College Counseling

The goal of college counseling is more than placement — it's about discovering where you truly belong.

College counseling at Merion Mercy is a four-year, individualized program that provides tailored guidance to students and their families throughout the college selection process.

Our student-first, detail-oriented approach prioritizes self-discovery as a guiding principle. Just as we help your student craft an internal wisdom that equips her for the external world, we believe that selecting a college requires her to assess herself—her individual needs, strengths, preferences and values—as much as assessing school rankings.

Which is to say: the process begins within. 

Our Philosophy

At Merion Mercy Academy, we strive to support each student in the search for her ideal college match: the college or university that best suits her unique strengths, interests, values, and goals. With the student both as the leader and the center of our work, we provide comprehensive and scaffolded college guidance across all four years of their time at Merion, with an emphasis on introspection, individualized support, and family engagement.

The Process

College Rep Resources:

Schedule A College Rep Visit

College Matriculations

Merion Mercy Academy students in the Classes of 2023 - 2025 have enrolled in the following colleges and universities. Schools in bold have multiple MMA alumna currently enrolled.

Alberta University of the Arts James Madison University Temple University
American University Juniata College The Ohio State University
Arcadia University Kutztown University University of Tampa
Auburn University La Salle University University of Tennessee
Boston College Lehigh University Thomas Jefferson University
Boston University Loyola Marymount University Trinity College
Bucknell University Loyola University Maryland University of California (Berkeley)
Case Western University Maryland Institute College of Art University of Connecticut
Catholic University of America McDaniel College University of Dayton
Clemson University Michigan State University University of Delaware
Colby College Mississippi State University University of Kentucky
College of the Holy Cross Mount Holyoke College University of Miami
Cornell University Neumann University University of Michigan
Dickinson College New York University University of Mississippi
Drexel University North Carolina State University University of Notre Dame
Dublin City University Northeastern University University of Pennsylvania
East Carolina University Old Dominion University University of Pittsburgh
Elon University Pace University University of Rhode Island
Fairfield University Penn State University University of Rochester
Florida Atlantic University Princeton University University of Scranton
Fordham University Rosemont College University of South Carolina
George Washington University Rutgers University University of Wisconsin (Madison)
Georgetown University Sacred Heart University Villanova University
Gettysburg College Saint Joseph's University Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Gwynedd Mercy University Salve Regina University West Chester University
Hofstra University Southern Methodist University West Virginia University
Holy Family University St Mary's College of Maryland Widener University
Hood College St. John's University Xavier University of Louisiana
Howard University Susquehanna University Yale University
Immaculata University Syracuse University  

It is because of my classmates, friends and teachers
that I have grown into the person I am today.

- Sarah D'Alessandro '25, College of the Holy Cross

Meet The Team

Allison Hoffmann

Allison Hoffmann

M.Ed, Temple University
B.A., Franklin & Marshall College
Lauren Plaxa

Lauren Plaxa

M.S.Ed, University of Pennsylvania
B.A., English/Secondary Ed, St. Joseph's University
Sally McGovern '89

Sally McGovern '89

B.A., Psychology, Villanova University

Alumnae Stories

Our goal stretches beyond college placement — it's to prepare young women to take on the world.

Meet Our Alumnae