HS college counselors

[zurgswife]

Parents what kind of things do your HS college counselors do for your HS Jrs. and Srs.? My kids go to a small private prep school and I think the counselor is useless. But I'm not sure what suggestions to make to the administration. If u deal with a college counselor in a private or public school I'd live to hear what u have to say.

 

[punkin]

Last year (and the year before) DD's HS college counselor was less than useless. This was in a large suburban public school. My fervent hope is that she retires before my younger daughter has to deal with her.

 

[Deb & Bill]

My son goes to a small Catholic college prep HS. His counselors are very good. They start educating the students and the parents right at the beginning. They have an annual meeting for parents and students Junior and Senior year right at the start of the school year. So by Junior year, they are making sure the kids get their SATs and ACTs done. They help them with writing the essays to colleges. Anytime a kid gets an acceptance to a college they get a copy from the student. Any scholarships, same thing. They have colleges visit all year long and both juniors and seniors can attend the sessions. Once the kids actually go off to college, they post a small flag representing that school on a large US map that they have in the school lobby.

They have links to all the important stuff on their website so parents don't have to go searching - like the FAFSA and other scholarship sites. There is a timeline on their website to show where the student should be in the college selection process.

My senior has already been accepted at four schools (three state schools and one private school) and been offered a trustee scholarship (4 years) at the smaller Catholic college.

 

[IUTBAM]

When you say "college counselor", do you mean "guidance counselor"? If so, then my DD's is GREAT! She goes to a large public high school, and I love her GC. My DD is only in her second year at this school, and so is the GC...I think that worked in our favor. She is so good about returning phone calls and emails, and has been a huge advocate for my daughter in terms of recommendation letters, scholarship applications, and any class changes or questions we needed at the start of each year. I love her! It's a definite switch from some of DD's previous GC's at other schools. I consider my DD very lucky!

 

[We_Love_Disney]

Daughter goes to a college prep Catholic school. Guidance counselor is less the useless, she is downright moronic, but she has an in with administration - her family must have secrets about the Bishop.

Fortunately, my daughter is a self-starter and her desire to succeed is greater than the GC's laziness. She did tons of research. We visited dozens of colleges, we read many articles, we talked to people.

There is a 'special' senior counselor, he is helpful, but he is only there once a week. Makes it tough to get to know the kids.

The tests are all scheduled for the kids from 10th grade onward. Though I don't think that has as much to do with getting the kids on task as it does the school gets $$ for hosting the test.

Not once - in 4 years has anyone asked daughter what her interests are! She is an honors student that is in the top of her class. If she hadn't presented them with a list of her college choices, they would never have known what she wants to do.

I am DISGUSTED with the school. We pay through the nose for this place. I stopped going to their open house, I just couldn't look people in the eye and lie to them about the school anymore.

 

[golfgal]

Our counselors are GREAT. They include all new scholarships available in the daily emails they send home and all upcoming college rep visits, they help kids narrow down choices/fits for them, help them register (if needed) for various tests, etc. The direct kids to the best teachers for recommendations. They take care of sending off all the info the colleges need. They host financial aid seminars about 4 times/ year for parents. They meet with each class as appropriate to get the kids started on the process. Individually they are available for assistance.

Outside of the college stuff they are there to help kids with schedule issues, personal issues, etc. DS18's counselor bent over backwards to help him with his goofy schedule last year, even talked to a few of his teachers because his one teacher was being less than cooperative with his schedule (he was taking a class at another school in our district-which is common-but his teacher kept changing lunch periods, etc on him).

She always asks about DS when we see her too. She is just wonderful!!!

 

[RitaE]

My oldest son - not only not helpful, downright harmful.
Funny story but one time they claimed that the didn't send out a transcript because my son never turned in the request. The next day we log on to the college application website and we see it marked that the college had received the transcript the High School counselor claimed she never received a request to send.

If that had been the only screw-up it would have just been a funny story. Unfortunately the entire Fall Semester was like that for the kids ... teachers would turn in recommendation letters to them and they'd be lost. Etc Etc It was constant trying to fight the Guidance Office to do their job and them acting irritated that a kid would dare to bother them with any kind of request.

When I was in High School the Guidance Counselor called kids in and talked about career goals and handed out literature to schools he though would be a good fit. And also would then check back to see if you had sent off applications of if there was anything he could do. He was a warm fuzzy guy who made the kids feel like he was on their side.

