Since 2021, NuVu High School has offered Beyond NuVu, a course designed to help seniors and rising juniors navigate their next steps after graduation—whether that’s college, a gap year, an internship, or an entrepreneurial path. In addition to a three-week immersive course, students receive year-round counseling tailored to their individual goals.

“NuVu students leave our school with an extraordinary ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt creatively to change,” says Karen Sutton, Director of Admissions and Chief of Staff at NuVu. “With Beyond NuVu, we’re channeling those skills into future-focused thinking: What has sparked your curiosity throughout your studio work at NuVu? And how can we help you pursue that?”

The journey begins with a focused fall Studio for seniors and a spring Seminar for rising seniors, both built around exercises that encourage students to reflect critically on their passions and consider where those interests might lead.

“It’s really about the student’s personal growth—and helping them build the confidence to head out into the world,” says college counselor Jeremy Adams. “We guide students through visualizations of their future, address their worries, and help them create a concrete set of goals.”

Beyond NuVu centers on three core components: the transcript, the college essay, and the portfolio.

The least daunting of the three? The portfolio. Thanks to NuVu’s studio model, students have been documenting their work thoroughly for years. “That’s a really distinguishing feature for us,” Jeremy notes. “Most people think portfolios are just for art school, but at NuVu, even students in engineering or STEM-focused studios graduate with portfolios that are incredibly strong.”

Jon Turnquist, Dean of Students agrees. “At NuVu, a student’s path, specialization, and expertise are reflected not only in their transcript, but in a portfolio that showcases applied knowledge—often in ways that surpass expectations traditionally held for high school students.”

Not only does the college counselor review each senior’s portfolio alongside them, but NuVu’s experienced coaches also offer input. “Sometimes our coaches know what a student’s best work is—and which piece might resonate most with a particular college audience. They’re a tremendous help when it comes to curating the portfolio.”

Having a dedicated college counselor and a studio-style approach to the application process has helped NuVu students gain admission to celebrated universities, including those in the Ivy League. But for Jeremy, it’s about more than outcomes.

“As a teacher, you get to know students well—but as a counselor, you learn their hopes, their family dynamics, their personal journeys,” he says. “That fuller picture allows me to do my best college ‘matchmaking’ for each student.”

As NuVu CEO Saeed Arida explains, not only do seniors utilize Beyond NuVu to think seriously about their futures, but it allows the entire NuVu staff to pause—and zoom out—along with them.

“Beyond NuVu was born from that moment—the realization that our students aren’t just preparing for college, they’re preparing to shape a world that doesn’t exist yet,” explains Saeed. “This course is our way of walking beside them as they reflect on who they are, what they care about, and how they want to show up in the world. It’s not a break from our model—it’s an extension of it. Because at NuVu, learning doesn’t end with a diploma. It evolves. It deepens. It carries forward.”

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