About Us
About Rose College Strategies
About Rose College Strategies
Rose College Strategies is a private college admissions counseling firm based in Belvedere Tiburon. Families come to work with us when they want calm, organized guidance and a plan that is tailored to the student in front of us, not a preset curriculum.
Founder Story, Philosophy, and Ethics
Bonnie Rose is a college admissions counselor in Marin with 10+ years of experience helping students earn options at colleges that fit academically, socially, and personally. She works with academic students, student-athletes, neurodivergent learners, artists, and students with complex circumstances.
She founded Rose College Strategies after seeing how often students get pulled in the wrong direction by myths, stress, and outdated advice. Her approach is direct and steady: learn the student, build a smart strategy, and execute it with care and follow-through.
Ethics matter here. We do not sell shortcuts or “tricks.” We help students present real strengths honestly, meet deadlines cleanly, and make decisions they can feel good about.
Helping Students Achieve College Dreams
What We Stand For
Mission
Help students identify their strengths, communicate clearly, and gain admissions options at right-fit colleges, the right way.
Values
Personalized one-on-one support, honest guidance, organized planning, student ownership, and full respect for admissions policies and processes.
Approach
We begin with a thorough understanding of the student’s interests, aptitude, and goals. Then we build a plan that addresses academics, extracurriculars, writing, school selection, and execution. The plan adapts as the student evolves. That is the point.
Experienced Leadership, Collaborative Support
Families often look for a college admissions counselor with seasoned judgment and consistent oversight. Bonnie leads strategy and remains closely involved throughout each engagement, supported by a team that includes writing specialists and athletic consultants. Students benefit from both experienced leadership and dedicated, specialized support.
A True One-on-One Model
Some firms rely on a set curriculum and assign the same steps to every student. We do not. Your student’s plan reflects their strengths, gaps, goals, and the colleges they are targeting.
Essay Support That Builds Better Writing
Strong essays require thinking, voice, and revision. Our writing specialist supports topic selection, structure, and refinement so students submit writing that sounds like them and holds up under close reading.
Athletic Expertise That Goes Beyond Talking Points
Rose College Strategies provides student-athlete recruiting guidance and division-specific advising for all sports. Recruiting is treated as a proactive process that includes communication, player marketing, compliance and eligibility, and scholarships.
Support for Neurodivergent and Non-Traditional Learners
Students with 504 plans, IEPs, ADHD, anxiety, or uneven academic histories often need clearer scaffolding and a smarter strategy. We help students highlight strengths, explain context appropriately, and choose colleges where they can thrive.
Helping Students Achieve College Dreams
Schools Where Our Students Have Been Accepted
Some of our Student's Admitting Colleges
This is a partial list of some of the colleges where our clients have been admitted:
AMDA
Bucknell University
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Chapman University
Colorado College
Claremont McKenna College
Colgate University
Columbia University
Dickinson College
Dominican College
Elon University
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Emerson College
FIDM
George Mason University
George Washington University
Haverford College
Lehigh University
Lewis & Clark College
Loyola Marymount University
Marymount Manhattan College
New York University
Northwestern University
Occidental College
Pepperdine University
Purdue University
Rhodes College
Sarah Lawrence College
SMU
Syracuse
Texas A&M University
TCU
US Air Force Academy
UC Berkeley
UC Davis
UC San Diego
UC Santa Cruz
UCLA
University of Denver
University of Michigan
University of Oregon
University of San Diego
USC
University of Virginia
University of Washington
Villanova University
Virginia Tech University
Wake Forest University
William & Mary
Williams College
Some of the High Schools our Students Attend
Rose College Strategies works with student across the country. This is a partial list of the schools our students attend:
APEX Online High School
Archie Williams High School
Cardinal Newman High School
Falls Church High School (VA)
Fusion Academy Marin
Headlands Preparatory School
Head-Royce School
Liberty High School
Maria Carillo High School
Marin Catholic High School
Marin School of the Arts
Napa High School
Novato High School
Petaluma High School
Pinole Valley High School
Rancho Cotati High School
Redwood High School
Sacred Heart Schools
San Domenico School
San Marin High School
San Rafael High School
Sonoma Academy
St. Ignatius College Preparatory HS
Tamalpais High School
Terra Linda High School
Vintage High School
Windsor High School
Credentials and Professional Standards
Bonnie and her team’s work is grounded in professional ethics and best practices. Rose College Strategies aligns with NACAC principles and maintains connections within the college and athletics landscape, including NCAA, NAIA, and NACDA.
Community Involvement
Rose College Strategies is proud to support the communities we serve. We are active supporters of the Redwood High School Foundation and the Tamalpais High School Foundation, along with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Tenacity Project.
Families in Marin County often find us through referrals, siblings, and local school networks, which we never take for granted.
What Families and Students Say
Real Success Stories from Students and Families
Rose College Strategies is based in Belvedere Tiburon and works with families across Marin County, Sonoma County, San Mateo County, and the Bay Area. Many clients come through word of mouth, siblings, and local school communities. Meetings can be in person or virtual, depending on what works best for your family.
How to Schedule a Consultation
The best next step is a consultation to talk through your student’s goals, timeline, and what support would be most useful right now. If you want to work with us, you can schedule a consultation through the contact page or call (415) 246-3934.
Your College Planning Questions, Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do students have to be athletes to work with Rose College Strategies?
No. While we provide student-athlete recruiting support, most students are not recruited athletes. We work with academic students, artists, musicians, gamers, neurodivergent learners, and students who are still identifying their strengths. The goal is to help each student build a compelling application based on who they are.
How often will we meet during the college process?
Meeting frequency depends on grade level, goals, and deadlines. We use a shared calendar and tracking system, and we meet in person or virtually as needed. Some seasons require more touchpoints than others, but students always know what is expected next.
Does Rose College Strategies offer hourly college counseling services?
Yes. In addition to comprehensive advising, we offer hourly support for targeted needs such as essay coaching, interview preparation, college list development, transfer admissions, and application troubleshooting. Rose College Strategies essay workshops are also offered beginning in the spring of junior year.
Can you help students with lower grade point averages?
Yes. Many colleges evaluate more than GPA alone. We help students identify schools that consider broader factors and develop applications that highlight strengths, growth, and readiness for college-level work.
Should my student take the SAT or ACT?
The University of California and California State University systems do not consider SAT or ACT scores. Many other colleges do, and policies vary. Testing decisions are made strategically based on scores, school requirements, and the overall application plan.
Does not applying for financial aid improve admission chances?
In most cases, no. Financial information may affect aid eligibility after admission, but it is not a reliable strategy for gaining acceptance. We help families understand how a financial aid strategy fits into the overall process.
Is it smart to declare a less popular major and change later?
Choosing a major simply to appear more competitive can create problems later. Major selection should align with the student’s interests and the structure of each college. We guide that decision carefully as part of the application strategy.
Is it better to take Advanced Placement classes and risk lower grades?
Colleges value academic challenge, but rigor should be appropriate to the student. Advanced Placement courses can demonstrate readiness, but they are not the only path. We help students choose courses that show curiosity and capability without overextending themselves.
