College Counseling

Country Day students after the clap-out.

Our College Counseling Office provides a comprehensive program that reinforces the school’s mission, guiding principles, and long-standing tradition of academic excellence. It is a hub of support, where curiosity, kindness, and academic engagement are inextricably linked. At its core, we view higher education as the logical next step, an opportunity for a lifelong investment in learning.

The scope and sequence of Country Day’s comprehensive college counseling program work in concert with all aspects of the Upper School experience. Our grade-level curricula provide developmentally appropriate information and pose essential questions that allow our students to pursue academic excellence alongside authentic pursuits that shape their Country Day experience and, importantly, inform their college choices.

Each student’s upper school journey should begin with essential questions:

Who am I?

What genuinely interests me?

How do I learn best?

Where will I find joy during these formative years?

Starting here creates a foundation that is appropriate to each student's stage of development, considers the whole person, and values authentic growth over external achievement.
View our latest College Profile. Proprietary resources created and cultivated by our College Counseling Office are available in your My CCDS Portal.

Recent Matriculation

The image displays the coat of arms of Brown University, featuring a shield with a red cross on a white background, surrounded by a laurel wreath.

The image displays the word %22Calte%22 in large, bold text against an orange background with the text %22TECHNOLOGY%22 written above it.

Case Western Reserve University logo.

Indiana University Logo

A general overview of our program:

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Sophomore Parent College Night in February: “What It Took to Get In – Portraits of Successful College Applicants”

Get-to-know-you meetings for sophomores and counselors continue at any time during the school year
All sophomores take the PSAT in October and practice ACT in the spring
Required individual student/parent meetings in late winter to plan junior year curriculum and summer experiences, and begin to explore college options

Junior Year

Junior Parent Student College Night in January: “Navigating a Rapidly Changing Landscape – Advice from Two College Deans”

Junior parent/student information sessions at the start of the school year
Juniors meet with more than 100 college representatives on our campus in the fall
All juniors take the PSAT in October
Required individual meetings with juniors and their counselors in January, followed by family meetings with the counselor, to formulate college list and plan summer experiences
College counseling classes meet weekly in spring for major/career aptitude testing, creation of resume, analysis of sample college essays, brainstorming, and essay drafting
Required summer essay and application workshops – rising seniors choose from June, July, or August dates

Senior Year

Senior Parent Student College Night in August: “How We Read an Application – A Conversation with Four College Deans”

Senior college counseling classes meet weekly in the fall for guidance and time to work on essays and applications
Seniors meet with more than 100 college reps who visit our campus in the fall
Individual meetings between seniors and their college counselor throughout the fall to refine the college list and plan applications

Programs for Parents at Any Grade Level

More Information

CCDXperiences

Our goal is to help students develop the skills, knowledge, and empathy required to engage successfully in a rapidly changing world. Through CCDXperiences, students see firsthand what it is like to work in a field that interests them through short-term job shadows, long-term volunteer research positions, or weeklong career exploration opportunities on university campuses and in the field. Because of the close relationship we have with our students and the generous volunteerism of our community, we are able to match students with relevant, impactful experiences.

Read below for examples of past CCDXperiences!

Doctor and student posing for a photo during the job shadow experience.

Vanca Pandey `26 spent time with Dr. Khurram Khan at his oral surgery practice, About Face Surgical Arts. "I really enjoyed seeing how multiple aspects of medicine came into play for his job. It included dentistry, oral surgery, and anesthesiology. He also developed platelets to promote healing while in the operating room, which I found really interesting. I also really enjoyed the environment at his office. Dr. Khan and his team are so welcoming, and it was really amazing to see how they were able to connect with and make every patient feel comfortable."

Abby Falkingham `25, Maggie Klekamp `25, and Marin Lange `25 shadowed at Waterson Garner to learn about brand strategy and new product development. The students sat in on two days of virtual consumer interviews with CCDS parent and trustee Katie Waterson. “It was amazing to see how the company works,” said Abby “I had so much fun!”

The image shows three individuals wearing medical scrubs and hair coverings.

Kier Smith `26 and Ryaan Arif `26 shadowed Dr. Chris Riemann at The Cincinnati Eye Institute, observing surgeries and following up with patients in the clinic the next day. This hands-on experience is a longtime favorite among CCDS students!

