At RPCS the goal of college counseling is to help
students discover and gain admission to the colleges
to which they are best suited. For that reason, RPCS'
college counseling program is a highly individualized
process in which students, their parents and the College
Counselor together assess students' interests, needs,
strengths and abilities to work toward making the best
possible college choices.
The college counseling process begins in January of
the junior year. At that time, all students and their
parents attend an informational meeting and receive
the RPCS's College Planning Handbook, written especially
for RPCS students and parents. After this initial meeting,
both students and parents then meet one-on-one with
the College Counselor throughout the spring semester.
During these meetings, students' goals and interests
and the college selection process are further discussed.
The College Counselor also advises families on college
visits and issues such as standardized tests, financial
assistance options, and more. During the senior
year, the college search process picks up speed as students
narrow their lists of college choices and work on completing
their applications.
The College Counseling office at RPCS has numerous resources
available to students as they research their college
options. In addition to guidebooks and individual college's
catalogues, students may also make use of on-line college
search services, CD-ROM and video resources. In addition
to all of these resources, over the course of the academic
year, over 100
college admissions representatives from schools across
the country visit RPCS
to meet with students and talk with them about their
college choices.
Since the
1997-98 academic year, we have a required course for
seniors called Transitions. The class, co-taught by
College Counselors Leigh
Martin Lowe and Randy
Tajan, addresses
specific college search related issues in the fall semester,
such as test taking, essay writing, interviewing, and
campus visits. During the spring semester the course
focuses on the student's actual transition to life at
college with visiting speakers, including current college
students and administrators.
Leigh Martin Lowe
Director of College Counseling
lowel@rpcs.org
Randy J. Tajan
Assistant Director of College Counseling
tajanr@rpcs.org
Ann Longmire
Registrar & College Counseling Assistant
longmirea@rpcs.org |
