College Counseling

College Seminars

The CRSM College Counseling Department promotes college and career readiness through a diverse assortment of opportunities offered to our students. 

Freshman Year

Students are introduced to college-related concepts and the value of obtaining a college degree.

Sophomore Year

Students have the opportunity to learn what happens in a college admissions office and how their applications might be reviewed.

Junior Year

In small group sessions, students lay the foundation for the college application process. They create a resume, research colleges, and craft their college essays.

Senior Year, First Semester

Students participate in weekly college search and application seminars. They can also attend after-school application workshops for additional support. 

Senior Year, Second Semester

Students participate in a six-week College Readiness Group. This group helps prepare students for what to expect when they begin college. They learn college terminology, identify resources on college campuses, and begin thinking critically about how to approach the next four years of their education.

Additional Supports provided by the CRSM Counseling Department include :

College Campus Visits
  • Guided by the college counseling team, students visit various local colleges during the summer. Students tour the campuses, learn about what the colleges offer, and meet with college admissions representatives.
  • Our college counseling team offers financial assistance to students and their families to participate in college campus visits.
Pre-College Summer Programs
  • The college counseling team works with CRSM Juniors who are interested in participating in pre-college seminars. Our school partners with various Universities for these seminars, such as: Brown University, Carleton College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Loyola University Chicago, and Saint Louis University.
College Rep Visits
  • Every Fall, CRSM hosts a college fair at the high school. Over 60 colleges and universities are scheduled to meet with juniors and seniors on this day.
  • CRSM hosts a limited number of small group sessions for students where they will meet college representatives from across the country. These sessions help students learn about what colleges offer as well as what college admissions representatives look for as they review incoming applications.
Student and Family Support
  • FAFSA Workshops: CRSM offers several workshops that assist families in completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Trained volunteers and staff assist CRSM families, as well as other families in our community in completing this important financial aid process.
  • SAT Prep Course: CRSM offers scholarships for Juniors to attend SAT prep courses.
  • Networking with Community Resources: The CRSM Counseling Department collaborates with other community organizations:  College Bound Opportunities (CBO), Schuler Scholar Program, Waukegan to College (W2C), and Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

After graduation, CRSM alumni receive support from our Director of Alumni Support and Director of Alumni Career Support. Our alumni support team maintains contact with our graduates to ensure that they successfully transition to college and remain on track for graduation and career success.

College Counseling Staff

Ana Aguilar

College Counselor
Counseling
Phone: 224-444-0681

Melissa Chavez

Director of Alumni Support
Alumni Support
Phone: 224-219-9727 ext. 308

Mary Ann Hocter

Director of Alumni Career Support
Alumni Support
Phone: 224-219-9717 ext. 171

Sharon Holdvogt

College Counselor
Counseling
Phone: 224-219-9730

Academic News

CRSM Goes Platinum

CRSM Goes Platinum

Cristo Rey St. Martin is relatively new to AP and college board testing, but this year we were given the Platinum Award for AP recognition and honor which is the highest honor an institution can receive. We began the AP program when we opened in 2009 in the old...

Student Spotlight: And the Posse Scholarship goes to…

Student Spotlight: And the Posse Scholarship goes to…

At Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep our goal is to get young women and men to and through college. Our teachers push our students academically, our counseling staff supports our students emotionally, and our college advisors assist students in applying to various...