My son got NONE of that. They were about as warm and fuzzy and motivated as the DMV.

I have a HS Junior now. Hopefully next year will be better.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Parents what kind of things do your HS college counselors do for your HS Jrs. and Srs.? My kids go to a small private prep school and I think the counselor is useless. But I'm not sure what suggestions to make to the administration. If u deal with a college counselor in a private or public school I'd live to hear what u have to say.

They do what you ask and no more. They do not chase you down to "counsel you".

They are more like people that are there to do the required mailings, recommendation stuff, etc...and it is a lot of work for them because generally they have MANY students. Like PP said, you have to watch them like a hawk and NEVER EVER think you are going to get something last minute. Big huge mistake.

For example my dd is in 8th and they are already doing stuff with college ideas which is really awesome at this school.

However the burden is always on the student to figure out the nitty gritty.

 

[zurgswife]

They do what you ask and no more. They do not chase you down to "counsel you".

They are more like people that are there to do the required mailings, recommendation stuff, etc...and it is a lot of work for them because generally they have MANY students. Like PP said, you have to watch them like a hawk and NEVER EVER think you are going to get something last minute. Big huge mistake.

For example my dd is in 8th and they are already doing stuff with college ideas which is really awesome at this school.

However the burden is always on the student to figure out the nitty gritty.

MM here is my experience. My oldest now a college Sophmore went to said counselor and expressed her strong desire to attend NYU wanted to know what kind of advice he could offer her to make sure she did all the correct things. He looked in a College Book and said it's almost impossible to get into....that was the extent. She then went off and did more investigating on her own and returned a few weeks later and explained what she had gather on her own and asked if had any other ideas to make sure she made the best of her application process. He then stated that it was very very expense and she might want to consider other school. At this point my dd gave up trying to gain anything useful out of her counslor. She wrote her essays, put together her portfolio and applied early decision to NYU. She got in and is currently a very success student at the Tisch school of the Arts.

My dd did everything herself. I was under the impression that these types of counslors at other school provide info on fasfa, how to apply for loans, ideas of best way to obtain your goals. Not look in a book and state very hard to get into and very very expense. That was very defeatest in my book. But my dd was not a type to be diswaded.

On the other hand a classmate of hers want to go into Architecture and was applying to a number of top schools, he had the grades, SATs and extra curriculars for all the schools. He has spoke a number of times to the counselor and stated he was going for interviews. Not once did this counselor check to see if this student had a portfolio that was required or at least highly suggested to bring to the interview. Turns up the kid never put together a portfolio and didn't get into any of these schools. Would he have if he had a portfolio, we shall never know. I think it is that type of information that a counselor should provide guidance in.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

MM here is my experience. My oldest now a college Sophmore went to said counselor and expressed her strong desire to attend NYU wanted to know what kind of advice he could offer her to make sure she did all the correct things. He looked in a College Book and said it's almost impossible to get into....that was the extent. She then went off and did more investigating on her own and returned a few weeks later and explained what she had gather on her own and asked if had any other ideas to make sure she made the best of her application process. He then stated that it was very very expense and she might want to consider other school. At this point my dd gave up trying to gain anything useful out of her counslor. She wrote her essays, put together her portfolio and applied early decision to NYU. She got in and is currently a very success student at the Tisch school of the Arts.

My dd did everything herself. I was under the impression that these types of counslors at other school provide info on fasfa, how to apply for loans, ideas of best way to obtain your goals. Not look in a book and state very hard to get into and very very expense. That was very defeatest in my book. But my dd was not a type to be diswaded.

On the other hand a classmate of hers want to go into Architecture and was applying to a number of top schools, he had the grades, SATs and extra curriculars for all the schools. He has spoke a number of times to the counselor and stated he was going for interviews. Not once did this counselor check to see if this student had a portfolio that was required or at least highly suggested to bring to the interview. Turns up the kid never put together a portfolio and didn't get into any of these schools. Would he have if he had a portfolio, we shall never know. I think it is that type of information that a counselor should provide guidance in.

Be extremely grateful to your daughter. She made headway for her siblings to follow. We, too are forging a new trail into the unknown. My daughter, too, will not be dissuaded from her goals. She did the research. She read all she could about prospective colleges. I am so proud of her. She has tenacity. She will be going to college, she will be getting aid, and she will succeed.

