Meet Cynthia Crum, Director of the Cotsen-Rosenbaum College Counseling Center

Swing big, and don’t let the fear of failure stop you from going after what you truly want. It’s a philosophy that has guided Cynthia Crum, director of the Cotsen-Rosenbaum College Counseling Center, throughout her 40-year career spanning on both coasts and sides of the college admissions desk. It’s also the advice she shares with Wildwood students as they delve into the college application process.

“I always tell kids that rejection is part of the adventure,” Cynthia says, “and you’ll never know if you don’t try.”

What's struck me so far about [Wildwood] kids is that they're so interesting. They're intensely curious and have a quiet confidence that makes them stand out among their peers.- CYNTHIA CRUM, DIRECTOR OF THE COTSEN-ROSENBAUM COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER

Ready for her own next adventure, Cynthia joined Wildwood in the summer of 2024 after serving as Director of College Counseling at Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia, Pa., for nearly a decade.

While new to both California and Wildwood, Cynthia says it truly feels like a homecoming.

“I started my career in college counseling at a small, progressive school in St. Louis, Mo., that upheld many of the same ideals as Wildwood—such as the works of Ted Sizer and the Coalition of Essential Schools—and that experience always stuck with me,” Cynthia says. 

Cynthia was also drawn to Wildwood’s K-12 approach, and the ability to be a part of a student’s growth and progression throughout their elementary, middle, and upper school years.

“Writing the cover letter for Wildwood was one of the easiest things I’ve ever had to do, as it was simply encapsulating all the aspects of education—project-based learning, risk-taking, exhibitions—that are close to my heart,” Cynthia says.

That said, even for a seasoned pro, Wildwood holds surprises.

“What's struck me so far about our kids is that they're so interesting,” Cynthia says. “They're intensely curious and have a quiet confidence that makes them stand out among their peers. I didn't feel like I was talking with a high school senior when I interviewed—an impression that continues with each interaction.”

Beyond her tenure in high school college counseling, Cynthia offers another invaluable resource to Wildwood students: her experience as a college admissions officer. Cynthia spent 13 years on the "other side of the desk," working in college admissions at Washington University in St. Louis, her alma mater, where she earned a B.A. in English and Secondary Education.

“During that time, I really saw the world of college admissions evolve, and the forces that continue to shape it today,” Cynthia said. 

While the process may be as competitive as ever, Cynthia says that a successful college application process truly boils down to just a few things: choice and fit.

“I want choices for them—and I want all of those choices to be good fits so that however their college list plays out, they’ll be happy with the outcome,” Cynthia says. “Ultimately, it’s their journey.”

Outside of Wildwood, Cynthia can be found indulging in her love of history and art by exploring museums, “to the point that I burned my sons out,” she jokes, as well as practicing yoga, cooking, listening to “foodcasts”, and—it should come as not surprise—following her adventuresome spirit into LA’s thriving food scene.