College Counseling

College Counseling

Individualized College Counseling for Every Student Grades 7-12 at Roycemore School

From the moment they enter 7th grade, Roycemore students and their families begin the very personal process of planning for college with our College Counselor, Ashley Quire, who builds a rapport with each student. In consultation with advisors and teachers, Mrs. Quire offers counseling on the best college choices based on each student’s personality, desires, and academic record.

Roycemore's College Counseling Process

In the increasingly selective world of college admissions, there is nothing more important to achieving post-secondary success than careful planning. College counseling services at Roycemore play a vital role in preparing students for higher education and their future careers.

Unlike most schools, which typically provide college guidance to only juniors and seniors, college counseling at Roycemore is implemented in a robust, 6-year process that is seamlessly integrated into the students’ Middle and Upper School experiences. This includes instances when 7th and 8th grade families begin long-term college planning. Programming includes “College and Cocktails,” our college information night for parents, Roycemore Alumni Visits, and hosting various college admissions representatives throughout the year.

Phases of the College Counseling Process

Introduction Stage: Grades 7-8

The College Counselor begins cultivating relationships with 7th and 8th grade families and forming a blueprint of understanding to navigate the college counseling process. Programming in this stage includes building understanding and expectations of Roycemore’s college counseling process, invitations to college counseling sponsored events, and creating a Naviance profile.

Interest Exploration Stage: Grades 9-10

The College Counselor begins building a foundation with 9th grade students by exploring a wide variety of academic and extracurricular options. This allows them to adequately reflect on how their strengths and interests may be valuable in pursuing certain career paths. 9th and 10th grade students work on refining their initial findings to a smaller group of genuine passions that they can then explore further.

Passion Pursuit Stage: Grade 11

Students begin “testing the waters” and acting on their college research. 11th grade students become more involved with the college planning process as they take on additional roles and activities that align with their interests and showcase their academic expertise or leadership initiatives. Students also begin to familiarize themselves with the college application key elements, scheduling college visits to experience various campuses, and standardized testing. Reflection is imperative to further narrow their top career interests.

Application Development Stage: Grade 12

By the time students start applying to colleges in 12th grade, the College Counselor helps students reflect on how to match their passions and personalities to different types of colleges and the services they have to offer. They personally guide them through each step of the college application process and how to present their achievements in a compelling and storytelling fashion.

View Our 2025-26 Academic Profile
Meet Ashley Quire, Roycemore's College Counselor

Ashley Quire is a Chicago native and Evanston resident. She attended Marquette University where she received a B.A. in Psychology. Ashley has a strong recruiting background over 10 years including campus recruiting for a Fortune 100 company and college admissions for various colleges including Loyola Marymount University, Otis College of Art and Design, and Northwestern University.

“There is a supportive and accepting community at Roycemore that helped my confidence. I carry that confidence with me now in college and I find that I am comfortable being my goofy self, while still unafraid to voice my opinion.”

— Roycemore Alum, Class of 2019

A Look Back on Decision Day 2023-2025