I didn't have any of that when I was going to school, either. My counselor was retiring the year I graduated. My family had no clue what to do. I ended up at the state school down the road - which ended up disastrous - high school part 2! 50% of my grade was there. I ended up quitting after being on the dean's list 3 semesters while never attending a class only exams. Was a waste of money. But way back then (you know, when dinosaurs roamed the earth) a college degree wasn't necessary. Now, you need a BA or BS just to flip burgers.

Counselors in most schools are nothing more than peace keepers. Very little guidance is given.

 

[zurgswife]

Be extremely grateful to your daughter. She made headway for her siblings to follow. We, too are forging a new trail into the unknown. My daughter, too, will not be dissuaded from her goals. She did the research. She read all she could about prospective colleges. I am so proud of her. She has tenacity. She will be going to college, she will be getting aid, and she will succeed.

I didn't have any of that when I was going to school, either. My counselor was retiring the year I graduated. My family had no clue what to do. I ended up at the state school down the road - which ended up disastrous - high school part 2! 50% of my grade was there. I ended up quitting after being on the dean's list 3 semesters while never attending a class only exams. Was a waste of money. But way back then (you know, when dinosaurs roamed the earth) a college degree wasn't necessary. Now, you need a BA or BS just to flip burgers.

Counselors in most schools are nothing more than peace keepers. Very little guidance is given.

Thank you.

I think your comment on counselors is probably true in many schools. It might lend itself to regular counselors. This job is specfic for college counseling. I was under the impression (maybe wrongly so) that college counselors did more then look in a book.

A friend of ours had the President of Gettysburg College (her alma mater) for dinner. She called our college guidance counslor to see if he had any thoughts/or questions he might have regarding with kids attending the college. This friend was under impressed with his interest in offering any thoughts or questions. Two things you need to know 1) Both the friend and the guidence counslor come from wealth families so it wasn't an in your face move. 2) Our school is very small and sells it self as a Prep school.

Thanks to everyone for there opinion.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Guidance counselors in my school spend the majority of their time in parent meetings and on the phone with parents of students who are having trouble/failing in high school or in IEP meetings with parents/child study team for Special Ed students. They go around homerooms daily to see if students need anything and they call students in for conferences when they are having problems in classes. These counselors also call homes and track attendance in order to encourage students not to drop out of school and to stay on track.

For juniors and seniors, a lot of the focus is on college and getting recommendation letters which takes up a huge amount of time. I also know that our guidance counselors are very involved in setting up on sites, college visits, ASVAB testing for the military and career counseling tests for sophomores. In addition, they have to test and place all transfer students and at the end of the year schedule students for classes next year and/or summer school.

Therefore, I think the term "college counselor" is a misnomer. Advising students about college is only part of their job. I can see if you have a child who has never been in trouble or done poorly in a class that you might think they are "useless" but they probably have much more to do just to take care of the students with immediate needs to pass classes and graduate high school.

Call the counselor and make an appointment if you feel your needs aren't being met.

 

[tvguy]

My kids went to a decent sized (1,000 student) Catholic High School.
Guidance counselors were wonderful. Their college counseling starts the first semester Freshman year, with 2 parent meetings a year until graduation, and a super website with all the resources there.

 

[agnes!]

My DD's school has a College/Career Center which has its own counselor who is separate from the 'guidance counselors' each individual student has assigned to them. She is *wonderful* and, sadly for us but good for her, has another job that starts in mid-December...this other place is blessed to have gotten her. This counselor is focused on college applications, scholarship opportunities, internships, career training, etc.

The guidance counselors are totally separate. The students are divided up by last names, for instance Miss Smith might get every student who has a last name starting with A-G and that will hold true for all four years meaning Miss Smith has every student in the school with A-G last names.

agnes!

 

[AristocatFan]

Our HS counselors are useless. Well, a good friend of ours is one but she only deals with 9/10th grade and is great. As for the senior class counselors. Pathetic. Oldest DS did not get into an engineering program because of the counselor. She told him he didn't need to take Physics or Math his senior year, even knowing he wanted to attend an engineering university that had those two classes as a requirement! We learned the hard way to not trust the counselors and to research all college requirements ourselves.

 

[zurgswife]

Thanks Lulu I would understand that at a public school but a private prep school with about 250 kids where the only job of the college counselor is to counsel kids on college I expect more. The kids have advisors that deal with other in school issues. The head of support deals with issues involving learning issues. The principals (one for the girls, one for the boys) deal with all behavior problems.