The Road to College
oday’s universities seek students who exceed minimum expectations, who are well rounded, who can think critically and creatively, and who are prepared for the intellectual and independent work of college. Competitive colleges look for student resumes with rigorous classes, high standardized test scores on the SAT or the ACT, interesting and accomplished extracurricular activities, and dedicated community service. Students are also admitted based on excellent writing skills and articulate personal interviews.
BCA works to prepare our students in each of these areas beginning as early as their freshman year. To prepare for the road to college, our students meet with the Associate Dean of the Upper School annually to plan individualized paths with the right level of class work, the appropriate academic and technical tracks, and engaging extracurricular activities. Utilizing a premier career and college readiness program, students identify their unique interests, discover compatible careers, and plan high school and college academics to achieve their goals. During the sophomore year, custom college guidance includes taking the PSAT test. The PSAT gives students estimated scores for the SAT and valuable information regarding areas of strength and weakness for additional study, as well as qualifying students for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
During the fall of junior year, students with GPAs of 3.5 and above, good character, and leadership skills are inducted into the Bradford Christian Academy Chapter of the National Honor Society, a prestigious academic honor and highly valued by rigorous colleges. College preparation intensifies during the junior year with challenging classes, including AP courses, and our semester-long SAT preparation class. Students who take the SAT preparation class on average score 150 points higher on their SAT scores. Individualized college guidance continues as BCA identifies students’ talents, interests, competencies, standardized test scores, and GPAs and discusses appropriate colleges and universities with each institution’s admissions criteria.
By the fall of senior year, seniors have identified colleges that are good fit and reach schools, with the guidance of the Dean and the Associate Dean of the Upper School. Students create online college portfolios with college application deadlines, necessary forms, scholarship information, letters of recommendation, transcripts, standardized testing, and personal essays. Students are coached on proper interview techniques, attire, and etiquette. We also host college preparation workshops for families, bringing in guest speakers to instruct on issues such as college financing strategies and scholarship options.
BCA is very proud of the hard work and dedication of our students and the acceptances and scholarships received by our graduates. Our college acceptances include the following US News & World Report Top 100 Colleges and Universities:
Binghamton University (SUNY)
Boston University
Brandeis University
Case Western Reserve University
Clark University
College of the Holy Cross
Cornell University
Drexel University
Emory University
Indiana University
New College of Florida
Northeastern University
Pepperdine University
Purdue University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rutgers State University of New Jersey
St. Michael’s College
Stonybrook University
Syracuse University
Tufts University
University of Alabama
University of California, Davis
University of Colorado
University of Connecticut
University of Delaware
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Miami
University of New Hampshire
University of Virginia
Wake Forest University
Wheaton College, IL
Wheaton College, MA
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Our graduates have also been accepted into the following excellent colleges and universities:
Arizona State College
Assumption College
Azusa Pacific University
Belmont University
Bentley University
Berkshire Institute for Christian Studies
Biola University
California State University, Chico
Calvin College
Castleton State College
Cedarville University
Champlain College
Charleston Southern University
Colby Sawyer College
College of Charleston
College of Saint Rose
Collin Community College
Covenant College
Curry College
Daniel Webster College
Dean College
Eastern Nazarene College
Eastern University
Eckerd College
Elms College
Elon University
Emerson College
Emmanuel College
Endicott College
Fashion Institute of Technology
Fisher College
Flagler College
Florida Southern College
Framingham State University
Franklin Pierce College
Geneva College
Gordon College
Green Mountain College
Grove City College
Hesser College
Hofstra University
Houghton College
Ithaca College
Johnson and Wales University
Kent State University
Lancaster Bible College
Lasell College
Liberty University
Lyndon State College of Vermont
Marian Court College
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health
Merrimack College
Messiah College
Montana State University
Montserrat College of Art
New England College
New Hampshire Technical Institute
Newbury College
Nichols College
North Shore Community College
Northern Essex Community College
Northpoint Bible College
Norwich University
Oxford University
Pace University
Philadelphia University
Plymouth State University
Pratt Institute
Presbyterian College
Providence College
Regis College
Rivier University
Roberts Wesleyan College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Roger Williams University
St. Anselm College
St. John’s University, NY
St. Leo University
Salem State University
Samford University
Savannah College of Art and Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of the Museum of Fine Arts
Siena College
Southeastern University
Southern New Hampshire University
State University of New York at Potsdam
Stetson University
Unity College
University of Arizona
University of Buffalo (SUNY)
University of Hartford
University of Houston
University of Kentucky
University of Maine, Orono
University of Massachusetts, Boston
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
University of Massachusetts, Lowell
University of New England
University of New Haven
University of Oregon
University of Salamanca, Spain
University of Southern New Hampshire
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Westmont College
Wheelock College