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College Counseling

Balanced self-discovery

On average, each graduate earns nearly $400k in merit scholarships.
Current high school family? Please view our College Counseling intranet.


Click here for our 2025 - 2026 School Profile
Philosophy​
We are a college preparatory school and believe:
  • The path to college does not need to be fraught with anxiety
  • There are many excellent institutions of higher education, and our goal is to help our students find their fit
  • In educating students and their families about the college process
  • In providing guidance for students to make informed decisions  
  • High school, college admissions, and college are part of life's marathon
  • Each of our students is more than a college acceptance
  • Students can learn about themselves as part of the college admissions process

Family and Student Education

​Throughout the academic year, we hold a series of talks about different topics in the college admissions process, such as:
  • Majors based on interests, values, and skills
  • Colleges based on fit
  • Developing an understanding of the overall process
  • College visits to our school
  • Field trips to colleges
  • Mock interviews

Throughout the summer, we hold weekly evening talks for rising seniors as well as daytime sessions offering one-on-one assistance during the application process.

We encourage you to view this video, which echoes our sentiments on the school experience and plans for college.
College & Career Counseling Process

Our college counseling is integrated with academic and social-emotional counseling. We have an individualized counseling process where we work with our students and their families throughout high school. We begin thinking about college in 8th grade.

  • 8th Grade: ​
    • Our process begins with course planning for 9th grade by understanding the courses taken in middle school, and reflect upon interest and ability in these topics.
  • 9th Grade:
    • We guide the transition into high school, look at upcoming courses, and plan for the long game. Students complete an inventory of skills, interests, and values assessments to help identify potential career fields. Take the PSAT for practice. Students are invited to summer college tours, and the entire Upper School takes a college trip each year to places like New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and more! 
  • 10th Grade:
    • We assess past success for planning future classes and begin identifying potential colleges to research. Students consider summer activities to build their areas of interest. Take the PSAT for practice. Students are invited to summer college tours, and the entire Upper School takes a college trip each year to places like New York, Boston, Pittsburgh, and more!
  • 11th Grade:
    • We curate a balanced college list through supportive and realistic discussions, so students can be excited about the colleges they apply to and their likelihood of acceptance. The PSAT counts this year for National Merit Scholarship qualifying. We guide students in asking teachers for recommendations. We develop a summer plan for college applications, as the summer after 11th grade is a busy one for students as they write their essays.
  • 12th Grade: ​ 
    • We guide students through their Common App and final aspects of the process. The hard part is over–well, except for the waiting.

Achievements

Our students amaze us inside (and outside) of the classroom

Average SAT: 1532
Average ACT: 34

Average for students graduating 2023-2026

Awards

At least 50% of our students each year are National Merit Commended or Higher, a remarkable feat:
  • 2025: 66%
  • 2024: 63%
  • 2023: 75%
  • 2022: 50%
  • 2021: 50%

National Hispanic Merit Scholars:
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2021

Seal of Biliteracy Earned:
  • 2025: 66%
  • 2024: 50%
  • 2023: 50%
  • 2022: 100%
  • 2021: 100%​​
​

AP Scores

Percent of AP® exams administered with scores of 3 or higher: 
  • 2024-2025: 100%
  • 2023-2024: 96%
  • 2022-2023: 98%
  • 2021-2022: 100%
  • 2020-2021: 90%
  • 2019-2020: 100%
  • 2018-2019: 91%
  • 2017-2018:100%

AP Scholar Awards (of 19 students in classes '21 - '25):
  • AP Scholars with Distinction: 17
  • ​AP Scholars: 2
science exams
AP Exam
Our Avg
Global Avg
Biology
4.83
3.24
Chemistry
4.16
3.31
Physics 1
4.38
2.55
Physics 2
5.00
3.14
Physics C: Mechanics
4.45
3.41
​Physics C: E&M
4.45
3.38
math & cs exams
AP Exam
Our Avg
Global Avg
Calculus BC
3.84
3.82
Calculus AB-sub
4.26
4.11
Computer Science A
4.32
3.18
Statistics
4.67
2.96
Precalculus
4.60
3.55
Humanities, SOcial sciences, & Language Exams
AP Exam
Our Avg
Global Avg
Spanish Literature
5.00
2.91
Spanish Language
4.60
3.54
World History
4.60
2.96
Macroeconomics
4.75
2.72
US Government
3.67
2.58
US History
4.38
3.30
European History
4.00
3.23
Microeconomics
4.60
3.24
​

Classes of 2021 - 2025 Outcomes

  • Amherst College
  • Binghamton University
  • Boston University (Honors)
  • California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
  • Carnegie Mellon University*
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Champlain College*
  • ​Clemson University
  • College of William & Mary (Honors) ^*
  • ​Colorado School of Mines
  • ​Cornell University
  • Duquesne University (Honors)
  • Eckerd College* (Honors)
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
  • Florida International University
  • George Mason University (Honors) ^^​
  • George Washington University​
  • Georgia Institute of Technology*​
  • Haverford College*​
  • James Madison University
  • ​Johns Hopkins University​
  • Lemoyne University
  • ​Loyola Marymount University​​​​​
  • McGill University, Canada
  • McMaster University, Canada
  • Mercyhurst University
  • Mount Holyoke College
  • New York University
  • North Carolina State University​
  • Northeastern University (Honors)
  • Nova Southeastern University
  • Olin College of Engineering
  • Pennsylvania State University - University Park
  • Pepperdine University
  • Princeton University*
  • Purdue University (Honors)*
  • Queens University, Canada
  • Radford University
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute​
  • Rochester Institute of Technology*
  • Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology ^^^
  • Seattle University
  • Stevens Institute of Technology (Honors)​​
  • University of Alabama (Honors)​
  • University of Arizona​
  • University of California - Davis
  • University of California - Irvine​
  • University of California - San Diego
  • University of Colorado - Boulder
  • University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
  • University of Maryland - College Park (Honors)*
  • University of Massachusetts - Boston
  • University of Massachusetts - Lowell
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Pittsburgh (Honors)
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of San Diego
  • University of South Carolina
  • University of Tampa
  • University of Texas at Dallas
  • ​University of Toronto
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Virginia*
  • University of Washington at Seattle*
  • ​University of Washington at Tacoma
  • University of Waterloo, Canada
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute 
  • Washington & Jefferson College​
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute​​​

^ Designates acceptance to 1693 Scholars program
^^ Designates acceptance to University Scholars program
^^^ Designates acceptance to Noblitt Scholars program

​* Matriculated
Copyright © 2010-2026. 12340 Pinecrest Road, Reston, Virginia 20191 | 703-860-0211 | [email protected] | Tax ID 27-2420631 | CEEB Code 470033
Ideaventions Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded to or made available to students at the school.

​Ideaventions® is a registered servicemark of Ideaventions, LLC. All rights reserved.
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  • Our School
    • Who are we?
    • Fast Facts
    • Faculty
    • Careers >
      • Open Positions
    • In the News
    • Blog
  • Admissions
    • Events
    • Criteria & Testing
    • Application Steps
    • Tuition
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
  • Academics
    • Lower Elementary
    • Upper Elementary
    • Middle School
    • Upper School >
      • Curriculum
      • Workload
      • College Counseling
      • Graduation Requirements
    • Calendar
  • Community
    • Arts & Theatre
    • Clubs
    • Teams
    • Trips & Events
    • Traditions
  • Summer
    • Elementary Summer Programs
    • Middle School Summer Programs
    • Summer Contact