College Counseling

Re-thinking College Prep

College-Preparatory Program

Oak Grove High School offers a challenging college-preparatory program that is approved by the University of California and is designed to exceed admission requirements for the most rigorous and selective universities across the country.

An Oak Grove School education will include opportunities for hands-on and project-based learning, as well as traditional academic coursework. We believe in collaborating and investigating together and encouraging students to explore, question, and engage the world around them. While memorization has a place, students are also asked to think deeply, approach learning from multiple perspectives, and make connections across disciplines. Beyond the classroom, we encourage self-expression through art, music, and drama, and selflessness through community service opportunities. At Oak Grove, we will empower you with responsibility and ownership of your own learning so you are fully prepared to meet the demands of college and beyond.

Post-OGS College Counseling Series for 2025-26

Geared towards families of seniors preparing for life beyond high school and for juniors preparing for their senior year, these events are open to all families.

View/Download PDF

College Counseling Program Overview

Overview of the Oak Grove College Counseling Program

The College Advisor plays a vital role in coordinating the college counseling program, working closely with all four High School Advisors, the High School Registrar, and the Head of School. Our goal is to support students and families throughout the college selection and application process.

We hold parent meetings in the fall and spring focused on college issues, and Advisors weave college discussions into Advisory sessions over four years. Students can drop by during office hours, while parents are encouraged to schedule appointments or reach out via email or phone. If additional SAT/ACT prep or college guidance is needed, feel free to seek help outside of school. A student’s worth shouldn’t solely hinge on test scores, and at Oak Grove, we don’t rank students or their post-high school options. We believe in helping each student find the right fit, whether that’s college, military service, a gap year, an apprenticeship, or entering the workforce. We recognize all students who give their best effort.

Every year in Advisory, students receive a four-year college planning calendar with steps starting in 9th grade. Juniors and seniors also get a college counseling handbook covering important topics such as timelines, college evaluations, application procedures, essays, and financial aid. College admissions representatives visit Oak Grove during the fall and spring, and all interested students are invited to attend their sessions.

Planning for college and beyond is a collaborative effort. Parents of juniors and seniors should be ready to engage! This process encourages students to take responsibility for their futures. For an idea of the schools our seniors apply to, please check our list of college acceptances below.

9th & 10th graders

9th & 10th grader students are encouraged to discuss their goals, concerns, and feelings about college and post-high school choices during Advisory. The College Advisor has many publications that can be perused. Students can also get information online. Students are encouraged to focus on their academic progress, participate in extracurricular activities and summer programs, and talk to older students and adults about their experiences.

11th graders

11th grade students meet in Advisory during the second semester to discuss and develop college plans. They are encouraged to take the SAT and/or ACT once in the spring. Each January they spend a half-day with their Advisor researching colleges and preparing informal reports to share with one another. Juniors also spend some time in the spring working on drafts of college essays as part of the English 3 curriculum.

12th graders

Seniors are assigned college planning homework over the summer which includes developing an initial list of colleges, writing draft essays, and visiting prospective colleges. All seniors meet in Advisory during the first semester to make final decisions for college plans and work on their applications. Students are assisted in refining their college essays as part of their English 4 curriculum. Each October they spend a half-day together, along with their Advisor and the College Advisor, in a college counseling retreat that is focused on essays and applications.

SAT and ACT Prep Program

9th & 10th graders

receive some preparation as part of their regular English and math courses. In October, freshmen take the PSAT 8/9 and sophomores take the PSAT. These exams serve as practice at taking standardized tests and give students exposure to the content and format of the SAT.

11th graders

devote some of their Advisory time in the first semester to independent practice for the PSAT (which all juniors sit in October) and a practice ACT, and shift their focus to SAT and/or ACT prep thereafter. They are encouraged to take the SAT and/or ACT once in the spring. They have SAT/ACT practice throughout the year in their math class, in addition to the regular course content.

12th graders

are encouraged to prep for the SAT, ACT, and/or Subject Tests over the summer if they feel they can improve their test scores. Students devote some of their Advisory time to studying for the SAT, ACT, or Subject Tests as needed.

All students

are encouraged to do additional preparation outside of Oak Grove if they feel they need it, and options include working independently with a test-prep book, using the free resources on KhanAcademy.org, and hiring a tutor.

