Why Your Guidance Counselor Should Be Your BFF

When I was in high school, I made a point to become good friends with none other than the cafeteria staff. Our special bond meant free breakfast sandwiches during morning break and an extra piece of chicken during lunch...served with a sly wink of course. While a solid relationship with the lunch lady fulfills the short term goal of filling a hungry belly, a solid relationship with your school's Guidance Counselor can mean the key to getting you into college.

Your Guidance Counselor is the middleman between you and the college admissions process. While the process can be long and overwhelming, your Counselor is there to support and navigate the journey with you. Unfortunately, Guidance Counselors are often the most overworked staff members in a school who are responsible for large caseloads of students. While getting to know each student individually is ideal, it's sometimes far from realistic. Given this truth, it important for you to work proactively at building a relationship with your Guidance Counselor on you own. The key thing to remember: the better your Guidance Counselor knows you, the more willing he or she will be to help!

Guidance Counselors are valuable resources who will help you navigate the logistics of signing up for the PSAT, getting fee waivers for the SAT and college applications, filling out the FAFSA form and understanding financial aid, and sending out your transcripts to colleges. Your Guidance Counselor is also the person you can sit with to draft a college list, figure out your goals and potential majors, and give you the honest truth about your chances of admissions at certain universities. Furthermore, you will absolutely need your Guidance Counselor's help at some point during the college admissions process.

Your Guidance Counselor should also have tremendous knowledge about local SAT or ACT prep courses, as well as applications for scholarships or summer programs. When a scholarship opportunity comes across their desk, you want them to think of you! Hence the importance of getting your name and face known to them.

There's nothing more awkward than walking into a Guidance Counselor's office fall of your senior year saying "Hey, I know you don't know me, but I kinda need you to send my transcript out to these schools." Avoid the awkward senior year meet-up and instead begin to build that relationship as early as possible. You should take the initiative and meet with your Guidance Counselor multiple times every year of high school. For FRESHMEN, simply set up an appointment to meet with them, introduce yourself, and get information about summer programs. For SOPHOMORES, sign up for the PSAT with them and discuss your high school courseload so far. For JUNIORS, discuss your goals, draft your college list, and look at financial aid options. The key: do not wait until your senior year to step foot into their office.

Most importantly, Guidance Counselors have the opportunity to exercise considerable power in your college admissions chances. Counselors often have relationships with Admissions Officers at several universities. If an Admissions Officer calls them up for further information about you or your application, your Guidance Counselor has the opportunity to advocate on your behalf. If you've made a strong impression on your Counselor, they will go to bat for you!

Make it a goal to become buddy-buddy with your Guidance Counselor. Pop into their office from time to time to chat about your goals or just to ask a simple question. Make your face and name stand out among the hundreds of other students at your school and your efforts will serve you well when it comes time to apply for college.

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Natasha Scott is the author of The College Admissions Bible. Visit www.CollegeAdmissionsBible.com for more information. To contact Natasha for a speaking engagement or other opportunities, email her at info@collegeadmissionsbible.com or call 973-951-4613.