How to Have a Successful Meeting With Your College Counselor
Last updated December 12, 2022
Meeting with your college counselor or advisor is key to ensuring you stay on track to graduate. You can check in with them about what classes to take, how to maintain a high GPA, what you will need to succeed in specific classes, and more. Here’s how to use the time you have with your counselor or advisor efficiently and effectively!
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Set an agenda
Every successful meeting has an agenda! Before your meeting, write down important things you want/need to cover with your advisor. What questions do you have for them? What progress have you made on things you talked about in your last meeting? What do you need to figure out together to ensure you're on track to graduate? Having these things in mind will make your meeting go smoother.
Bring relevant documents and notes to the meeting
Come prepared with any relevant documents, notes, or insights. If you need to meet with your counselor before registering for classes and you’ve worked on your class schedule ahead of time, be sure to bring it. Coming prepared to these meetings will go a long way in showing your counselor that you take them and your time together seriously.
Take notes
Write down the answers to your questions or any other important bits of information to remember later.
Leave the meeting with action items
Not every meeting with your counselor will leave you with all the answers. Once you start talking you’ll find that you have more questions that may require more time to answer, so be sure to leave the meeting with action items. These could be things like looking for and completing documents, doing some research, or checking in with a professor or your family for input on important decisions.
Follow up via email
After the meeting, follow up in an email with any results from the action items you left with or any clarifying questions you have. Always remember to thank them for their time and guidance!
If needed, schedule a follow-up meeting
Need some extra time or support to work through something with your counselor? Set up a follow-up meeting! Be sure to give them a head's up of when you're scheduling the meeting and what you plan to talk through with them. Don't be nervous or shy about wanting their guidance. Remember: they're there to help you succeed!
Any questions about having a great meeting with your college counselor? Text #Hello to 33-55-77!