Hargrave is, first and foremost, a college preparatory boarding school. Our objective is to develop our students into leaders of character prepared for lifelong success. A route to personal success often starts with attending a college, university, or United States Service Academy, and our daily schedule and course offerings closely mirror the student experience at most colleges and universities.
Our college counselor charts an individual course for each student to ensure opportunities are available upon graduation. That unique path is determined based on academic performance, desire, and goals. Whether it be an NCAA Division I university, a Service Academy, or a smaller college with a specific curriculum, our program facilitates the student’s future objectives. With a 100% college acceptance rate for graduating seniors over the last decade, we are consistently delivering on that promise.
3.6
Average college acceptances per graduating senior, submitted to 152 unique colleges and universities
100%
College acceptance rate for graduating seniors over the last decade
$4M+
In scholarship offers earned by our most recent graduating class, not including financial aid
A Deliberate Path to Higher Education
Academic Planning: Together, Hargrave, you as parents, and your son will ensure that he is enrolled in courses that challenge him appropriately and allow him to perform at his highest potential. Honors tracks are available in Biology, Precalculus, English Literature, American Literature, World Studies, and more — and AP placement is available for students who meet the standards and are ready to pursue college-level work.
PSAT (While at Hargrave): During his sophomore year, your cadet will take the PSAT at Hargrave. This assessment establishes a baseline for college readiness, helps identify areas for academic growth, and puts qualifying students on the path toward National Merit scholarship recognition.
Involvement and Engagement: Together, we will encourage participation in athletics, clubs, and leadership opportunities that help your son develop confidence, teamwork, and character. Hargrave fields competitive teams in Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Diving, Fencing, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, and Wrestling — plus organizations including Beta Club, Drill/Silent Rifle, Military Band, Scouting, and more.
Family College Conversations: Begin discussing as a family what type of college experience your son may be interested in — such as school size, location, programs, and campus environment. It’s never too early to start building a list of 20–30 schools to research.
PSAT & SAT (While at Hargrave): Your cadet will take both the PSAT and SAT on campus during his junior year — the May SAT is administered at Hargrave and is required for all juniors. These assessments establish critical benchmarks for college readiness and open doors to merit scholarship opportunities.
Advanced Coursework: Qualified juniors can pursue AP courses including Calculus AB, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Government & Politics, Physics 1, U.S. History, and World History. Dual Enrollment options are also available on a case-by-case basis for qualified students, allowing cadets to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.
Junior Seminar: Your cadet will take the Junior Seminar during the spring semester, where Hargrave introduces key components of the college search and application process — from building a college list to understanding what admissions offices are looking for.
College Interest List: Through collaboration between your family and Hargrave, your cadet will build a focused list of colleges that match his goals and strengths — balancing reach, target, and safety schools.
Early Application Preparation: By the end of junior year, your cadet should have a first draft of his college essay, a Common App account, and a working resume summarizing his accomplishments.
Letters of Recommendation: Your cadet should reach out to teachers before returning to school to request letters of recommendation. Given our 6:1 instructor ratio, cadets have the advantage of close faculty relationships that make for meaningful, personalized recommendations.
College Visits and Refinement: Families are encouraged to continue visiting colleges during the summer to help narrow the school list. Together, Hargrave, parents, and cadets will identify colleges that best fit academic, financial, and personal goals — with a general target of 4–7 schools to apply to in the fall.
Application Organization: With Hargrave’s support, your cadet should organize all application materials, essays, and deadlines to be fully prepared for senior year. We encourage applying “early action” wherever possible to improve competitiveness and receive decisions sooner.
Senior Seminar: Hargrave guides each cadet through every step of the college application process — from finalizing school lists and writing essays to submitting applications and chasing scholarships.
SAT (While at Hargrave): The October SAT is administered on campus and required for all seniors. Cadets may also retake the SAT or sit for the ACT to further strengthen their applications. We support test-optional submissions where it best reflects the cadet’s abilities.
Dual Enrollment Opportunities: Select senior-year courses carry Dual Enrollment credit, including Chemistry (8 credits total) and Critical Reading & Writing (6 credits total), taught on campus by Hargrave faculty. Cadets in these courses earn both a high school grade and a college transcript from the partner institution.
Scholarships and Financial Aid: Our most recent graduating class earned over $4 million in scholarship offers. Hargrave provides guidance on merit scholarships, ROTC opportunities (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines), and FAFSA completion — which families should prioritize completing as early as possible once it opens each October.
Decision and Commitment: As acceptances arrive, we work together to review each option carefully — weighing academic programs, financial aid packages, and overall fit to ensure every cadet walks across the graduation stage knowing he’s found the right next step.
Meet Your College Counselor
Josh Cothran
College Counselor, Hargrave Military Academy
Navigating the college application process can be both exciting and overwhelming. At Hargrave, we are dedicated to guiding our students every step of the way — from freshman year exploration through the final commitment decision — ensuring every cadet has the tools, resources, and individual support necessary to achieve his higher education goals.
Our approach is built on one-on-one conversation and personalized planning. Because Hargrave is a small, all-boys military boarding school with a 6:1 instructor ratio, the transition to higher education looks different for every young man — and that’s exactly how we treat it. Whether a cadet is aiming for a Service Academy appointment, a Division I athletic program, or finding the right academic fit among hundreds of universities, we build a strategy that reflects his goals, his strengths, and his future.
“The best thing we can do from a College Counseling standpoint at Hargrave is to give our students options. With 100% college acceptance for graduating seniors over the last decade, we are doing exactly that.”
Contact Josh directly: josh.cothran@hargrave.edu
