Post-Secondary Advisement

Dawn DeSimone
Dawn DeSimone
Director of Counseling

We want our students to achieve in academics, athletics, and the arts while they are at the Craig School. And most importantly, we care about their character, what kind of person they are becoming, and what we as caring adults (teachers and parents), must do to advance that development.

The Post Secondary Program is administered by Dawn DeSimone, founder of LD Resource Group, LLC. (a firm dedicated to serving as a resource for the college and post secondary options for LD, ADD, and ADHD students). Ms. DeSimone is on site at the Upper School three days a week throughout the school year and works with our students and their parents in preparation for each student's post secondary experience..

Post Secondary Preparation

Post-secondary education planning begins early in the tenure of an Upper School student, emerging each year with increasing specificity and intensity. The process culminates in the senior year with the finalization of plans, visits, applications, and the anticipation of acceptance and entry to a post secondary educational institution.

We believe that if anything can morally and ethically prepare a child for life, it is time spent in the presence of loving adults who are willing to share their wisdom and care enough to provide meaningful guidance
- Center for the Advancement of Ethics & Character, Boston University.

View a sample Guidelines handout.

Craig students begin in their sophomore year to prepare for life after Craig. Mrs. DeSimone starts the process by focusing on job interview skills and job resumes and then encourages all students to apply for a part-time job or volunteer position in a field they find of interest.  Dressing appropriately, reporting to a boss, keeping regular hours and figuring out a budget are emphasized as good ways to prepare for adult life while still in high school

Ms. DeSimone concentrates on college awareness when meeting with the junior class.  She teaches students the difference between two and four-year colleges and what constitutes comprehensive, strong and basic levels of support.  Students learn how to read a college website and practice filling out applications by hand.  They learn interview skills and how to write a college resume.  Ms. DeSimone also advises students and their parents to track activities starting in 9th grade that may be relevant to a college application. The students all conduct college searches and report their findings to her. At the end of the junior year, she interviews the students and their parents and compiles a list of colleges and post-secondary alternatives.

During senior year Ms. DeSimone works with students one-on-one throughout the entire application process including rehearsals of college admission interviews. She also schedules a series of presentations by college admission officers for juniors and seniors throughout the year and organizes a college fair each spring specifically for LD students. Alumni frequently return to Craig to share their college experiences with students.