Some of the advice I found out as I was navigating through the college admissions process with middle-tier test scores and an average but unspectacular GPA.
Some of the advice I didn't find out until much later - when working as an application reader for three years at a Top 20 college.
This advice falls into the second group - I simply discovered it way too late for it to be helpful during the application process. I ended up being lucky - but I see examples all the time of:
1) Strong students who have crappy high school counselors who give misinformed and sometimes outright wrong advice about the Ivy League admissions process
2) Distinctive students who haven't built a close relationship with their school counselor (after all, you never see them right?) and as a result, the counselors write very bad recommendation letters and careless evaluations in the secondary school report, the midyear update, and so on
That last one is extremely damaging. Because you can fix point 1 by finding out the truth by yourself. But it's tough to fix point 2 until its too late.
With that said, here's a few suggestions on how you can build a good relationship and steer clear of mistake #2:
1) Schedule meetings with your guidance counselor on a periodic basis from 9th grade . In some schools, counselors follow their classes from year-to-year. At most schools, you'll have a different guidance counselor each year. Whatever the system - make sure you meet with them at least 3 times a year (once in the middle of a semester, once at the end) to chat about things like:
-Scheduled course schedule
-Extracurricular commitments
-College admissions prep
The last one is extremely important. The earlier you can get on the guidance counselor's radar that you're applying to top schools and really CARE about doing well, the more they'll respect your ambitions and try to help you out
2) Plan a parent-counselor conference. Just like my earlier post about parent-teacher conferences, parent-counselor conferences when done well can be a really effective way for parents to voice their concerns, discuss their child's interests, and make the guidance counselor know that he/she can't slack off. Because counselors can be lazy! Firm but polite parental oversight can be an effective form of accountability
3) Arrange application review talks with them starting late in 11th grade and at the start of 12th grade. Two goals here: one, get on their radar early about college admissions and two, give them comprehensive info about your academic and extracurricular achievements. Many counselors simply don't know what's going on at the school - what clubs you participate in, what sports teams you're a part of, what you did over the summer. Having these 15-30 minute review sessions provides you that opportunity
4) Give them materials in the same way you would for teacher recommendations - a polished resume, and a letter explaining your dream schools, your story, and your proudest achievements
Of these 4 suggestions, Step #3 is the most important. Get on their calendar, and do this at least 2 times before they need to submit the Common App secondary school report. Do it once more before they fill out and send in the midyear report.
If you're too shy to do so, don't forget: this is your life goal thus far. Go out there and achieve your dreams!.
Some of the advice I didn't find out until much later - when working as an application reader for three years at a Top 20 college.
This advice falls into the second group - I simply discovered it way too late for it to be helpful during the application process. I ended up being lucky - but I see examples all the time of:
1) Strong students who have crappy high school counselors who give misinformed and sometimes outright wrong advice about the Ivy League admissions process
2) Distinctive students who haven't built a close relationship with their school counselor (after all, you never see them right?) and as a result, the counselors write very bad recommendation letters and careless evaluations in the secondary school report, the midyear update, and so on
That last one is extremely damaging. Because you can fix point 1 by finding out the truth by yourself. But it's tough to fix point 2 until its too late.
With that said, here's a few suggestions on how you can build a good relationship and steer clear of mistake #2:
1) Schedule meetings with your guidance counselor on a periodic basis from 9th grade . In some schools, counselors follow their classes from year-to-year. At most schools, you'll have a different guidance counselor each year. Whatever the system - make sure you meet with them at least 3 times a year (once in the middle of a semester, once at the end) to chat about things like:
-Scheduled course schedule
-Extracurricular commitments
-College admissions prep
The last one is extremely important. The earlier you can get on the guidance counselor's radar that you're applying to top schools and really CARE about doing well, the more they'll respect your ambitions and try to help you out
2) Plan a parent-counselor conference. Just like my earlier post about parent-teacher conferences, parent-counselor conferences when done well can be a really effective way for parents to voice their concerns, discuss their child's interests, and make the guidance counselor know that he/she can't slack off. Because counselors can be lazy! Firm but polite parental oversight can be an effective form of accountability
3) Arrange application review talks with them starting late in 11th grade and at the start of 12th grade. Two goals here: one, get on their radar early about college admissions and two, give them comprehensive info about your academic and extracurricular achievements. Many counselors simply don't know what's going on at the school - what clubs you participate in, what sports teams you're a part of, what you did over the summer. Having these 15-30 minute review sessions provides you that opportunity
4) Give them materials in the same way you would for teacher recommendations - a polished resume, and a letter explaining your dream schools, your story, and your proudest achievements
Of these 4 suggestions, Step #3 is the most important. Get on their calendar, and do this at least 2 times before they need to submit the Common App secondary school report. Do it once more before they fill out and send in the midyear report.
If you're too shy to do so, don't forget: this is your life goal thus far. Go out there and achieve your dreams!.
About the Author:
Hopeless To Harvard is an insider's account of how a B+ student got into Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Click here to learn college admissions tips. Follow the advice and go to any Ivy League school. Learn how to get into Harvard now!
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