College Counseling

Philosophy

Roeper’s College Counseling Department guides Upper School students on their journey to finding a college that best suits them academically, socially and financially- a place that challenges them and nurtures their love of learning and commitment to creating a better world.

Embedded in the Roeper education is a love of learning, of challenging oneself and of developing passions, building meaningful relationships with faculty, taking “safe risks” through participation in sports and the arts, and giving back to the community. Well on the way towards self-actualization, Roeper students are not only competitive in the college admissions process, they are sought after, and moreover prove to be highly successful students and leaders on college campuses.

“Let us talk about our tasks. We prepare our youngsters for college. This is a matter of course. But I consider preparation for college as half of our job. We also want to help our students to be amply prepared for this world in a social and human sense. We want our youth to have values, to understand their values, and to help them uphold their values…Regardless which way the country is going politically, to the right or to the left, youth will challenge the older generation and our institutions. We should not delude ourselves. Our youth will not become less verbal and less articulate, nor will they become less informed. The trend is inevitable, and I would say we would not even want it any other way.”

-George Roeper to the PTA, 1968

Decision Making Process

When deciding where to apply and which college to attend, we encourage students to consider:

Self-Awareness
College Awareness
Comparison
Action

Just as students assess their needs and wants in a college, colleges are aware of the values and academic rigor that allow their programs to thrive. They search for students who will enhance and be successful within their environment. In assessing potential, college admissions officers evaluate applicants on more than grades and test scores. Colleges strive to understand students from a holistic perspective and consider:

Academics
Test Scores
Student Essay
Letters of Recommendation
Resume/List of Activities, Awards
Other Subjective Factors

Patricia Bostwick, Director of College Counseling

Patricia has over 32 years of experience, a Masters in Counseling, and is a licensed counselor in the State of Michigan. Before coming to Roeper, she worked with gifted students as the Director of Guidance at Dondero High School for 20 years, as the Director of College Counseling at the Frankel Jewish Academy for four years, has been an Adjunct Counselor at Oakland Community College for 25 years and is an Independent College Consultant. She is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), a member and past officer of the Michigan Association of College Admissions Counseling (MACAC) and a founding member of the NACAC Metro Detroit College Fair Committee, the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and is a faculty member of the William Glasser Institute.