College Counseling
The College Counseling department at St. Teresa’s Academy provides a comprehensive and individualized program to assist students and their families in the college search, application and matriculation experience. In recent years, STA graduates have attended more than 60 different colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad.
STA maintains relationships with college and university admission offices throughout the country and around the globe, with more than 130 college and university admission representatives visiting STA each year to meet with students. Our dedicated college counselors regularly visit college campuses to learn more about offerings and meet with STA graduates. The journey to college is one of self-discovery, self-reflection, evaluation and exploration. Our college counselors assist families with building a college list, managing the application process, networking with college representatives, and providing resources for applying for need- and merit-based aid.
College Financial Aid Workshop (virtual) – November 20, 6:30 p.m.
Junior Seminars – Two required in November
Junior Parent College Planning Update – January 23, 6:30 p.m. (virtual, town hall meeting with two admission deans to discuss the changing landscape of college admissions, test-optional updates, trends, and parent advice)
Sophomore Seminar – introduction to Maia Learning – February TBA
Sophomore Family College Planning Night – March 27, 7 p.m., M&A Auditorium Juniors Seminars – Three required in the spring
Debi Hudson, MA, CEP
Director of College Counseling
Debi has been with STA most of her career. In addition, she has college counseling experience with Rockhurst High School and the University of Tulsa Office of Admission. She is past president of the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling and the Great Plains Association for College Admission Counseling, and a former Board Director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Debi has presented at national and regional conferences and served on numerous committees at the regional and national levels. She has served on the reading committee for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and multiple college admission advisory boards. Debi is a Certified Educational Planner and a member of the Board of Commission of the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners.
Bryan Smith, MA
College Counselor
Bryan joined joined STA’s College Counseling team in August 2023. He is originally from St. Louis, where he graduated from St. Louis University in 2015. Bryan’s experience in education begin at MIT, where he worked for five years in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. It was there that he developed a love for working with students. Prior to joining STA, he worked at the UMKC Henry W. Bloch School of Management in undergraduate admissions and recruitment.
If you are an STA graduate and are in need of a transcript, you may request it online. For questions regarding transcripts/records of graduates, contact Kristie Carney, STA Registrar.
STA is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and fully endorses NACAC’s Code of Ethics and Professional Practices.
STA also holds memberships in the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools.
STA students and parents utilize Maia Learning, an online college planning tool specific to The Academy. This allows students and parents to research colleges, search deadlines and requirements, analyze probability for admission, complete surveys, and much more.
Students register with Maia Learning in their sophomore year. The Maia platform also includes an Interest Profiler, Personality Test, and Work Keys as well as our Advice Sheets on resumes, interviews, scholarship search, and much more.
Class of 2025 – register with Maia in December 2023, parents in January 2024
Class of 2026 – register with Maia at Sophomore Seminar in early March 2024, parents late March 2024
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