Counseling Staff

Mr. Stephen Jackson
Director of College Counseling
(513) 979-0261
jacksons@countryday.net

University of the South (BA, 1995), Brown University (MAT, 2002)
Mr. Jackson joined Cincinnati Country Day School as director of college counseling in July 2026 with more than 25 years in independent school experience. Stephen began his career in higher education as an assistant director of admissions at the University of the South, his alma mater, and earned a master’s degree in teaching from Brown University. Throughout his career, he has taught English, coached athletics, and served in a variety of student life leadership roles. He is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS).

Mr. Charles F. McGivern
Associate Director of College Counseling
(513) 979-0334
mcgivernc@countryday.net

LaSalle University (BA, 1997), Temple University (MS Ed., 2003)
Mr. McGivern has been counseling students at Country Day since 2007. He has also taught senior English electives. He has a master’s degree in education with a specialization in technology integration from Temple. Mr. McGivern grew up in Philadelphia, where he attended William Penn Charter, a private school he describes as “exactly like Cincinnati Country Day.” He came to Country Day from Interboro High School in Prospect Park, Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia suburb, and before that from William Penn High School in the city. Mr. McGivern is a member of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, the Ohio Association of College Admissions Counselors and the College Board.

Sam Fox
Administrative Assistant & Testing Coordinator
(513) 979-0274
foxs@countryday.net

Northern Kentucky University (BA, 2015), University of Louisville (MS Ed., 2017)
Ms. Fox joined Country Day in the 2024-25 school year. After completing her master’s degree in counseling, she worked in various settings, including adolescent mental health, adult substance abuse treatment, and provider insurance enrollment. Ms. Fox spent her elementary school years in Marysville, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, before moving with her family to Louisville, Kentucky. After completing her bachelor’s degree at NKU, she moved back to Louisville, where she stayed until permanently moving to Cincinnati in 2018. When she is not working, Ms. Fox enjoys running, drawing, and playing roller derby – she skates with the Cincinnati Rollergirls, Black-n-Bluegrass Roller Derby, and Team Ohio All-Stars.

College Representatives

Thank you for interest in Cincinnati Country Day School. Country Day is located in Indian Hill, a beautiful suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. Our campus is only a few miles from the following Cincinnati neighborhoods: Hyde Park, Loveland, Madeira, Montgomery, Symmes Township, Milford, Blue Ash, Terrace Park, Newtown, and Kenwood.

Directions to Cincinnati Country Day School

6905 Given Road, Cincinnati, OH 45243-2898

View Larger Map

From the North and West

Take I-275 E to exit 52 (Loveland/Indian Hill exit); turn right at the end of the exit ramp. You will be on Loveland/Madeira Road. Follow Loveland/Madeira Road for approximately 3 miles to Kugler Mill Road. (There will be a red flashing light at this four-way stop intersection). Turn left and follow about 1 mile to Given Road. Turn right onto Given Road.

From the North and East

Take I-275 W to the exit for Route 28, Milford. Take Route 28 through downtown Milford and continue over the bridge. After the bridge, turn right onto Route 126. Follow for a short distance until you reach Shawnee Run Road; turn left. Continue on Shawnee Run and follow for approximately 1.5 miles to Given Road. Turn right onto Given Road.

From the South

Take I-71 N to Kenwood Road; turn right at the exit ramp. Go to the second traffic light (Shawnee Run Road); turn left. Travel approximately 3.5 miles until you arrive at Given Road. Turn left onto Given Road.

From Northern Kentucky

Take I-71/75 N or I-471 N to I-71 N. Follow directions from south.

From Blue Ash, Montgomery, Kenwood, etc.

Take Montgomery Road to Galbraith Road. Take Galbraith Road east which becomes Kugler Mill once you cross over Miami Road. Follow Kugler Mill to Given Road. Turn right onto Given Road.

From Landen, Lebanon, Middletown, etc.

Take I-71 S or I-75 S to I-275 E. Follow directions from north and west.

From the Indianapolis Area

Take I-74 E and follow until you get to I-275 E (to Dayton). Follow directions from north and west.

In This Section