College Prep - De Smet Jesuit

Preparing Spartans for What's Next

College preparation at De Smet Jesuit goes far beyond academics.
Our students graduate not only having met rigorous academic standards, but also equipped with the life skills essential for success—time management, personal networking, and a deep understanding of their God-given gifts.

College Credit Opportunities

De Smet Jesuit students have the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school through SLU's 1818 Advanced College Credit (ACC) program, UMSL's Advanced Credit Program (ACP), and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

SLU ACC and UMSL ACP courses allow students to earn dual credit by enrolling in approved high school classes that mirror university-level coursework. Students earn a college transcript from SLU or UMSL, which can often be transferred to other institutions.
AP courses prepare students to take national exams administered by the College Board. Colleges award credit or advanced placement based on the exam score and individual school policies.

Each option offers a valuable head start toward college—saving time, tuition, and providing real-world academic experience.

The image appears to be a table or chart listing various SLU 1818 ACC, UMSL ACP, and AP college credit courses, with information about the credit hours and semesters associated with each course.

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Informing & Training

Boot Camp, Test Prep, Events

Application boot camps

Essay writing seminars

ACT prep classes

Financial Aid Night

Military Academy and ROTC Night

NCAA Eligibility Night

A procession of De Smet Jesuit graduates in their caps and gowns on graduation day.

Networking with Alumni

Alumni Mentorship Lunches

A signature program and student favorite, our Alumni Mentorship Lunches connect students with De Smet Jesuit alumni working in a wide range of career fields. These bi-monthly sessions feature guest speakers, real-world advice, and—of course—plenty of pizza.

Students participating in summer mentorship program raising their hand in a meeting

Reps, Tours, Fairs

Find the Right College

100+ college rep visits each year

Jesuit Excellence Tour College Fair hosted on campus

Individual counseling

Rooted in Excellence. Focused on the future.

At De Smet Jesuit, college prep is more than a curriculum—it's a commitment to forming confident, well-rounded young men ready for life beyond high school. From one-on-one college counseling and personalized academic planning to real-world mentorship and dual-credit opportunities, we walk with each student on a path toward success in college and beyond.

Four Years of College Prep

FRESHMAN YEAR

Our college counseling department works with freshmen to transition them into our record-keeping system, Naviance / Family Connection. We provide hands-on instruction helping freshmen set up and troubleshoot their accounts, create the framework of their activity resumes, and undertake self-knowledge programs such as the Meyers-Briggs inventory. In addition, our college counselors plan and conduct standardized testing for freshmen students, specifically the EXPLORE exam distributed by ACT Inc.

SOPHOMORE YEAR

JUNIOR YEAR

Junior college counseling is focused on preparation for college applications. Juniors will take a diagnostic ACT during November of their junior year and will have an opportunity to take an ACT prep course in the February-April timeframe. During the second semester of junior year, juniors and their families will meet one-on-one with their assigned college counselor. This meeting is to discuss the college application process, from best practices for senior class selection to the college selection process to the technical details of submitting components of the application through Naviance. We help families prioritize their college visits and understand relevant timelines for standardized testing, financial assistance applications, and application submission. Juniors take their first official ACT test during the second semester of junior year.

SENIOR YEAR

Prior to the beginning of senior year, the college counseling staff conducts a “Common Application Boot Camp” to assist our seniors in beginning to fill out their applications. During this two-day, optional workshop, seniors have a chance to work on their applications in the presence of the college counselors for ease of access to information. We have found that this greatly increases the speed with which they get underway in the application process.

Throughout senior year, students work with their college counselors to ensure their documentation has reached the colleges they intend it to, to select decision-date options for the colleges to which they intend to apply, and to prioritize the admissions offers that they receive. In addition, we help students locate and procure scholarships and understand the offers made to them by their chosen schools

Dave Boland

College Advisor

Calendar RSS Feeds

Feb 11 2026

College Counseling Virtual College Info Session

6:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Mar 12 2026

College Counseling Virtual College Info Session

6:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Apr 8 2026

College Counseling College Planning 101

6:30 PM - 6:30 PM

College Credit Opportunities

Rooted in Excellence. Focused on the future.

Dave Boland

CollegePrep