Some of the advice I discovered as I was making my way through the Ivy League admissions process with average test scores and an average 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) Outstanding students who have terrible counselors in high school who give inaccurate and sometimes plain wrong advice about Ivy League admissions
2) Strong students who haven't built a strong relationship with their class counselor (after all, you rarely see them right?) and as a result, those counselors write very generic recommendation letters and generic evaluations in the secondary school report, the midyear report, and so forth
That last point is incredibly hurtful. Because you can fix number 1 by finding out the truth on your own. But it's almost impossible to fix number 2 until its really 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 activities
-College applications
The last point is the most important. The earlier you can get on the guidance counselor's radar that you're applying to schools like Harvard and Stanford and really CARE about the process, the more they'll respect your goals and assist you
2) Prepare a parent-counselor conference. These conferences when done well are a really effective way for parents to demonstrate their involvement, advocate for their child's interests, and make the counselor know that he/she can't slack off. Because guidance counselors can be lazy! Gentle pressure from parental oversight can be a powerful tool
3) Plan application review meetings with them starting junior year and at the start of senior year. Two objectives: one, get on their radar early regarding college applications and two, give them complete and repeated insight into your academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Many counselors have no clue what's going on at the school - what clubs you're involved with, what sports teams you're a member of, what you did last summer. Holding these 20-30 minute review sessions provides you with that chance
4) Provide materials in the same way you would for teacher recs - a brag-sheet, and a letter explaining your focus schools, your story, and your proudest accomplishments
Of these four steps, Step #3 is probably the most critical. Do this at least two times before they need to submit the Common App secondary school report. Do it once more before they send in the midyear update.
If you're afraid of doing so, remember: this is the rest of your life here. Go get what you want.
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) Outstanding students who have terrible counselors in high school who give inaccurate and sometimes plain wrong advice about Ivy League admissions
2) Strong students who haven't built a strong relationship with their class counselor (after all, you rarely see them right?) and as a result, those counselors write very generic recommendation letters and generic evaluations in the secondary school report, the midyear report, and so forth
That last point is incredibly hurtful. Because you can fix number 1 by finding out the truth on your own. But it's almost impossible to fix number 2 until its really 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 activities
-College applications
The last point is the most important. The earlier you can get on the guidance counselor's radar that you're applying to schools like Harvard and Stanford and really CARE about the process, the more they'll respect your goals and assist you
2) Prepare a parent-counselor conference. These conferences when done well are a really effective way for parents to demonstrate their involvement, advocate for their child's interests, and make the counselor know that he/she can't slack off. Because guidance counselors can be lazy! Gentle pressure from parental oversight can be a powerful tool
3) Plan application review meetings with them starting junior year and at the start of senior year. Two objectives: one, get on their radar early regarding college applications and two, give them complete and repeated insight into your academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Many counselors have no clue what's going on at the school - what clubs you're involved with, what sports teams you're a member of, what you did last summer. Holding these 20-30 minute review sessions provides you with that chance
4) Provide materials in the same way you would for teacher recs - a brag-sheet, and a letter explaining your focus schools, your story, and your proudest accomplishments
Of these four steps, Step #3 is probably the most critical. Do this at least two times before they need to submit the Common App secondary school report. Do it once more before they send in the midyear update.
If you're afraid of doing so, remember: this is the rest of your life here. Go get what you want.
About the Author:
John Dorian Chang was a B+ student who got into Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. Hopeless To Harvard is his insider's guide to how you can do it too. Click here to get college admissions advice. Discover how to get into Stanford now!
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