STUDENTS JUNIOR YEAR

Junior year is the time to get serious about your relationship with the college counselor. While he or she is going to be preoccupied with current senior admissions in the fall, don’t let that deter you from stopping by with a quick smile and hello during that time.

2nd Semester, Junior Year

1. This is when the more serious meetings with your college counselor should begin.

2. When you have meetings with the college counselor, come prepared with specific goals you want to accomplish, questions you want to have answered, and information that will help fill in the counselor’s information gaps about you. Share your college list ideas with the counselor and ask him or her for other suggestions.

3. Don’t miss any counselor-planned junior year College Nights.

PARENTS JUNIOR YEAR

Junior year is when counselors will become more interested and available to you and your child about college admissions. Be respectful of the counselor’s time during the fall because he or she is going to be consumed with current senior admissions.

1. Don’t miss any counselor-planned junior year College Nights.

2. Be sure to listen to what the counselor has to say, and even when you hear something with which you disagree, always remain calm and respectful. You don’t want to say or do anything that might negatively affect your child.

SENIOR YEAR TIMELINE FOR DEVELOPING COUNSELOR RELATIONSHIPS

STUDENTS & PARENTS
This year your relationship with your school counselor is all about admissions. See Guide 13 Letters of Recommendation for specifics on what to do. Before, during and after the college admissions season, don’t forget to thank the counselor for his or her efforts.

adMISSION POSSIBLE® TIP! One of your jobs as a senior is to make the college counselor’s work easier. Be organized; provide all the materials he or she needs; get forms to him or her before they are due.

FAQ #3: What do I do if I can’t stand my school counselor?

ANSWER: Some high schools allow students to change counselors; others don’t. Some schools have only one counselor. If you cannot change counselors, then it is your job to make friends with the person, no matter how busy, inefficient, annoying or unpleasant he or she might be.

The counselor is very important to your college admissions. Even if you don’t feel like it, smile, be polite and respectful, act friendly, and follow-through on all that is asked of you. In some ways, this is good preparation for life because there will be any number of people in your life — a college roommate, a boss, fellow employee — that you won’t like, but with whom you must get along.

Teachers and college counselors do a lot for students. They can mentor, be a resource, open doors to academic competitions, make suggestions about classes, and recommend programs outside of school. At their very best, counselors can also be very good friends.