College Planning 1 (second semester)
Required of all juniors. Juniors will learn about the elements of the college application process, and begin to address several of them. Topics covered include identifying suitable colleges, the role of the transcript and standardized testing, recommendations, communicating with college admissions offices and visiting college campuses. Students will register for the ACT (with Writing) and the SAT Reasoning test, and will learn how scores from these tests are reported to the colleges. They will also fill in the data set of the Common Application, and use the Internet to research colleges and financial aid opportunities.At the end of the semester, each Junior should have a tentative list of colleges to investigate over the summer. The course meets once a week.

College Planning 2 (first semester)
Required of all seniors. Seniors will finalize the list of colleges to which they will apply, identify recommenders, prepare portfolios and auditions as applicable, take any standardized tests needed to present themselves well, and write essays. The Putney School dedicates a weekend each October, with the help of the English department, to generating two personal essays suitable for applying to college; faculty come to campus on the Sunday to give an initial read of student drafts and the English teachers review the essays, which are the only assignment given seniors that weekend. Seniors also review mock admissions files, in simulated admission committees, to experience the viewpoint of an admissions reader. Individual meetings with the college counselor are always encouraged, and are more important than ever this semester. The course meets once a week.

Health and Lifestyles (full year)
Health and Lifestyles is a year long course that offers a time when students can explore their adjustment to boarding school and their own development. They will look at the choices they are faced with in everyday life, including issues such as individual health, community life, sexuality, and substance use. They will explore technology and media as related to development and social ethics. Students participate in group discussions as well as do individual projects.

Tutors, Learning Disabilities, and Referrals
Providing students with extra help is a responsibility of every teacher at the Putney School. Some students, however, need additional learning support in general or with specific courses. Karla Baldwin, the Academic Dean, coordinates and arranges this support, at the parents' additional expense, and makes referrals to private tutors who work with students on campus and who are familiar with the Putney School curriculum and faculty.