Questions You Should Ask Your College Counselor
Questions You Should Ask Your College Counselor
Your college counselor at school can be a powerful advocate for you through the application process. He or she is responsible for submitting school reports of your grades as well as a letter of recommendation. Should colleges have questions about your profile or school context, they are likely to reach out to your counselor, and some high school counselors have built long-term relationships with admissions officers of particular universities, giving them extra ammo to fight for your case. Not every student will have equal access to his or her college counselor. If your counselor has several hundred students under his or her charge, that won’t be held against you in the process. You may need to seek advice from an admissions expert to help personalize your college application strategy; but even in this scenario, you should seek to get as much information and insight as possible from the administrator at your school whose job it is to advocate on your behalf. Certainly, if you attend a high school where you have great access to the college counseling office, you will be expected to use that resource wisely as you apply to various schools. Given the measures being taken to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, your physical access to your college counselor may be particularly limited for the next few months. There are still important questions you should discuss with them as you are able. Doing so will help keep some level of normalcy in your process and keep you on track to be ready to submit applications to the right schools when the time comes. Below are some of the questions we think you should make a point to address with your college counselor.
What is the counselor recommendation letter procedure?
School support for your application is a requirement at virtually every college or university you might apply to. Whether you know your counselor on a first name basis or have never spent any time with them, a letter of recommendation and accompanying school documents will need to be submitted. The protocol for how to navigate this process differs across high schools. Some counselors have students fill out questionnaires; others have parents draft a letter about their child’s strengths and experiences. Ask your counselor about what materials they might need from you and when is the deadline to send them. Because of the volume of recommendations counselors must write, questionnaires and/or parent letters are incredibly helpful for them to craft a strong letter on your behalf. In this case, more is often better, so take your time in providing meaty responses. If no particular forms are required, then you could still write your counselor a thank you letter that mentions anecdotes about contributions you have made to the student body and your community at large. Especially if you don’t already know your counselor well, taking the time to learn the school’s policy and following up with a well-crafted note of appreciation will help you set yourself apart from your peers. Speaking of school policy, be sure to know all the deadlines and protocols your school has in place to ensure that all forms and paperwork gets where it needs to on time. Your college counselor may have very strict rules about submitting rec letter forms, finalizing your college list, etc.
What colleges are visiting campus and when?
During the fall, colleges may come to the doorstep of your high school to host admissions workshops. These are wonderful, easy opportunities to learn about new colleges and demonstrate interest in schools already on your list. They might occur during lunchtime or after school, and usually do not take more than an hour or two.In the busyness of senior year, it can be easy to miss them! Talk to your counselor in advance about which colleges might present on campus, so you can keep tabs on your personal calendar. Do some research online before attending the fall admissions sessions to prepare yourself and remember to keep an open mind about schools that are unfamiliar to you!You may also consider asking your college counselor if there’s some way you could represent the school in talking to the admissions officers that come visit – perhaps walking them from the main office to the college center or following up with an official thank you. Not only will you make a strong impression on a representative of a school of interest, you will also show your college counselor that you’re serious about your own process.
What do you think about my college list?
Whether your list is still in its budding stages or you are quite certain of where you will apply, asking your counselor’s insight can help. They have insider knowledge of where students with test scores, grades, and interests similar to yours applied to and were admitted. They also usually have a greater body of knowledge about colleges that are out there. At this point in your process, it’s important to be open-minded as you seek the ideal fit. Use your college counselor’s expertise to your advantage. Your counselor could help you build a strategy for success, recommend schools previously unfamiliar to you, and even connect you to current students at colleges that rank top on your list. Who knows? Perhaps they will direct you to the very college that is absolutely perfect for you.Especially if you plan to apply early decision or early action, giving them advanced notice means they have more time to think about how to write your recommendation letter.
What classes do I need to fulfill admissions requirements?
You may have already talked about your senior classes with your counselor. Still, it is good to double check that you have taken all courses required to not only graduate but to gain admission to particular colleges. Schools may have unique course requirements for students to be admitted. Colleges also want to see that students challenged themselves academically, taking increasingly rigorous courses over four years. If you feel there is room in your schedule for extra honors classes, talk to your counselor about how you can rearrange things to fit one in. Every person in your support system counts! Over your senior year, your counselor can be a wonderful advocate to have on your team, but he or she can only be as helpful as you allow them to know you. Take time to invite your counselor into your process and remember to show gratitude along the way.
How will you advocate for me?
Beyond writing letters, your college counselor may be able to advocate on your behalf in other ways. Depending on the level of relationship he or she has with a particular admissions officer, they may be able to put in a good word for you where appropriate. They may also visit various colleges and foster new relationships, making it easier for admissions officers to understand your high school and what sets you all apart. Your college counselor may also be able to put you in touch with helpful contacts that make your decision easier. By building the best relationship you can with your college counselor you will make it easier for him or her to be an ally for you in the process. To be clear, you don’t need to become best friends. But this should be one of the most dependable people in your corner as you transition from high school to college. Whether or not you decide to work with an admissions expert to gain a further personal advantage in navigating the process, make a point to gain as much as you can from your college counselor’s personal experience, knowledge of admissions, and insight into who you are.
The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.
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