Our expert college counselors ease the way

Two full-time college counselors guide students and their families at every step.

Our counselors provide personal attention and top-notch information that focuses on the unique needs of each student. Mayfield’s college counseling program prides itself on the caring guidance, support and advocacy of each student as she makes her way through the college admission process. We believe this process is an extension of her Mayfield education requiring solid research, self-reflection and thoughtful analysis.
The college counseling program at Mayfield Senior School prides itself on the personal guidance, support and advocacy of each student as she makes her way through the college admission process. We believe this process is an extension of her Mayfield education requiring solid research, self-reflection and thoughtful analysis. This necessitates looking beyond college rankings and discovering those universities where her unique gifts will be challenged and nurtured in order for her to truly flourish during the undergraduate years.

The college counselors educate students and parents on colleges, admission standards, trends and procedures in order for students to match their personality and goals with institutional communities and offerings. We believe in savoring the opportunities each young woman has and delighting in the thrill of the search. As with all aspects of a Mayfield education, we care deeply about our students and it’s a joy to walk alongside them throughout this journey.

How well a college matches the individual student's needs is the driving force behind our search process. We get to know the students through individual and parent meetings, weekly meetings as a class during senior year, questionnaires, as well as in their leadership roles and extracurricular activities. At Mayfield, this process is a partnership between the students, their parents and the counselors. Unlike many other high schools, we choose not to split each class amongst our two counselors. Rather, every student gets the full advantage of both counselors' knowledge and experience. They meet with both of them and feel free to access either one. The college counselors guide each senior in choosing a list of potential colleges emphasizing a good "fit" — communities where she can flourish personally and academically. Fully aware that there is no substitute for a campus visit, the college counselors stay current by touring multiple colleges each year.

— Lynn Maloney, Co-Director of College Counseling

We truly enjoy supporting our students through the process of college admissions and helping to find the right college fit. It’s so rewarding to see our Mayfield alums come back to campus and declare, “I am so happy and at home at my college! And Mayfield prepared me incredibly well for my college classes!” 

The process, year by year

List of 4 items.

  • Freshman Year

    It’s hard to think about the college admission process when you first walk through our doors as a freshman and honestly, we don't really want you to. We do want you to become invested in the Mayfield community in and out of the classroom.
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  • Sophomore Year

    Having made a strong transition and discovered your academic footing, sophomore year is the time in which we encourage you to challenge yourself scholastically, working hard in the classroom and honing in on your interests. Now is also the moment to start deeply pursuing your passions, whether they manifest within athletic, artistic or service oriented fields.
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  • Junior Year

    This is when the college admission process begins in earnest. As soon as you take your first semester finals, we get started. The conversation opens not with the colleges, but with you. We will ask you to reflect on what it is you really want for your college experience, your strengths, challenges, ambitions and personality. The soul-searching is first.
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  • Senior Year

    During the senior year, students will have the challenge of juxtaposing two skill sets in order to work through the admission process. On one hand, you're encouraged to think broadly, deeply examining your personal strengths and needs, and doing some serious reflection, all with the goal of uncovering a balanced list of colleges that you are thrilled to apply to and that you love! On the other hand, this process is filled with details and deadlines, and you must remain fully organized and in tune to all the minute pieces that need tending.
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College Counseling Glossary

List of 5 items.

  • A Comparison: New SAT and ACT

    The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school and follows high school curricula closely. The new SAT is an evidence-based test, and focuses on synthesis and analysis.
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  • Bi-Weekly Meetings

    During senior year, the college counselors meet with the entire class on a bi-weekly basis to co-teach a seminar on all aspects of the college admission process.
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  • GPA Calculation

    Cumulative grade-point-averages are calculated using all graded courses taken at Mayfield, starting in the 9th grade.
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  • Senior Transition

    As seniors are readying themselves for the college experience, Mayfield Senior School provides two meaningful programs.
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  • Student rankings

    Mayfield does not rank students because of many, many of our Seniors are highly accomplished students academically.

College Counseling Events

List of 3 events.

View All Events

List of 3 members.

  • Photo of Lynn Maloney

    Lynn Maloney 

    Co-Director of College Counseling
    (626) 799-9121 ext. 220
  • Photo of Amy Lareau

    Amy Lareau 

    Co-Director of College Counseling
  • Photo of Katherine Clancy

    Katherine Clancy 11

    Fitness Teacher, College Counseling Assistant, 9th Grade Level & Academic Dean

List of 1 news stories.

  • Oh the places they will go!

    This is the time of year when we finally get a sense of where the members of the Class of  2022 will be heading. Over the last few weeks, our recently graduated seniors wore their new school pride on painted polo shirts, decorated car windows and in sidewalk chalk. And we couldn’t be more proud!  The members of the Class of 2022 will be attending 45 different colleges/universities in 18 states. 49% will attend college in the state of California and 26% will enroll at a public university in the state of California. 23% will continue their Catholic education at a Catholic college/university. Read on for more facts and stats!
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Suggested Reading

The Gatekeepers
by Jacques Steinberg
Colleges that Change Lives
by Loren Pope
Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years
by Karen Levin Coburn and
Madge Lawrence Treeger
Harvard Schmarvard: Getting Beyond the Ivy League to the College that is Best for You
by Jay Mathews
Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.