Who Needs College Counseling, and Why?

Many, or even most, students will find a good college solution on their own, or with the help of family and school guidance counselors. There are special situations, however, in which the use of a skilled, professional, college counselor can be particularly beneficial.

When Applying to Very Selective Schools. "Brand name" schools, typically the ones that populate most "top 25" listings, are increasingly difficult to gain admission to. Just this year, for example, Princeton's applications rose to 14,287 for just 1,165 slots; they accepted only 11.7%, a new low. Harvard accepted even fewer, 10.7%. Since 1993, Columbia's applications have risen 97% - the school accepted 13.6% last year. Penn and Cornell also saw increased applications last year. Statistics like this mean that for every eight or nine applicants, only one gets admitted! It's important to realize that the students in the reject pile are often as qualified statistically as the small number of successful applicants - the difference often lies in activities, interests, enthusiasm, and "intangibles." Communicating these personal characteristics effectively is critical to success.

At the most selective schools, almost no applicant is assured of admission. Harvard rejects half of its valedictorian applicants. Many top schools routinely reject applicants with perfect SAT scores. Clearly, even a student with the most sterling qualifications has no room for error in the application process - an experienced counselor can avoid missteps and help present the student's unique accomplishments and abilities in the best possible way.

When The Student's Strongest Points Aren't SAT Scores and GPA. At all but the most selective schools, a combination of high SAT scores and high grades will usually be enough to gain admission. However, many good schools are now filling the role of "Ivy backups" and are themselves getting increasingly selective - as the applicant pool increases, average SAT scores and GPAs are going up. Even students with good statistics may find acceptance far from certain.

In any situation where a student is applying to a school where his or her academic statistics don't fall into a range that makes admission highly probable - what might be called a "reach" or "near-reach" school - it is important to represent the non-academic achievements and talents in the best possible way. Experienced counseling can help the student use essays, recommendations, supplemental matierials, and other data in the most effective manner to increase the probability of admission.

When A Guidance Counselor is Inexperienced or Unavailable. Parents often assume that the school's counseling staff will assist their student in navigating the tricky shoals of the college search and application process. Indeed, private "prep" schools and some public magnet schools often have counselors of great skill and experience in working with applicants to the most selective colleges. In many other public and private schools, however, the counseling situation is problematic. Certainly, most guidance counselors are hard-working and committed to helping their charges. However, some of the common complaints we hear at College Confidential include:

• The counselor only knows about in-state and nearby schools.
• The counselor has only a handful of schools he recommends.
• The counselor has hundreds of students assigned to her.
• The counselor has little time for the "best" students - they aren't at risk.
• The counselor has to give priority to crisis situations - parental abuse, drug problems, threats of suicide or violence - and college counseling suffers.
• The counselor doesn't even know my child.
• The counselor knows nothing about applying to Ivy League or similar colleges.
• The counselor is new, and it's senior year.

We certainly don't want to minimize the fine work that many high school guidance counselors perform. Often, problems perceived by students and parents aren't due to incompetence, but rather a combination of too many students, too many responsibilities other than academic counseling, and too little time. College Confidential insures that each student assisted receives the undivided attention of a superbly qualified counselor.

When The Search Process Seems to be Going Nowhere. With thousands of colleges to choose from, and no two alike, it is little wonder that students and parents often become frustrated and confused. For every student that decided to major in marine biology in eighth grade and had a firm list of colleges by her sophomore year in high school, there are many others who are undecided about multiple aspects of their college search - intended major, large state school or small liberal arts college, urban or rural, etc.

Through a combination of techniques, a skilled counselor can help narrow the field to a smaller range of school types and characteristics. This can add focus to the college search, so that the student can evaluate a smaller number of schools for a fit with their personality and their specific preferences.

While professional counseling can help narrow and focus the college search process, it can also expand the horizons of a search. Often, a student may only be exposed to schools in a specific locale or state, for example. Once the student's needs and preferences are established, an experienced counselor can suggest additional colleges that provide a "best fit" with those needs and preferences.

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