Invest in Your Future by Getting Personalized College and Career Counseling

When I tell people that I am a college admissions consultant, invariably, I get one of two reactions:

1. Isn’t that what high school counselors are for?

2. I wish I had worked with you when I was in high school.

Yet, by the end of such conversations, most people I speak with either a) feel sorry that when they were in high school they didn’t know about the existence of college admissions/career consulting services like those I provide or b) feel happy to have learned about such services before they, family members, of friends begin the college admissions process in earnest.

With the cost of earning one’s higher education higher than ever and the job market crueler than it has been in decades, now is certainly the time to invest in one’s education; however, in a world in which even some McDonalds locations are starting to require new-hire cashiers to have bachelor’s degrees, it’s important to go about finding and getting into college carefully.

The fact is that not all undergraduate educations are created equal, especially in today’s economy.  In a booming economy, one can be relatively careless with post-secondary planning because there are many ways to get one’s foot in many doors. In a sour economy like we have now and will probably have for the foreseeable future, I can think of no better investment than strong post-secondary counseling in order to increase the likelihood of reaching your professional and personal potential.

So how do I respond to the two most common reactions I receive when individuals find out what I do for a living:

1. Isn’t that what high school counselors are for?

My reply: No.

The reality is that public high school guidance counselors’ jobs are multifaceted, and only a small percentage of such jobs are devoted to college guidance. In most public schools, counselors are typically assigned 100 or more students each year, and the bulk of a counselor’s college admissions-related duties revolve around writing counselor recommendation letters and sending transcripts and other school forms to colleges on students’ behalf. Public high school counselors are also responsible for regular liaising with high school teachers, standardized test administration and coordination, course scheduling, academic and personal counseling, crisis counseling, and a whole host of administrative responsibilities. With so much on their plates, it’s a small wonder that most public high school counselors can devote any time to one-on-one college counseling or the professional development necessary in order to provide students with current and tailored college counseling of any kind.  In private schools the situation is usually a bit better; however, because of tight budgets, it’s very common for private high school counselors to double as teachers of multiple sections of academic subjects such as English or History, which further erodes the amount of time and energy such counselors can devote to what will typically be student loads that include 30-40 seniors each year. Even when a private high school counselor’s job is not split between counseling and teaching, on average, private high school counselors still spend only 54 percent of their time on post secondary counseling.

Therefore, in order to receive focused, current, and personalized college guidance, one can’t depend on school-based counseling professionals whose responsibilities are as diverse as they are myriad. Would you depend on a doctor who only saw patients part time because his employer thought it important that he spend half or more of his time teaching U.S. History, coordinating AP courses, or coaching basketball? Probably not if you could avoid doing so. Then why would you depend exclusively or even almost exclusively on high school counselors to help you chart your academic, professional, and personal future?

2. I wish I had worked with you when I was in high school.

My reply: Thank you. That is very kind. I wish you had too!

So, why do those I speak with increasingly either a) feel sorry that when they were in high school they didn’t know about the existence of college admissions consulting services like those I provide or b) feel happy to have learned about such services before a family member of friend beings the college admissions process in earnest?

Well, imagine if you are a typical high school student who wants to go to college in order to give yourself the best shot of professional success and along the way meet interesting people and have a bit of fun. If you are like most high school students with little in the way of personalized college counseling, you will probably compose a college list that derives its schools from favorites of your family members and friends. Yet, do you ask you family and friends what their favorite ice cream flavor is before ordering at a local ice cream shop? Doubtful, since everyone has such different tastes. Do you have exactly the same preference in cars, clothes, food, and extracurricular activities as your parents, siblings, or friends? Again, probably not. Then why would you base your college list off of their proclivities along with some suggestions from your overworked and underpaid high school counselor? Instead you should meet with someone who will take the time to learn about your high school career, academic and social preferences, personal and professional goals, and budget. As a college admissions consultant, I do just that, while also helping students complete strong college applications that will give them the best shot of getting into the colleges that best align with their goals and value systems. 

I find it a real shame every time I meet with a current college student who wants to transfer or somebody who has recently graduated from college and is without work and back living at home with his or her parents. Often major life detours such as these occur because students did not seek out strong and/or personalized college counseling back in high school. With a strong, reasoned, and well thought out plan in eleventh and twelfth grades, one can chart a positive trajectory for their college career and professional life. Without a strong, reasoned, and well thought out plan in eleventh and twelfth grades, one often has to overcome major hurdles down the road that are quite avoidable.

Therefore, it’s not surprising that many individuals I meet regret not taking the college admissions process more seriously when they were in high school. This is also why others realize that they shouldn’t make the same mistake for themselves, their children, or their friends, which drives them to seek out my support or the support of others who provide similar services.

It’s time that as a society we start encouraging our high school students to think carefully about and act strategically regarding their futures. We also must admit that most schools don’t have the resources and most families don’t have the know-how to help students do so.  If you or someone you know is serious about making the most out of college, contact or tell them to contact an experienced and well-regarded college admissions consultant. It’s an investment that will pay huge dividends for the rest of your life. 

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Craig Meister is the president of Tactical College Consulting, a strategy-driven college admissions consultancy that advises students and parents during the college search and application process.