COLLEGE

Personalized College Counseling
The College Counseling Office (CCO) serves juniors and their families as they officially embark upon their college search process. College planning does not begin in the second half of high school, however. Rather, it begins on the first day of high school, where everything counts from that moment forward for admission and scholarship consideration. It begins even earlier as students discover how they best learn, build a foundation for a strong work ethic, and determine where their talents lie, what their weaknesses are, and how to continue improving themselves in these areas. Taking this into consideration, programming (PSATs, college tours, writing exercises, college questionnaires, college and financial aid nights, etc.) exists for all four class years to prepare them for the road ahead at Latin and the world beyond.
The school recognizes the vast diversity in its students and families and its obligation to give individual guidance, and so our college counseling process focuses upon each student’s particular needs, goals, and abilities. The school encourages every student to discover the best match between his or her own background and the offerings of specific colleges. Some students will choose an Ivy League school or similarly competitive institution. Others may gravitate toward a much smaller, more intimate or specialized college or learning environment. The College Counseling Office maintains an unbiased regard for a broad spectrum of colleges as we evaluate their appropriateness for the individual student in terms of size, type, affiliation, reputation, and selectivity.
Personalized College Counseling
The College Counseling Office (CCO) serves juniors and their families as they officially embark upon their college search process. College planning does not begin in the second half of high school, however. Rather, it begins on the first day of high school, where everything counts from that moment forward for admission and scholarship consideration. It begins even earlier as students discover how they best learn, build a foundation for a strong work ethic, and determine where their talents lie, what their weaknesses are, and how to continue improving themselves in these areas. Taking this into consideration, programming (PSATs, college tours, writing exercises, college questionnaires, college and financial aid nights, etc.) exists for all four class years to prepare them for the road ahead at Latin and the world beyond.
The school recognizes the vast diversity in its students and families and its obligation to give individual guidance, and so our college counseling process focuses upon each student’s particular needs, goals, and abilities. The school encourages every student to discover the best match between his or her own background and the offerings of specific colleges. Some students will choose an Ivy League school or similarly competitive institution. Others may gravitate toward a much smaller, more intimate or specialized college or learning environment. The College Counseling Office maintains an unbiased regard for a broad spectrum of colleges as we evaluate their appropriateness for the individual student in terms of size, type, affiliation, reputation, and selectivity.

Crys Latham
Director of College Counseling
Crys Latham is the founding Director of College Counseling at Washington Latin Public Charter School. The 2020-21 school year marks her eleventh year at Latin. She previously worked in college admissions at Oberlin College, The College of Wooster, and Ohio Northern University. She has a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies, History, and Education from Mount Holyoke College.

Crys Latham
Director of College Counseling
Crys Latham is the founding Director of College Counseling at Washington Latin Public Charter School. The 2020-21 school year marks her eleventh year at Latin. She previously worked in college admissions at Oberlin College, The College of Wooster, and Ohio Northern University. She has a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies, History, and Education from Mount Holyoke College.


Sayaka Smith
College Counselor
Ms. Smith joined Washington Latin Public Charter School in 2021. Prior to that, she worked in college admissions at Tufts University (MA) for five and a half years working with first-year and transfer students in the DMV and around the world. As a first-generation college graduate, she is passionate about helping students and their families to feel more confident navigating the college search process. Ms. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in Japanese and a master’s degree in Theory and Practice of Translation (Japanese) from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in the United Kingdom.

Sayaka Smith
College Counselor
Ms. Smith joined Washington Latin Public Charter School in 2021. Prior to that, she worked in college admissions at Tufts University (MA) for five and a half years working with first-year and transfer students in the DMV and around the world. As a first-generation college graduate, she is passionate about helping students and their families to feel more confident navigating the college search process. Ms. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in Japanese and a master’s degree in Theory and Practice of Translation (Japanese) from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in the United Kingdom.





