or June*
    • Families sign up for the ACT at act.org to take the test in Feb, April, June, or July (if accommodations are desired please contact Ms. Dalisera)*
    • Parents attend Junior Parent night, In-depth discussion about the application process, financial aid, and scholarships offered in January (Date TBD)
    • Begin your scholarship search by starting with goingmerry.com and/or www.fastweb.com
    • Apply for scholarships that accept applications from juniors
    • Families interested in learning more about GAP year should start exploring options at https://www.gapyearassociation.org/program-search.php
    • Parents schedule an individual meeting with College Counselors Mrs. Marks or Mrs. Melson between January – April
    • Students schedule an individual meeting with College Counselors Mrs. Marks or Mrs. Melson between January – April
    • Families should visit colleges while they are in session. If a student already has an interest in a certain school sign up for their “junior day” visit*
    • Families participate in “AIMS College Fair”, usually in late April*
    • Document any community service hours, including service from home, using the form on the Indian Creek website
    • Continue to update resume with noteworthy activities, stay involved and take on leadership roles if that works for a student
    • Students ask teachers for recommendations then follow up with a completed Faculty Recommendation Request Form in May
    • Create a target college list of 15-20 schools that will be shortened in collaboration with your college counselor
    • Consider Indian Creek Summer Programs, especially the College Essay Blinc and other summer enrichment activities
  • Summer between Junior and Senior Years

    • Students need to do something worthwhile. Find an internship, get a job, take classes, volunteer, or a combination of several of these activities.
    • Families should work on the college list and update Naviance with schools student is considering as well as those to which they will apply.
    • Families should plan their visits to colleges whenever ICS is not in session. Virtual tours and online search options are available.
    • Specialty students should be honing their craft, going to camps, attending workshops, or working on portfolios.
    • Start your college application spreadsheet with application deadlines in order, essay prompts, costs, statistics to assess your probability for admission, and note any merit scholarship requirements to motivate yourself.
    • Update Naviance account with colleges you are considering and/ or those to which you will apply. Double-check application deadlines match your plans.
    • Use Net Price Calculators on college websites to get an understanding of what your family will be expected to pay for college.
    • Continue to research scholarships and financial aid using goingmerry.com and www.fastweb.com.
    • Create a list of scholarships for which you will apply to include dates and requirements. Inform your college counselor.
    • If you will apply for Federal Financial Aid, create a FAFSA account and organize documents so that you can submit October 1 when it opens.
    • Draft your main college essay. Common Application and Coalition essay prompts can be found online.
  • Senior Year

    • Students continue to update Naviance website with up-to-date college choices from September – December.
    • Students follow up with teachers about recommendations
    • Students research test-optional policies for colleges they are considering using FairTest.org.
    • Families sign up for October SAT/ACT (if needed).
    • Students work with College Counselors Mrs. Mark or Mrs. Melson to coordinate the application process, September – December.
    • Families must send standardized test scores themselves. Go to collegeboard.com or www.act.org and send them directly to the colleges (September - January).
    • Students participate in virtual or face-to-face meetings College Representatives offered September – November.
    • Senior Class and Parents participate in College Counseling meeting during the first week of school.
    • Participate in Financial Aid Information Session (usually in November).
    • Student and parents fill out the FAFSA (Opens October 1 annually), Free Application for Federal Student Aid at fafsa.ed.gov.
    • Parents fill out the CSS Profile for colleges that require that financial aid paperwork at collegeboard.org.
    • Families decide if early action/early decision/ or priority applications are the deadlines to work towards, often they are as early as November 1.
    • Students continue to upload applications well before deadlines. Students must put all dates and deadlines into Naviance and communicate with their college counselor regularly.
    • Students update Naviance and the College Counseling Office with acceptance, waitlist, and deny outcomes from the colleges (November – April).
    • Students update College Counseling Office with any Scholarship information received. 
    • Students make final decisions for College Matriculation, May 1, and update Naviance.
    • We all celebrate our seniors!

List of 2 members.

  • Photo of Maggie Melson

    Maggie Melson 

    Director of College Counseling
  • Photo of Nadine Marks

    Nadine Marks 

    College Counselor and Testing Coordinator
Indian Creek School (ICS) is part of the SMARTTRACK College Funding High School Initiative. This program provides ICS families with access to free online resources about “how to pay for college, how to pay less for college, and how to keep your retirement safe.” ICS Families can create a free account that will provide access to free online information and a link to an assessment here.

Upcoming Events

Indian Creek school is a co-educational, college preparatory independent school, located in Crownsville, Maryland.  Students in Pre-K3 through grade 12 receive a vibrant educational experience based on excellent academics steeped in strong student-teacher connections.