On a picturesque 180-acre campus in Lake Country, University Lake School offers highly individualized and ambitious college counseling that lays the foundation for lifelong success for its students.
“Our school believes in a balance between academics, leadership, service and extracurriculars – it’s all important,” says Allie Reeder, the director of college counseling at ULS. “The individual is really valued here. Not only do we know our students, but our students know themselves.”
Head of School John Dewis speaks to the small-by-design philosophy. “For three-quarters of a century, this has been the story for some 30 lucky ULS graduates. That’s our senior class – there’s no hiding. We are small and selective and punch way above our weight in just about every arena: athletic, artistic, literary, STEM and academic ambition. We are also, and more importantly, people of great heart.”
Each ULS classroom is designed to provide time for students to challenge themselves and develop their skills and interests. By the time seniors apply to college, they can speak authentically to their strengths, ambitions and passions. “Our students have spent years stepping outside of their comfort zones to figure out who they are, who they want to be, and what they need to do to get there,” Reeder says.
Before, during and after the application process, Reeder counsels students, having candid conversations about their goals and nonnegotiables. She keeps abreast of opportunities by touring colleges with students, hosting community education events, inviting admissions representatives to the school, researching the latest news and data in higher education, connecting with other counselors, and pursuing professional development, all of which leads back to the student.
ULS’ 2025 graduating class earned 86 acceptances (an average of about five per student) to 61 colleges and universities across 18 states, in addition to a collective $4.8 million in merit scholarships.They will pursue a variety of majors, from game design to pre-law to software engineering, and many have already gotten involved on their new campuses.
“One of our graduates will play Division III soccer next year, another has made the university’s dance team and multiple students are enrolled in the honors colleges at their respective institutions,” Reeder says.
Over the school’s 70-year history, alumni frequently return to campus, citing their time at ULS as the catalyst for their passions and successes. “The best colleges are lucky to land our students in their freshmen class each year, and we are forever proud of their success,” Dewis says.
