Every parent wants their child to grow up healthy, happy, and to have a satisfying and successful career. For many parents, the path to achieving this goal is to ensure their student attends a university that provides a stellar education. However, while parents can monitor their child’s grades, ensure that they are signed up to take the requisite standardized tests, and monitor their extracurricular activities, many feel lost when it comes to the ins and outs of applying for colleges. Likewise, many students are overwhelmed by the college application process and unsure where to start. With every university having its own set of application requirements and deadlines, even the most conscientious and studious of students can get confused and make a mistake somewhere along the way. So, what can a parent do to help simplify the process?
Many students, and families of students, benefit from the services of a college planning counselor. College planning counselors offer a wide range of services, depending on the needs of the family. In their most comprehensive role, college planning counselors will begin working with a student early in their high school career. They will help a student identify possible career goals, and help the student build an educational curriculum that complements these goals. The counselor will also help the student focus on a handful of extracurricular activities that will enhance their future college applications. In a comprehensive, multi-year, college planning plan, the student will begin thinking of what colleges they want to apply to early, and will be aware of admission requirements throughout their high school experience.
But these are not the only students who can benefit from a college planning counselor. It is not unusual for a student to begin the process, early in their senior year of high school, and realize they are in over their head and need help. That may mean, they don’t know where to start, or it might mean they are unsure of where they wish to apply. Either way, if a student is in their senior year, they need someone to help get them organized and get them on track fast, because they only have a short amount of time to get their applications together. A college planning counselor can provide these students a structured plan to stay on track, help them organize deadlines, and make sure that all requirements of each application are met.
But how does a parent know if their student needs a little extra help? I will discuss specific scenarios in which a college planning counselor can be of service below.
College planning counselors can assist students who experience anxiety and stress regarding the college application process
Junior and senior years of high school can be particularly stressful for high-achieving students. Many of these teens are juggling AP classes, sports, or other extracurricular activities, on top of studying for the SAT’s and ACT’s. Finding time to research universities and apply to multiple schools, on top of everything else, is enough to give even the most time-conscious student a panic attack. A college planning counselor can help anxiety-prone students manage the stress of the process. A college planning counselor can give students a concrete road map to follow when applying to universities, and help them set aside specific blocks of time in which they will dedicate to the college application process. College planning counselors can also ensure that they use their time as efficiently as possible, and help make sure that deadlines do not fall through the cracks in the middle of a student’s jam-packed schedule.
Students who are busy and stressed often find it comforting to speak to a professional who can assure them that they will get through this process. A counselor can be a sounding board for their concerns and help them prioritize when they get overwhelmed. If your child is a high achiever but feeling anxious regarding the college application process, having a counselor to help them navigate through their applications may be helpful.
College planning counselors can help unfocused students narrow down their educational goals
It is not uncommon for a sixteen-year-old child not to know exactly what they want to do for the rest of their life. Many high school students, with fine to better than average grades, may be resistant to thinking about colleges because they just don’t know what they are interested in, and can’t picture what the college experience will look like. A college planning counselor can work with students who are unfocused and help them create a college list and identify their interests.
When a student lacks direction, it is often helpful for this type of student to take an aptitude assessment test. An aptitude test can help a student learn about their own strengths and weaknesses. This means they can get an in-depth understanding of what comes naturally to them, and how they can apply these skills. For example, a student might learn that they have a strong ability to solve abstract problems, that they have a natural talent for remembering designs and patterns, and they can easily organize a variety of ideas and concepts. Furthermore, they find out that they are an Extroverted Generalist, and have a talent for relating and working with teams of people.
Once a career counselor has extracted this information, they can help the student brainstorm college majors and analyze careers that fit with their natural abilities. The counselor will use targeted worksheets to help the student brainstorm careers that are a natural fit with their abilities, and their other personal goals. When teens imagine themselves in a career, and picture what they would be doing on a day-to-day basis, they often have far more enthusiasm for the process of making that career a reality. At this point, the college planning counselor can help them make a list of colleges with programs that can help them further their goals.
