If you’re a high school student aiming for college, one of your best resources is your high school’s college counselor. As you learn about the steps and decisions that are a part of the college application process, having someone who can support and guide you along the way can make a significant difference! In this article, we’ll share the many ways that your college counselor can support you and how you can make the most of your time together!

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What Do College Counselors Do? 

High school college counselors are very knowledgeable about the college application process. They help students along each step, offering support and answering questions. Below are just a few of the things your college counselor can help with! 

Help you define your college and career goals 

Your counselor can help you define your college and career goals. This can include many things, like your desired location and size of a college and the subjects and majors you’d be interested in studying. They can also help you consider jobs or careers that interest you, and what people in those professions typically study to get there. This is a time to dream big and really consider what matters to you! 

(Not sure where to begin? Use our free self-exploration worksheet to start defining your values and goals!)

Plan academically

They can help you pick high school classes that challenge you academically and align with your college goals to ensure you meet admissions requirements. 

Explore colleges 

Your counselor can support you in researching colleges to build a list of schools that align with your college and career goals in mind. They can also help you consider the important non-academic factors of a college, which can help you decide where you actually end up applying. 

Work on college applications 

Receive support along every step of the college application process. From securing letters of recommendation and submitting transcripts, your counselor can help you keep it all organized while ensuring you’re following all application requirements. 

They can also provide some feedback on your application essays or personal statements, depending on how many other students they’re supporting. 

(To receive detailed feedback on your application essays or personal statements, submit them to us for free review! We’ll have them back to you within 7-10 days with specific and detailed notes and feedback.) 

Explore financial aid options

Your counselor may also be knowledgeable about financial aid options and the application process. Together, you can start completing the FAFSA or state-based aid applications, look and apply for scholarships, and understand your different student loan options. Financial fit is a very important consideration when applying to college, so be sure to talk about all these things with your counselor to make informed decisions! 

Choose and enroll in college 

Once you start receiving financial aid offer letters from the schools you’ve been accepted to, your counselor can help you compare them to choose a college. Together, you can weigh the pros and cons, as well as the financial and cultural fit of each school, to make an informed decision about where to attend. 

Additionally, they can support you in requesting more financial aid from colleges and exploring your options when enrolling in your school. 

When And How Often to Meet With Your College Counselor

To make the most of your counselor’s support, plan to meet with them at key points:

• Once or twice during your junior year. They can help you begin your college exploration early.  
• Fall of your senior year. Check in with them frequently as you work on your college applications. 
• Spring of your senior year. Use their knowledge and support to make a decision about which college to attend. 

Some counselors may have office hours or virtual appointments you can join over Zoom or Google Meets. Regardless of where or how they meet with students, be sure to make the most of your time with them by coming prepared with goals and any relevant documentation you want them to take a look at. It can also be helpful to take notes while you meet and follow up with them later about progress on action items. 

Questions to Ask Your College Counselor

Preparing specific questions to ask your counselor can make your meetings more productive. Here are some you can ask:

1. What types of colleges and programs align with my interests and goals? How do I determine whether a school is a good fit for me?
2. What should I know about different college application deadlines?
3. What are my financial aid options? Why does applying for financial aid matter?
4. What makes a strong application essay or personal statement? 
5. How should I approach asking for letters of recommendation? Who should I ask?
6. What are some ways I can strengthen my applications? 
7. Why do I need to submit test scores to colleges? Are they required by all schools? 
8. How should I make the most of college visits?
9. How do I decide where I will actually end up attending college? 
10. Where else can I go for support throughout the college application process? 

My School Doesn’t Have a College Counselor. What Should I Do? 

If you’re unsure whether your high school has a college counselor, check in with an educator for support. The counselor at your school may go by a different title, such as College and Career Specialist, Guidance Counselor, or College Advisor. 

If your school doesn’t have a college counselor, know that you can still receive personalized college application support! Get Schooled is here to help you along every step of the way:

• Sign up for our free national textline to chat with one of our College Advisors (real humans with college knowledge)! We’ll never spam you or sell your data. 
• Create a free Get Schooled account to receive personalized content and email support as you make your way through the college application process. 
• Follow us on social media for helpful nudges about college applications and scholarship opportunities!

Have any questions about making the most of your time with your college counselor? Text #College to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!