Why do I need to hire an outside service, when our high school has assigned a guidance counselor to help my child with college applications?
Your guidance department offers valuable assistance, and your student should utilize available resources. Guidance departments provide access to applicant-college matching software, information fairs and admission road shows. They help students develop college lists and process recommendations and transcripts. But guidance departments may not have the staff to offer the one-on-one personal time that can lead to self-discovery and help optimally position your student for acceptance at his best-fit college. Guidance counselors are geared to make sure every student in their often large population secures at least one acceptable college option. They may have to spread themselves thin to ensure, at minimum, a “good-enough” school for everyone, at the expense of not always finding the optimal match for each individual student. It can be helpful to get personal attention from a private source, as well.
Related Questions
- Can I substitute a recommendation from a high school teacher or guidance counselor for the College Instructor Evaluation or College Officials Report?
- Must the public school help my child with a disability find a job or get into college, following completion of high school?
- My child has an excellent high school guidance counselor. Why do I need to hire an independent college counselor?
