It isn’t very often that I give this space away to a colleague, but when I read something and think “Gee, I wish I had said that”, that’s a clue that you would enjoy reading it as well.
That’s the case with this piece, written by Eva Dodds. A former college advisor at one of the country’s most prestigious private schools, and a former admissions interviewer, Eva has worked face-to-face with students in four states and the District of Columbia. She’s a past president of the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling, and works with Root College Advising, based in Metro Detroit.
Eva’s work as an independent college advisor is the example all independents should follow. The interests of the student are at the heart of everything she does, and when the occasion arises for her to work with the student’s school counselor, she develops a sense of team that’s simply hard to beat.
This piece is just one example of Eva’s support of school counselors, and I’m grateful she’s letting me share it with you. This is an ideal piece to take to your principal or building newsletter editor so they will share it with well-meaning parents who may need some help understanding just how college applications work.
High School Parents — This is a bit harsh, but said with care
If your student is up against a college deadline and has questions, that is the fault of the applicant’s timeline, not the school counselor’s schedule. There are no emergencies in college admissions.
I know this sounds basic and I am not in any way meaning to be patronizing. Your school counselor would like to instantly answer all questions, as our world has become used to, but that is impossible. My advice is to plan to submit applications two weeks to six weeks ahead of deadlines. Then, when questions or process issues arise, there is time for them to be addressed in a relaxed and thorough manner.
Your school counselor wants to be able to answer your every college admission question in real time. The fear of not understanding or knowing how to best support your child = honest experiences. Saying that an office or a counselor is not doing enough because they did not make sure you knew how the process works, is a misplaced thought. These realities do not change based on the size of the high school or if one pays tuition. Seek out the information from your high school’s college admissions information resource. If the answers are not there then make an appointment to speak with your school counselor.
Most every school counselor I know is working late into the night in September to return emails and process applications. The process has become more complex each year for the high schools as well. The school counselors are asked to learn more platforms/programs to use to submit applications and transcripts each year while keeping up with college specific updates and more.
Planning ahead and seeking information where those who share it have left it are the two keys to a less stressful college admission process. This will help the applicants (your kiddos) the most! — All of this shared with their best interests & yours at heart.
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