College Counselors

Ellen J. Rostker, Co-Director College Counselor
847.324.3733
erostker@cjhs.org

With more than 3,000 four-year colleges in the United States, the college search process can seem formidable for many high school students and their families. The College Counseling Department at CJHS helps students navigate the college landscape to find the school that provides the best fit.

Merle Spielman, has over 36 years of experience in secondary education, including ten years as a college counselor at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL., where she also served as a special education teacher and coordinator, adviser. She has served on numerous curriculum and guidance committees, as well as IACAC (Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling) committees. In addition to holding several state certifications, Merle is certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Ellen J. Rostker has more than 20 years of experience in college admissions, including 11 years at Illinois Institute of Technology. She has also served as President of the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling.

Comprehensive guidance in the college search process begins the day students enter CJHS. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to consider college requirements when they select courses. For juniors and their families, CJHS presents a series of workshops on college admissions, financial aid, and merit scholarships; and regularly shares valuable sources of print and online information for identifying potential colleges.

For each student, a series of regular, one-on-one meetings with the college counseling staff begins in spring of the junior year. Discussions continue through the senior year, when the department works with students as they formulate balanced, focused, and personalized lists of reach, match, and safety schools; and decide whether an early decision or single choice early action college makes sense. As they make their lists, students are encouraged to identify their academic and extracurricular interests, the type of classroom environment that best suits their particular learning style, and the campus culture that will make them the most comfortable.

For CJHS students, the quality of Jewish life is a vital piece of the campus culture equation. Working with the college counseling staff, students look closely at the size and character of a college's Jewish population, the strength of its Hillel and Judaic studies programs, the availability of Kosher food, and opportunities for Shabbat and holiday observance.

To help students narrow their choices, CJHS sponsors college visits to the campus. Representatives from over 60 colleges and universities visited CJHS last fall. CJHS also offers standardized tests (PSAT, PLAN, and ACT) on site, so that students can test in comfortable surroundings and avoid test dates that conflict with Shabbat.

Once the college list is finalized, the CJHS College Counseling staff helps students prepare for interviews, write applications, and develop effective essays that help college admissions committees get to know them as individuals. The department provides strong advocacy for applicants by preparing recommendations that detail their achievements and strengthen their applications. When necessary, the department communicates directly with admission officers to ensure that students' files are being interpreted correctly. Finally, in the spring, the department counsels seniors as they choose from among their college acceptances. Even after students graduate, the CJHS college counseling department is available to offer advice about choosing majors or transferring schools.

During the past five years, CJHS students have been admitted to a wide range of colleges that reflect their diverse interests. In helping students make the final decision, the focus at CJHS remains on the whole student. In the end, the "best" school is the one that best matches the needs, interests, and goals of the individual student. As a bonus, a student who understands why a certain college is right for him or her will prepare a better application -- and boost the chances for admission.