Application Year Timeline Tips

View/Download PDF

Helpful College Resources

Oak Grove’s High School Profile

High School Profile – View or download file

Calendars, Timelines and Getting Started

College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/

NACAC: http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/Pages/Default.aspx

Common App: http://www.commonapp.org/how-prepare

List of College Acceptances

Download Map of College Acceptances (2020-2025)

Allegheny College

Arizona State University

Austin College

Azusa Pacific University

Babson College

Bard College

Bard College, Berlin

Bates College

Bennington College

Berklee College of Music

Boston University

Bradley University

Brandeis University

Bryn Mawr

Butler University

Calif. College of the Arts

Cal Lutheran

Cal State Polytechnic – Humboldt, SLO, Pomona

Cal State University – Channel Islands, Chico, Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Sonoma

Centre College

Chapman University

Colorado College

Colorado State University

Cornell College

DePauw University

Dickinson College

Drexel University

Eckerd College

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emerson College

Fordham College

Franklin University, Switzerland

George Washington University

Goucher College

Guilford College

Hamilton College

Hampshire College

Hunter College, City University of New York – City College of NY

Kenyon College

Lawrence University

Lewis and Clark College

LIM College

Loyola Marymount

Lynn University

Marymount Manhattan College

Montana State University

Mount St Mary’s University, Los Angeles

Northeastern University

Northern Arizona University

Ohio State University

Oregon State University

Otis College of Design

Oxford University, England

Pace University

Pacific University

Pacific Northwest College of Art

Pennsylvania State University

Pepperdine University

Pitzer College

Portland State University

Pratt Institute

Prescott College

Purdue University

Quest University

Reed College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rutgers University

Saint Mary’s College of California

San Francisco State University

Sarah Lawrence University

Santa Clara University

Scripps College

Sierra Nevada College

Skidmore College

Southwestern University

St. Lawrence University

State University of New York – Binghamton

Syracuse University

The College of Wooster

The New School/Parsons

The Savannah College of Art & Design

Towson University

University of Aberdeen, Scotland

University of British Columbia

UC Berkeley

UC Davis

UC Irvine

UC Los Angeles

UC Merced

UC Riverside

UC San Diego

UC Santa Barbara

UC Santa Cruz

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

University of Edinburgh, Scotland

University of Glasgow, Scotland

University of Hawaii, Manoa

University of Illinois

University of Kansas

University of La Verne

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

University of Montana

University of Oklahoma

University of Oregon

University of Puget Sound

University of Redlands

University of Richmond

University of San Francisco

University of Southern California (USC)

University of St. Andrews, Scotland

University of The Pacific

University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce, Canada

University of Utah

University of Washington

University of Western Michigan

University of Wisconsin

Vassar College

Westmont College

Whitman College

Whittier College

Willamette University

Researching Colleges and Universities

College Board: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

Colleges That Change Lives: http://ctcl.org/category/college-search/

Common App: http://www.commonapp.org/explore-colleges

Standardized Testing

PSAT: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10

SAT: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat

Subject Tests: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests

ACT: http://www.act.org/

Test-Optional schools: http://fairtest.org/university/optional

Free SAT prep: https://www.khanacademy.org/mission/sat

Applying to College

Common App: www.commonapp.org

University of California (UCs – 9 undergraduate campuses): http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/apply-online/index.html

California State University (Cal State – 23 undergraduate campuses): http://www.csumentor.edu/admissionapp/undergrad_apply.asp

Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU): http://www.aiccu.edu/

Application Year Timeline Tips

APPLICATION YEAR TIMELINE TIPS

Paying for College

FAFSA: https://fafsa.ed.gov/

CSS Profile: https://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile

Cal Grants: https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov/

Schools that meet 100% of financial need: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/list-of-colleges-that-meet-100-of-financial-need/

Ojai Rotary scholarship: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/2843

Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) scholarship: http://www.vccf.org/scholarship/index.shtml

Net cost calculator: http://collegecost.ed.gov/netpricecenter.aspx

Common App: http://www.commonapp.org/how-pay-college

College Fairs

Colleges That Change Lives: http://ctcl.org/info-sessions/

NACAC: http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/Pages/default.aspx

Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs: http://www.nacacnet.org/college-fairs/PVA-College-Fairs/Pages/default.aspx

Helpful Books

Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be, Frank Bruni

Fiske Guide to Colleges, by Edward Fiske

Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools that Will Change the Way You Think about Colleges, by Loren Pope

College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best School for You, by Steven Antonoff

Begin the application process. If you have any questions, we’re happy to assist you.

