College Counseling
Juniors and seniors, do you know Phil Trout? Our College Counselor is a key contact for your post-secondary planning and college search. He has personally toured hundreds of campuses and looks forward to sharing important insights with you.
It has often been said that the college search is a match to be made, and not a prize to be won. I’ll help you find the right fit. Phil Trout, the College Guy
Mr. Trout has a distinguished career as a College Counselor, and is now in his 15th year at Minnetonka. He previously served as the Director of College Counseling at Mounds Park Academy (St. Paul), Shattuck-St. Mary’s (Faribault) and the Illinois Math and Science Academy. He also has worked in college admissions at the University of Minnesota and the College of William and Mary. He is a Past-President of the Minnesota Association for College Admission Counseling, and he served on the Minnesota ACT Council.
He served as President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) during the 2015-2016 school year.
To make an appointment, please email collegeguy@minnetonkaschools.org or
call 952-401-5746
College Entrance Testing
Do you have questions about college entrance tests?
- Why should I take the PSAT?
- What’s the difference between the ACT and SAT?
- When should I take the ACT/SAT?
- How many times should I take the ACT/SAT?
- How can I prepare for college entrance tests?
These questions vary based on each student and their situation. It’s a good idea to have a conversation with your counselor about testing.
For general information, please visit the Testing and Assessments webpage.
Information for Your College Search
2020-21 Schedule
All programs are offered virtually via GoToWebinar, unless otherwise noted. Presentations or handouts and links to recorded webinars are posted below when available.
Date | Time | Event |
Tuesday, Aug. 25 | 3 p.m. |
Webinar: College Admissions 101 |
Monday, Aug. 31 | 3 p.m. |
Webinar: Selective College Admissions - Five Important Tips |
Wednesday, Sept. 9 | 12 p.m. |
Webinar: College Admissions 101 |
Thursday, Sept. 17 | 3 p.m. | Webinar: Admission to Big Public Flagship Universities View the Admission to Big Public Flagship Universities Presentation (pdf) Watch the Admission to Big Public Flagship Universities Webinar (YouTube) |
Thursday, Sept. 24 | 7 p.m. |
Webinar: Senior Parent Program |
Monday, Sept. 28 | 3 p.m. |
Webinar: College Admissions and the Student Athlete |
Monday, Oct. 26 | 4 p.m. |
Webinar: A Workshop on Financial Aid and Scholarships |
Thursday, Dec. 17 | N/A |
College Forum Webinar: Out-of-state College Experiences |
Monday, Dec. 21 | N/A |
College Forum Webinar: Minnesota Experiences |
Thursday, Jan. 7 | N/A |
College Forum Webinar: Life After Minnetonka High School Minnetonka Grads share their experiences attending a Minnesota college or university. |
Monday, Feb. 1 | 7 p.m. | Junior Parent Program: A Kick-off to the College Search Process View the Junior Parent Program presentation (pdf) Watch the Junior Parent Program (Video) |