The college application process can be intimidating, but there is no shortage of resources that can guide you in the right direction, including your very own high school guidance counselor. They can help you understand the basics of the process, organize school visits, help make your school list, and assist with any issues that might come up.
The question on your mind may be: where do you start? Once you’ve introduced yourself to your counselor, make an appointment to meet with them. They can help you decide what classes to take in high school, which colleges to add to your list, what the different application components entail, and how to succeed in the process. To guide you through making the most out of the resource that is your high school guidance counselor, we have outlined questions that can help you get the conversation started.
Choosing Classes and Scheduling Tests
- What classes should I take if I want to be an X major?
- Which elective courses at our school do you recommend?
- Which AP classes/exams should I take and when?
- Do my courses show that I’m challenging myself?
- How do I maintain a balance between juggling classes and extracurriculars?
- Do you have any organizational or scheduling tips?
- Should I take the SAT or the ACT?
- When would be the best time to take the SAT/ACT?
- How often should I meet with you to make sure I’m staying on track?
Exploring Your Interests and Pursuing Extracurriculars
- What are some of the most impressive activities for a student interested in X?
- Do you have any ideas for pursuing this activity in a way that is different from my peers?
- Would X activity look good on my application?
- How can I make the most of my leadership roles?
- How can I take my participation in an activity to the next level?
- Should I pursue an internship?
- Are there any scholarships or awards I should work toward?
- How do I decide whether I want to turn an interest into a career?
Building a School List
- How can I decide between a college nearby or one far away?
- How much do rankings matter?
- Which colleges do students from our school commonly apply to?
- How have our admissions results been from school X?
- Do you think I’d be more suited for liberal arts colleges or a large national university?
- Do you have college handbooks or other guides that I can browse or borrow?
- What are suitable reach, target, and safer schools for me?
- What are the admitted student profiles like for the schools I have my eyes on?
- Will you host any college fairs in the upcoming year?
- Can you put me in touch with recent alums from our school who attend the colleges I’m interested in?
- What should I look for when visiting campuses?
- Do you know of any schools similar to the college I’m interested in?
Applying to College
- When should I create a Common Application account?
- Could you offer some advice on how I should order my activities list?
- Is it better for me to apply to my top choice school during the early decision/early action round?
- Who should I go to for letters of recommendation?
- What do colleges look for out of my personal statement?
- Will you help edit my personal statement?
- When should I request interviews?
Financial Aid and Scholarships
- What forms do I use to apply for financial aid and where can I find them online?
- Where can I find scholarship opportunities?
- How does my family’s income affect my financial aid and scholarship opportunities?
- Are there any scholarships you think I qualify for?
- How do I appeal for more financial aid if necessary?
Counselor Recommendation
- Do you need any information from me or my parents that would help you write the letter?
- How can I help you know me better, so the letter can be more personal?
- Could you please highlight X qualities in your letter?
Since your counselor will likely write you a recommendation letter, it’s important to make sure they’ve been regularly kept up to speed on the things you are doing. Likewise, if you face any sort of challenges during your high school years, it’s important for your counselor to know this as well, so that they can help paint the best picture of any situations you’ve had to overcome while in high school. Trust your counselor to be a resource you can turn to and ask questions that come up as you navigate the college application process.
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