Lori Welsh
University Prep Coordinator
The future is bright for our graduates. Not just because the options are limitless, but because at Sacred Heart School of Halifax, we are very intentional about ensuring our Senior School students find the path, the opportunity, and the university that is right for them.
I lead our University Prep Program, and I think I have the best job on campus! I counsel, guide, and support our Senior High students as they contemplate their future. And, because of Sacred Heart’s education, grounding, and holistic development, our students are clear in their goals, confident in their voice, and prepared to step boldly into their next chapter.
Sacred Heart’s Program has two parts. The first part is all about university prep classes for Grade 10-12 students and course selection counselling for all Grade 9-12 students.
In Grade 10, we start by looking at strengths, interests, and life philosophies. Students start building resumes as living documents that will be ready when needed, and they are analyzed and reviewed as students progress through Senior High.
In Grade 11 — the crucial research and exploration year — I encourage our students to keep an open mind and explore all of their possibilities. Students learn about the criteria for programs of interest and how to compare and contrast their various options. This culminates in an initial ‘safe to stretch’ list. They attend both local and national university recruitment fairs that we host on campus, and I often identify programs and schools that they may not have initially considered.
In Grade 12, we get serious! It’s an exciting whirlwind of applications, interviews, and scholarship possibilities. To support our students as they think about the transition ahead and their final choices, we bring in recent alums during university reading weeks to provide advice and mentorship. We give presentations on topics like finances, healthy relationships, course selection, and campus life. I work with our Senior School Counsellor to provide additional resources and support on several socio-emotional topics that are always top of mind for our students.
The second part of Sacred Heart’s University Prep Program is one-on-one counselling — my favourite part! I meet with students throughout the year, most of them in Grades 11 and 12, but some keen students in Grade 10. It’s this part that I find the most meaningful. I have the luxury of time to really get to know our students, to understand who they are, what they want, and in what environments they thrive. And, because of our small size and valuable staff collaboration, I can dive deep, which means my recommendations and referrals are insightfully and strategically tailored.
In my opinion, it’s this combination of teaching and personalized support and mentorship that truly sets Sacred Heart apart. We don’t focus on scholarships, we don’t push students into Ivy League schools unless they’re interested, and we don’t make recommendations for schools or programs that aren’t going to lead to success. As a result, our program is incredibly successful. We have a large academic footprint for such a small school, as our students are getting into top programs at their first-choice school, many of them with impressive awards and scholarships — read more here. And, most importantly, our students are making the university transition immediately and seamlessly, well prepared for what university and their future have in store for them.
I’m honoured to lead this process for our students, and humbled by the quality of our students and the wise, thoughtful choices they are making. And, in true Sacred Heart fashion, I am confident that these choices will lead them not just to personal joy and success, but to making meaningful impacts on our world.
