Applying to college is a stressful part of a student’s academic career. For many students, it’s the first time they have ever been interviewed. On top of that, there are countless essays, standardized tests, and campus visits to coordinate. One of the best resources for students is a college counselor. The process of applying to college involves many elements that are completely new and unfamiliar to students and parents. A college counselor specializes in helping students keep track of every aspect of the application process and makes the task easier, less stressful, and more successful.
There are over 5,000 colleges and universities in the United States alone. The course offerings, special interests, sports teams, and extracurriculars all vary from school to school. Even beginning to search for a college is a daunting task for anyone, especially for a student. Many students excel in different academic fields and sports, but narrowing down the environments in which they really thrive takes a level of self-reflection that is uncommon for anyone so young. A college counselor has a head start on researching schools that is incredibly beneficial in the application process. They understand the rankings and atmospheres, and they can guide a student with this inside knowledge. A good college counselor can help create unique, well-rounded lists of schools to help students weed through the selection process. Having these lists helps to keep students focused and allows them time to mentally try out each school.
The last thing a student wants to do is find themselves unprepared when it comes to applying to colleges. Often times, students and parents focus on larger things like test preparation or essay writing. While these are incredibly important, there are other elements that are often overlooked. Two things in particular are the experience of being interviewed and the importance of teacher recommendations. College interviews in particular can be the difference between an acceptance and a rejection. At the time of applying to college, many students have never been interviewed in their lives. High school jobs don’t always require formal interviews, so the opportunities to practice are limited. Schools often overlook this important skill. A college counselor can offer mock interviews to prepare students for the difficult questions that will be asked. They also help a student become comfortable talking about themselves. It can be difficult for people of any age to talk about their experiences and positive qualities. Having a college counselor coach students through the process of preparing for interviews will undoubtedly make them more confident and successful.
Along with interviews, the importance of teacher recommendations is another aspect to applying to college that is often overlooked. Teachers are accustomed to writing recommendation letters and they will inevitably have lists of students asking to write them. This can become a burden, especially if a student asks too close to the application deadlines. Students and parents may not even realize how much time it takes to write recommendation letters. A college counselor will keep students on track to complete these tasks early so that nothing is left up to chance.
Applying to college is a daunting task no matter how prepared a student is. Working with a college counselor ensures their hard work and preparations pay off. Having the insider knowledge of college life before applying helps find the best fit for the student’s interests. Every student is unique, and their college application process should be as well.