APPLY NOW

Latest News

A Visit Through Fresh EyesMarch 26, 2026 - 5:39 pm
A Place for All in Tiny TownMarch 24, 2026 - 6:36 pm
Garden Dispatch: Spring is Stirring!March 19, 2026 - 9:56 pm
The Pines Cleanup Service WeekendMarch 11, 2026 - 5:44 pm
OGS 50th Featured in Ojai Magazine ArticleMarch 10, 2026 - 6:32 pm

Instagram

Registration is open for our 2026 Summer Camps. Check out the exciting variety of offerings for ages 3-18! ☀️🎉 (linktree in bio)
oakgroveschool.org/programs/SUMMER
#ojaisummercamp #oakgroveschoolojai #prekthru12 #fun #learning #creativity #friends

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Registration is open for our 2026 Summer Camps. Check out the exciting variety of offerings for ages 3-18! ☀️🎉 (linktree in bio)
oakgroveschool.org/programs/SUMMER
#ojaisummercamp #oakgroveschoolojai #prekthru12 #fun #learning #creativity #friends

Thanks to Vitalant all who were able to come out Saturday and give blood in honor of Ruby Doss `15 and her one-year anniversary of needing five blood transfusions to save her life during childbirth. What a way to give back @rubydossequine !

Find a blood drive near you @vitalantca

#everydropcounts #blooddrives #gratitude #oakgrovealumni

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Thanks to Vitalant all who were able to come out Saturday and give blood in honor of Ruby Doss '15 and her one-year anniversary of needing five blood transfusions to save her life during childbirth. What a way to give back @rubydossequine !

Find a blood drive near you @vitalantca

#everydropcounts #blooddrives #gratitude #oakgrovealumni

Last weekend, a group of our high school and 8th grade students backpacked up Horn Canyon to The Pines campground on Friday evening and spent time continuing to restore the campground—pulling weeds, cutting back brush, leveling tent areas, and helping with general camp maintenance.

On Saturday afternoon, a group hiked up to the ridge and towards Chief’s Peak, enjoying incredible views of the Ojai Valley, and all the way out to the Channel Islands.

We headed back to town on Sunday morning with tired bodies, but energized souls.
It was a rewarding experience, a great adventure, and a lot of fun. We’re grateful for the students’ hard work and adventurous spirit, and we look forward to more opportunities for trips like this in the future.

Thanks to everyone who participated and supported!

#communityservice #backpacking #lospadresnationalforest #friendship #nature #theartoflivingandlearning #oakgroveschoolojai

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Last weekend, a group of our high school and 8th grade students backpacked up Horn Canyon to The Pines campground on Friday evening and spent time continuing to restore the campground—pulling weeds, cutting back brush, leveling tent areas, and helping with general camp maintenance.

On Saturday afternoon, a group hiked up to the ridge and towards Chief’s Peak, enjoying incredible views of the Ojai Valley, and all the way out to the Channel Islands.

We headed back to town on Sunday morning with tired bodies, but energized souls.
It was a rewarding experience, a great adventure, and a lot of fun. We’re grateful for the students’ hard work and adventurous spirit, and we look forward to more opportunities for trips like this in the future.

Thanks to everyone who participated and supported!

#communityservice #backpacking #lospadresnationalforest #friendship #nature #theartoflivingandlearning #oakgroveschoolojai

"More than 50 years ago, in the spring of 1975, Fred Hall, then editor of the Ojai Valley News, asked philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti a simple but pointed question: In a valley already full of public and private schools, why start another one?"

We are so grateful to Ojai Magazine for featuring our 50th Anniversary in this compelling article written by Kerstin Kuhn. Enjoy the full article by picking up your very own copy or enjoy the full article online here by visiting the Lizard Blog (linktree in bio).

@ojaivalleynews @ojaifoodwriter #50yearsofoakgrove #theartoflivingandlearning #jkrishnamurti #education #ojaischools #ojaicalifornia

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