Viking Vantage

January 2026 Edition

As we approach the course selection season for the 2026-2027 school year, we know that students and parents are looking at the Curriculum Guide with one big question in mind: How do we build a schedule that colleges will love?

The secret isn’t just picking the "hardest" classes; it’s about strategically utilizing the Curriculum Guide to maximize the rigor you are approved for while maintaining a balanced, high-achieving profile.

1. The Curriculum Guide: Your Admissions Roadmap

The Curriculum Guide is more than a list of courses; it is a contract of expectations. For college admissions, the Strength of Curriculum is often the #1 factor in the decision process. When an admissions officer opens a Verot student’s file, they look at what was available to that student and how much of that challenge they accepted.

• Prerequisites are Key: The Curriculum Guide outlines specific grade requirements needed to move up a level.
• Sequencing: It shows the four-year flow for Core subjects (Math, English, Science, Social Studies, and Theology), ensuring you don't miss a bridge course required for an AP senior year, for example.

 

2. Understanding the Levels of Rigor

At Bishop Verot, we offer three distinct tracks. Choosing the most rigorous level you are approved for is the best way to signal college readiness.

 

3. Leveraging Approved Rigor

Admissions officers don't expect every student to take 7 AP classes. However, they do look for students who max out in their areas of strength.

Pro Tip: If you are approved for Honors English but not Honors Math, don’t be discouraged. Taking the most rigorous path in your strongest subjects shows specialized excellence. Use the Curriculum Guide to see if an elective (like a specific Science or Social Studies elective) can add rigor to your transcript even if you aren't in the highest track for every core subject.

 

4. The AP Capstone & Scholars Academy Advantage

For our most ambitious Vikings, the Curriculum Guide details the AP Capstone Diploma (AP Seminar and AP Research). This focuses on the skills colleges value most: independent research, collaborative teamwork, and evidence-based writing.

If you are a member of the Scholars Academy, your Curriculum Guide path is specifically designed to showcase your passions, leveraging them alongside a service-learning leadership endeavor that begins in sophomore year.

 

5. Strategy for Success: The Reach Approach

When you sit down with the guide this month:

1. Check your current grades against the prerequisites for the next level up.
2. Look for unlocked opportunities: Did you do well in Biology? You might be approved for AP Environmental or Honors Anatomy if you meet the prerequisites.
3. Balance is Rigor: A transcript of all As in Honors is often more competitive than a transcript of Cs in AP. Use the guide to find the sweet spot where you are challenged but still thriving.

Choosing the right classes is the first step in the Verot to University journey. By using the Curriculum Guide as your primary tool, you ensure that every hour spent in the classroom is an investment in your future college applications.

 

February 2026 Edition

Kelley Kaminsky, MA, MEd | School Counselor

In the midst of the coldest weather we’ve had in SWFL in years, it may seem too early to begin thinking about summer plans. After all, the final bell of the school year typically signals a total academic shutdown involving equal parts sunshine and sleeping in. But for a Bishop Verot Student, summer is the secret season. It’s the time when the pressure of daily homework fades, opening up the mental space to build a profile that truly shines in a competitive college landscape.

We believe that students shouldn't just stay busy. They should be strategic. Whether you are a rising sophomore or a senior staring down the barrel of college applications, the way you utilize these months can be the difference between a standard application and a compelling narrative.

The Myth of the Perfect Summer

There is a common misconception that to impress an admissions officer, a student must spend thousands of dollars on a prestigious pre-college program or find a cure for a rare disease by July.

Here is the truth: authenticity wins. Colleges are looking for intellectual curiosity, leadership, and initiative. A student who spends their summer mastering a new language, coaching a local youth league, or significantly raising their SAT scores shows more character than one who simply showed up to a resume-padding seminar.

Navigating the World of Summer Opportunities

The landscape of summer opportunities is vast, and without a map, it’s easy to feel lost. This is where early research becomes a competitive advantage. During National School Counseling Week (Feb. 2-6), Mrs. Breen, Ms. Hankin, Mr. Orr, and Mrs. Kaminsky met with interested students during lunch to encourage them to begin sorting summer paths into a few key areas:

• Academic Enrichment

• Community Impact and Volunteering

• Work Experience

• Personal Projects

 

1. Academic Enrichment: The Early Bird Advantage

Many students wait until May to think about summer plans, but for high-achieving scholars, the most prestigious opportunities are often gone by then. This includes specialized programs in STEM, humanities, or the arts. Many of the most impactful programs—those that are free, merit-based, or highly selective—have deadlines as early as January or February.  Using resources like the comprehensive guides from the College Essay Guy, families can identify high-impact programs that might be right for them.

• The Strategy: Use the winter months to identify programs that align with your prospective major. Securing a spot in a competitive summer institute isn't just a resume builder; it’s a signal to admissions officers that you are ready for collegiate-level rigor.

 

2. Community Impact: Depth Over Breadth

Some students treat volunteering like a chore to be completed, but colleges are rarely impressed by a long list of disconnected service dates. Look for ways to connect your service to genuine interests, or possible career paths. Instead of simply joining a project, we encourage students to design one.

• The Strategy: Early planning allows a student to identify a local need and create a solution. Whether it's organizing a community literacy drive or establishing a sports clinic for underserved youth, a summer spent creating a project shows leadership and a genuine heart for service—traits that a simple log sheet cannot convey.

 

3. Work Experience: The Power of the Grind

Never underestimate the power of a summer job. In an era of hyper-curated resumes, there is something deeply refreshing—and highly valued—about a student who knows how to work. Work experience builds soft skills like punctuality, conflict resolution, and teamwork—traits that admissions officers value highly. A student who can balance a 20-hour work week with other interests demonstrates a level of maturity and real-world readiness that is increasingly rare.

 

4. Personal Projects: The Self-Starter’s Edge

For the true self-starter, summer provides the luxury of time to pursue independent studies that don't fit into a standard curriculum. Write a novella, build an app, start a podcast, teach yourself how to play guitar, or master a new language. These independent studies demonstrate incredible maturity and curiosity.

• The Strategy: These endeavors show that a student doesn't need a teacher or a grade to motivate them. They learn because they are curious. When a student can point to a tangible product they created from scratch, they move from being a good student to a thought leader.

The Viking Advantage

At Bishop Verot, we are more than just a school; we are a community dedicated to the whole person. Bishop Verot students understand that excellence is a habit. Using the summer to refine your goals is an investment in your future self. 

All students can reference the “Plan Your Summer With Intention” assignment in Scoir for more ideas on how to make the most of the summer months.