Deciding where to go to high school can be an overwhelming experience. You want to pick a school where you’ll fit in but also be academically challenged. The process might seem even more complicated when you have a specific interest that you want to cultivate in school.
So how do you find an institution that will support your interest in the arts or one with a cutting-edge STEM program? With so many factors to consider, it’s easy to see how the selection process can seem intimidating for families.
“It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the secondary school search, but it should be fun and exciting,” says Emily Chrysler, director of admissions at Whitfield School. “It should be all about discovering who you are and what you’re looking for. It’s also an opportunity for parents to be able to have some meaningful conversations about that right fit.”
The Visit
Visiting campus is among the most important parts of the selection process. “There’s that intuitive aspect of ‘This really feels like I could be here,’ and that’s really important,” says Ann Murphy, director of admissions at St. Louis University High School.
In SLUH’s shadow experience, students and parents visit the school on a day when classes are in session, providing an opportunity to observe an actual day of school.
At De Smet Jesuit High School, educators sit down with students and tailor the tour to areas of interest. “If they’re into science or math, we’ll let them sit in on those classes during their tour,” says director of admissions Tim Sullivan.
While visiting the school, pay close attention to the students. Do they look happy and engaged? Are teachers collaborating with the students? It’s important to “really get a sense of what’s happening, not just from a classroom perspective but also what the students are doing,” says Chrysler, who recommends that students visit campus more than once. “What’s on your mind at the beginning of a search process might be different than when you’re ready to make a decision.”
Finding a Niche
When you have a specific interest, look at the electives and extracurricular activities. “We like to have current students talk to prospective students when they come to visit,” says Murphy. “If a student is interested in being an attorney, the current student can tell them about the Youth in Government club or the debate team.”
If a student wants to be a doctor, for example, Murphy recommends focusing studies on math and science to establish a base that will “propel him to higher-level AP classes.”
Even when a student has a clear interest, however, it’s important to be open to other opportunities. “Sometimes students may have incredible passions that they haven’t yet discovered,” says Chrysler. “Finding that safe and nurturing environment where you can take risks and discover new passions and interests is part of the excitement of secondary school.”
Sullivan concurs: “We offer so much in our curriculum that kids do change their minds. They may think that they’re going to go into one discipline, and they go into something totally different.”
“It’s important to pursue activities both outside and inside school,” adds Chrysler. “There will be important gains by being part of multiple communities.” Many schools facilitate opportunities beyond the classroom. De Smet offers a service program in which students spend every Monday afternoon of their junior year in the community, at such places as hospitals, grade schools, and nursing homes, where they might explore particular areas of study. Whitfield offers an internship for seniors to engage in the community. SLUH offers classes in which students can travel to Washington University and Saint Louis University to immerse themselves in the sciences.
“One thing that is important to keep in mind is that the depth of these experiences is more important than the breadth of them,” says Chrysler. “There is a feeling that we should try everything and participate in everything, and you just can’t. I think being open to new experiences is really important, but there’s also a lot to be learned from making those choices.”
Still Undecided?
Though it might seem like many high school grads know what they want to do, “a lot of students are undecided,” says Murphy. “I think the student who knows what they want to do is highly unusual.”
Again, it’s important to be open to opportunities. SLUH offers more than 80 clubs, which allow students to “find out who they are and their interests,” says Murphy.
School counselors also work with students to help discover interests and navigate the college application process. The college counseling department at SLUH, for example, works with students from the time they start high school until they’ve taken the ACT, applied to colleges, and made their choices. “They’re great at helping students evaluate their options, so they’re making good decisions for the career they are interested in,” says Murphy.
“We make it a point to take care of each student,” says Sullivan. “We know they each bring special gifts and talents with them. We’re just trying to unlock those and ignite them in whatever they choose.”
TAKE IT FROM THE EXPERTS
Four St. Louisans share their school experiences and finding the perfect niche
Antonio Douthit-Boyd
COCA co-artistic director of dance
When Douthit-Boyd started dancing, at age 16, he didn’t think anything would come of it. “I wasn’t good at sports, and I really wasn’t great academically,” he says, “so when I found dance, I fell right into it.”
He earned a full dance scholarship to college. He then went on to perform with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, becoming a soloist, before becoming a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He and his husband, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, moved to St. Louis three years ago to train the next generations of dancers.
High school music classes taught Douthit-Boyd musicality and how to read a score. “Try to find something in your classes that will benefit you as a person,” he suggests. “I think we start to figure out who we are in high school, so if you feel like you have an inclination toward music or dance, find a way to pursue it.”
He believes it’s important for parents and teachers to guide students but let them figure out their interests. “We let a lot of outside things predict what we’re going to do,” he says. “I think kids are very intuitive, and it’s OK to allow them to shape what they want to do. Let them find that joy themselves.”
Beau Herndon
1904 Labs software engineer/innovator/technologist
In high school, Herndon didn’t know he’d eventually work in software, but he always knew that he wanted to be creative and use technology. A combination of science and math classes provided a solid foundation, and technology electives helped Herndon realize that he’s a hands-on learner. “I learn better by drawing equations or doing projects,” he says.
When he was in high school, he worked as a teacher’s aide in a middle school technology class. He also learned to look at problems from a different perspective by participating in math league and playing three sports. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I identified principles of what I loved,” he says. “I wanted to find something where my passions and my skill set collide. That’s the sweet spot.”
Above all, he recommends students show up. “In life, you can be really skilled, but if you don’t show up, you’re going to miss out on a lot of opportunities. I’m not just saying go to class; what I mean by showing up is following through on commitments when you have a team that depends on you.”
Erica King
Regional Business Council's manager of talent development and diversity and inclusion
King did a series of summer internships through the St. Louis Internship Program while in high school. Her first was at a law firm. “It made me think I wanted to be a lawyer,” she says with a laugh. She then worked at the Missouri Historical Society, a commercial real estate firm, and a waste management company. The internships enabled her to see a variety of industries and home in on her true interests.
“I was the kind of person who at a very young age was always on the lookout for an opportunity,” she says. “Every time my mom would turn around, I was showing her a note to sign, because I wanted to do something new.”
She recommends that students stay in the moment. “You’re only going to go through that particular year in school once,” she says. “Take advantage of where you are right now and look for opportunities outside of school, because that really expands your horizons.”
If you’re interested in business, “start interning before you get to college,” she adds. “Get involved in your community. It’s life-changing, and it will expand your network.”
Hannah Allee
United Way of Greater St. Louis' East Side aligned systems specialist
In high school, Allee knew that she wanted to pursue a field that would allow her to serve people, but she didn’t know exactly what that would look like. She considered becoming a doctor, a physical therapist, and a teacher at various points.
Then she realized that all of her potential career interests involved supporting kids. “When I was in college, I worked with people who work with communities to understand better why things are the way they are in our society,” she says, “and why some people have opportunities that others do not and how to address that.”
Allee recommends that students get involved in the community. “A lot of times, as high school students and adults, we think of volunteer and service as helping others, which it is, but these experiences can help students who are interested in the helping professions identify what they’re passionate about.
“High school sets a foundational path,” she adds. “It’s so important that young people try new things but also give themselves a little grace when they change their minds. No educational experience—whether in the classroom or outside the classroom—is a lost experience.
