At Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, New York, college planning is a four-year process.
Students work with their counselor each year to explore their interests, identify their strengths, learn about themselves, and gradually develop an individualized plan for life after CBA.
Beginning in ninth grade, college and career planning is integrated into the CBA experience through grade-level Seminar classes, individual meetings with counselors, career and college exploration, application and essay support, financial aid and scholarship guidance, and opportunities for families to meet with the Counseling Office.
The result is a process that begins with an important question, Who am I becoming?, before moving to another: Where do I want to go next?
CBA College Outcomes at a Glance
- 100% four-year college acceptance: For the Class of 2026, 100% of CBA students who applied to four-year colleges were accepted.
- 98% four-year college enrollment: 98% of the Class of 2026 enrolled at a four-year college.
- 267 college destinations: Over the past 10 years, CBA graduates have enrolled at 267 different colleges and universities.
- 39 states and international destinations: CBA graduates have pursued higher education across the United States and internationally.
- All eight Ivy League universities: Over the past 10 years, CBA graduates have attended every Ivy League university.
How Does College Counseling Work at CBA?
College counseling at CBA begins in ninth grade and progresses through four stages: Discover, Explore, Plan, and Apply.
Students have Seminar classes with their counselor every year, with the focus changing as they move through high school. This allows college and career planning to develop gradually, giving students time to discover who they are, explore what interests them, and make thoughtful decisions about their future.
Freshman Year: DISCOVER
Freshman Seminar helps students make the transition to high school and begin discovering their interests.
Students learn about opportunities to become involved in academics, service, athletics, fine arts, clubs, and other aspects of life at CBA.
The goal is simple: try new things, get involved, discover interests, and begin building a strong foundation for high school.
Sophomore Year: EXPLORE
Sophomore Seminar continues the process of discovery while introducing students to career exploration.
Students begin connecting their interests, strengths, and skills with potential careers and areas of study. The year culminates with career talks through the Counseling Office, where students hear directly from professionals working in a variety of fields.
The focus begins to shift from What interests me? to Where might those interests lead?
Junior Year: PLAN
Junior year marks the beginning of more intensive college planning.
Junior Seminar helps students connect their career interests with potential college majors and programs. Students learn about college fit and begin researching colleges and universities based on their academic interests, goals, personality, and priorities.
Throughout the year, students:
- Explore and research colleges and universities
- Learn how to evaluate college fit
- Attend college fairs and visit colleges
- Develop an individualized college list
- Take the PSAT
- Develop an SAT and ACT testing strategy and complete admissions testing as appropriate
- Learn about the college application and admissions process
- Begin completing the Common Application
- Understand the different components of a college application and how to tell their story effectively
- Begin brainstorming and writing the college essay
Students also meet individually with their counselor throughout the year to discuss their college plans, goals, and questions.
Senior Year: APPLY
Senior year is focused on turning the college plan into action.
Students work closely with their counselor throughout the application process. Senior Seminar and individual counseling meetings focus on:
- Developing an overall college application strategy
- Finalizing an appropriate college list
- Revising and strengthening college essays
- Writing supplemental essays
- Completing and reviewing Common Application materials
- Preparing for college interviews
- Understanding admissions timelines and requirements
- Exploring financial aid and scholarship opportunities
- Learning about specialized opportunities and programs, including HEOP, EOP, Honors Colleges, accelerated programs, dual-degree programs, and other pathways
- Evaluating college options and preparing to make a final college decision
CBA also offers parent information sessions, individual student meetings, and family meetings to help families understand the college admissions process and support students throughout their college search.
What Is CBA's College Acceptance Rate?
For the Class of 2026, 100% of CBA students who applied to four-year colleges were accepted.
Following graduation:
- 98% enrolled at a four-year college
- 1.5% enrolled at a community college or preparatory school
- Less than 1% pursued trade school, military service, professional athletics, or another postsecondary path
College acceptance, however, is only one measure of success.
The goal of CBA's college counseling program is to help each student identify colleges, universities, programs, and opportunities that fit his or her individual interests, abilities, goals, and aspirations.
Where Do CBA Graduates Attend College?
CBA graduates attend colleges and universities across the country and around the world.
