Academics
College Counseling
Maui Prep College Counseling: Personalized Guidance, Exceptional Results
At Maui Preparatory Academy, our college counseling program is dedicated to helping every student find the higher education path that aligns with their personal talents and unique life goals. Led by Dr. John James, Mrs. Jessica Lucia, and Mr. Trevor Sturgeon, our department utilizes a modern, three-pronged approach: Start Early, Smart Strategy, Select with Purpose
Pursuing College Aspirations
100% of Maui Preparatory Academy students are admitted and plan to attend college after graduation. We are committed to inspiring our students to explore, discover, and achieve their brightest futures.
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The Summer Advantage
We believe in controlling what we can: preparation. By moving the workload to the summer between Junior and Senior year, we take the pressure off the busy academic season.- Individual Coaching: Starting the week after Junior year ends, our counselors meet 1-on-1 with students to build a balanced list of schools (2 "Reach," 4 "Target," and 2 "Likely" schools).
- The "July Advantage": One hour of work in the summer is worth much more than an hour in the busy fall. Our students start their senior year with their essays nearly finished.
- First in Line: By submitting applications by November 1st, our students are among the first to be considered for admission and high-value scholarships.
- Early Peace of Mind: Many of our students receive their first acceptance letters before Christmas break.
Stand Out
We treat every application like a custom project. We don't just send in grades; we tell a story.- Writing Experts: Our counselors are writing teachers who help students refine their essays until they truly shine.
- Data-Driven Decisions: We use modern tools and statistics to see how a student’s profile compares to past admissions data, ensuring they apply to schools where they can succeed.
- Targeting the Right Programs: For large state schools, we find specific majors or programs that give our students a higher probability of being accepted.
- Advocating for Students: We write personalized letters to universities for every student and train our teachers to write the best possible letters of recommendation.
Sense of Place
Living on Maui shouldn't make the college search harder. We use our personal relationships to help students find a home away from home.- Narrowing the Map: If a student wants to go to a specific area (like the East Coast or California), we help them narrow down their list based on the "vibe" and culture of those schools.
- Alumni Mentors: We connect our seniors with Maui Prep graduates who are already at those colleges. They can tell our students what the school is really like.
- Bringing Colleges to Maui: We host over 50 college recruiters on our campus every year. We also set up 1-on-1 video calls so recruiters can meet our students face-to-face.
- Matching People to Places: We know our students personally. We help them find schools that fit their personality—like finding a supportive community for a female engineer or a creative hub for an artist.
Academic Excellence and College Exposure
- 10th Grade: Students start a "College and Career" class to begin planning and practicing for tests (SAT/ACT).
- College Credit: Most of our students graduate with college credits already earned through AP classes or the University of Hawaiʻi.
- Financial Support: We provide hands-on help with scholarships and financial aid forms to make college more affordable.
A Foundation for Success
About
Maui Preparatory Academy is a preschool through 12th grade private school located in West Maui.
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