College planning counselors can help students strategize their plan for Ivy admissions
On the other end of the spectrum, some students know exactly where they want to go to college, and spend their four years in high school dedicated to making this goal happen. If your student is dead set on a specific Ivy League school or another university with a low acceptance rate, it is beneficial for them to speak with a college planning counselor early in the process. Ivy League universities receive a high number of applications every year, from extremely qualified students. For your teen to stand out in the crowd, it is beneficial for them to begin preparing as early as possible. Your student will want to tailor their high school experience to showcase what makes them special, and to help the college admissions counselors understand what will make them an asset to their chosen university.
When it comes to applying to Ivy League schools, your college planning counselor can also discuss with your student the pros and cons of applying to their chosen school Early Decision versus regular admission. They can also provide unbiased feedback on essays, help them focus their resume, and help them strategize when it comes to taking the ACT or SAT. If your student has their heart set on an Ivy League school, the competition will be fierce– hiring a college planning counselor can help them get a leg up.
Students who attend schools with a lack of available resources may benefit from a college planning counselor
A good guidance counselor can make a world of difference in a student’s life. A good guidance counselor can be a lifeline for a student, providing concrete advice on what schools to apply to, when to start, and how to manage their academic load. Guidance counselors can be boots on the ground resources for students who are lucky enough to have them available.
Unfortunately, many students do not have access to a guidance counselor who can be of assistance to them. There are many reasons why this may be true. Some public high schools may have hundreds of students in one graduating class, making it difficult for a guidance counselor to forge a personal connection with any one student. Other schools may have more of a ‘vocational’ focus, and well meaning guidance counselors may not have the most up to date information or experience when it comes to applying to the types of universities a student is interested in. Similarly, some rural high schools may not have the staff or the resources to provide a student with the information they need to effectively apply to colleges.
Because of today’s technology, a student’s geographical location need not prevent them from getting the support and information that they require. In my college counseling business, all of my interactions happen virtually. My team and I are able to connect with students through the use of video calls. I am also able to administer the Highland Assessment Battery (HAB), completely online for students who are in need of aptitude testing. No matter where a student goes to school, or lives geographically, the internet makes it possible for everyone to have equal access to quality college planning assistance.
An unbiased third-party can mediate tension between students and parents during the college application process
The college application process can be a particularly trying time when it comes to the parent/child relationship. Many students can become defensive and testy when it comes to accepting any type of parental input. Even the most knowledgeable and well-meaning parents may find that their children are resistant to their attempts at assistance. While this is completely natural– even expected– it does put parents in a difficult position. Selecting a college and applying is too important a task to let your student go through alone, and yet, there is a delicate need not to overstep. So what is a parent to do?
Students are often much more receptive to the guidance and information given by an objective third-party. A college career counselor can listen to a student’s worries, answer questions, and provide objective information without the student having to worry about judgement or criticism. There are times when a student may worry about a parent not approving of a career path they are interested in, or not supporting a particular university that they wish to attend. A career counselor can assist students in exploring these ideas, and helping them determine if they are viable avenues they really want to pursue. If the student is serious about pursuing such a path, the career counselor can act as a mediator between the student and parent, and help each side address any concerns or questions they might have.
College planning counselors can assist any high school student who is applying to university
Whether your student is completely clueless regarding where they want to go to college, or laser-focused on their post-high school plans, almost all students who are going through the college application process can benefit from third-party assistance. Applying to colleges requires an extraordinary amount of organization, and keeping track of each individual school’s admissions requirements can be tedious. High school students benefit from a counselor’s experience, and rather than spending extra time learning how to go about applying, they can follow a counselor’s guide to approaching the process in the most efficient way possible. Students can also benefit from having a second pair of eyes on all applications to ensure that they are not rejected from a school because of careless typos and errors.
If you have a high schooler who is ready to begin their application journey, do not make the mistake of letting them wade through the process on their own. College planning counselors are ready to assist with students throughout the process, from building lists of schools, to keeping track of deadlines, to proof reading essays, and assisting with understanding various scholarship and financial aid packages. Our college career counselors will help your student understand each step of the process, and make applying for colleges as stress-free as possible. All coaching is done virtually, and is available to anyone within the United States. Contact us today for a consultation.
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