Patricia Whalen
Director of College Counseling
Welcome to college counseling at Bryn Mawr. The college admissions process is a partnership venture that brings students, parents, and college counselors together for the support and encouragement of each student. Throughout the process, the overriding goal of the college counseling office is to help students look within themselves for clues to what is important in the search for an appropriate post-high school experience.
College counselors help to foster student initiative, independence, and self-understanding, while strengthening decision-making and goal-setting skills. Our objectives are to address individual college needs and ensure that each Bryn Mawr student is an active, energetic, and investigative participant in the process. We use the college admissions process as an educational tool to develop skills that will be valuable even in the years beyond college; enabling students to realize that they have the power to define and meet their own challenges.
There are more than 4,000 institutions of higher learning in the United States. Deciding where to apply and, eventually, where to enroll can be a daunting process. The electronic Guide to College Admissions handbook provides a general overview of the college search and admissions process. Familiarity with the guide will reduce anxiety, establish control, and ensure greater success in the college admissions process.
Regular and honest communication among college counselors, students, and parents is the key to a successful experience. We look forward to getting to know you very well, and we welcome the opportunity to work closely with you. We urge you to take advantage of the Bryn Mawr College Center and Naviance Family Connect, as well as our scheduled informational activities. Our goal is to make you educated consumers of this highly publicized, somewhat complex topic. As you navigate your way through the admissions process, remember that our doors are always open.
Sincerely,
Patti Whalen [Email Patti]
Director of College Counseling
Jerald Brown [Email Jerald]
College Counselor and History Teacher
Arna Margolis [Email Arna]
College Counselor and History Teacher
Debbie Williams [Email Debbie]
College Counseling Assistant