Over the past 10 years, CBA graduates have enrolled at 267 different colleges and universities in 39 states and internationally.
Their destinations include Ivy League institutions, highly selective national universities, leading Catholic universities, liberal arts colleges, major research universities, technical institutions, public universities, and specialized programs.
| College Category | Examples of Colleges Attended by CBA Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ivy League | Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Yale |
| Highly Selective Universities | Notre Dame, Duke, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Northwestern, University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Carnegie Mellon, Boston College, New York University |
| Liberal Arts Colleges | Colgate, Hamilton, Williams, Amherst, College of the Holy Cross |
| Additional Leading Universities | Syracuse University, University of Rochester, Boston University, Villanova, Fordham, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Binghamton University, Penn State |
College destinations reflect CBA matriculation records from the past 10 years.
Do CBA Graduates Attend Ivy League and Highly Selective Colleges?
Yes. Over the past 10 years, CBA graduates have attended all eight Ivy League universities: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.
CBA graduates have also attended highly selective colleges and universities including the University of Notre Dame, Duke University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, Vanderbilt University, Carnegie Mellon University, Boston College, New York University, Colgate University, Hamilton College, and Villanova University.
For students whose goals include highly selective college admission, CBA provides the academic preparation and individualized college counseling to help them pursue those opportunities.
But college success at CBA is not defined by the name of a university.
For one student, the right fit may be an Ivy League university. For another, it may be a Catholic university, liberal arts college, large research university, technical institution, specialized program, or another path entirely.
The goal is not the same destination for every student. It is the right destination for each student.
What Makes College Counseling at CBA Different?
At CBA, college counseling does not begin when it is time to fill out an application.
It begins in ninth grade.
That gives students four years to discover their interests, explore possible careers, understand the opportunities available to them, and make increasingly thoughtful decisions about what comes next.
The CBA college counseling program includes:
- Four years of grade-specific college and career Seminar classes
- Individual counseling and college planning
- Career and major exploration
- College research and individualized college-list development
- Standardized testing guidance
- College application strategy
- Common Application support
- College essay and supplemental essay guidance
- College interview preparation
- Financial aid and scholarship information
- Family meetings and parent programs
- Guidance on specialized programs and opportunities
Most importantly, the process is personal. CBA counselors come to know their students and help them identify opportunities that reflect who they are and who they hope to become.
How Does CBA Prepare Students for College?
Preparing students for college requires more than helping them gain admission.
Throughout their CBA experience, students are challenged to develop the academic skills, independence, confidence, character, and sense of purpose necessary to succeed after high school.
The Counseling Office works alongside CBA's academic program, faculty, students, and families so that college planning is part of a larger educational experience.
The goal is not simply for students to get into college.
It is for CBA graduates to leave prepared to succeed in college, pursue lives of purpose, and make thoughtful decisions about what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions About College Counseling at CBA
When does college counseling begin at CBA?
College counseling at CBA begins in ninth grade. Students participate in grade-specific Seminar classes throughout high school, progressing through four stages: Discover, Explore, Plan, and Apply.
Does every CBA student receive individual college counseling?
Yes. In addition to Seminar classes, students meet individually with their counselor to discuss college planning, goals, applications, and questions. CBA also offers opportunities for family meetings throughout the college planning process.
What is CBA's four-year college acceptance rate?
For the Class of 2026, 100% of CBA students who applied to four-year colleges were accepted. In addition, 98% of the graduating class enrolled at a four-year college.
What colleges do CBA graduates attend?
Over the past 10 years, CBA graduates have enrolled at 267 different colleges and universities in 39 states and internationally. Destinations include Ivy League and highly selective universities, Catholic colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private research universities, technical institutions, and specialized programs.
Do CBA graduates attend Ivy League universities?
Yes. Over the past 10 years, CBA graduates have attended all eight Ivy League universities: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.
Does CBA help students with college applications and essays?
Yes. CBA students receive guidance on college research, application strategy, the Common Application, college essays and supplemental essays, interviews, admissions testing, financial aid and scholarships, and evaluating their final college options.
Does CBA help families navigate the college admissions process?
Yes. CBA offers parent information sessions and opportunities for individual student and family meetings to help families understand the college admissions process and support their student throughout the college search.
