Finding the college admissions counselor that is right for you can be an overwhelming task. If you are looking for specific skills, traits, and values to seek out in your search for the counselor that is right for you, then check out these tips.
6 Important Things College Admission Counselors Help Students Accomplish
1. Setting Goals
College admissions counselors can help you set goals. Some students use admissions counselors to outline their goals year by year throughout middle school and high school to ensure they are on track for the college they hope to attend (or major they hope to study) later on. If you are unsure about your future plans, consider using a college admissions counselor to set goals.
2. Writing Essays
College admissions counselors can help students with their college essay writing process. Whether you are looking for ideas to write about, brainstorming topics, drafting your essays, revising your work, or looking for another pair of eyes to review your writing, a college admissions counselor can help you every step of the way.
3. Researching Colleges and Universities
You should also know that college admissions counselors can serve as a resource while researching various colleges and universities. If you were wondering which schools offer the major you want to study, talk to your college admissions counselor. You may find that their experience and knowledge can introduce you to colleges, universities, and majors that you would not have otherwise considered.
4. Managing Your Schedule and Due Dates
If you are a student who struggles with time management or someone who has a really busy schedule, you should consider how a college admissions counselor can help you manage due dates and create a timeline for applications that fits into your life.
5. Selecting a Major
Many students go into college unsure of what they want to study. If you are looking for insight into the fields of academia that would suit your skills and interests, consult your college admissions counselor. They can offer a personalized view of programs and majors that might work for you.
6. Preparing for Admissions Interviews
One more thing that college admissions counselors can help you prepare for is college admissions interviews. Some schools will implement in-person interviews to get to know their candidates better. If you are concerned about the process of interviewing, consult your college admissions counselor. They can offer tips, strategies, and practice to ease your nerves.
5 Vital Things You Should Look for in Your College Admissions Counselor
Before you start your search, consider what your goals are for working with a college admission counselor. You need to work with someone who can help you submit an application that provides the admissions officers a strong understanding of who you are and what you can bring to their campus. Someone best suited for this role will have experience on the other side of the admissions process and knows what colleges and universities are looking for when offering students an acceptance to their school.
1. Someone with Experience
The number one thing to look for in your college admissions counselor is their experience or background in admissions. FLEX College Prep works with counselors that have experience as college admissions officers. This means that the person helping you with your application has worked on a college admissions board. You can gain insider information through an experienced college consultant. They will offer strategies to improve your essay, application, high school course selection, and SAT® or ACT® scores to make your application stand out.
2. Someone with Strong Writing Skills
When looking for a college admissions counselor, it is also very important to find someone with strong writing skills. Your college admissions counselor can play an integral role in writing, editing, revising, drafting, or even brainstorming a stellar admissions essay. The application essay you write offers the admissions officers reading your application a chance to get to know you on a deeper level. You should take full advantage of this opportunity by writing an essay that shows off your writing skills and gives your reader a look into who you are, what your values are, what your background is, and what you can bring to campus. By working with a college admissions counselor with strong writing skills, you can ensure that someone reviews your work with a critical eye.
It would be best if you were sure that the person helping you write your essay knows exactly what college admissions counselors are looking for.
3. Someone with Extensive Knowledge of Potential Colleges and Universities
When looking for a college admissions counselor, it is also a good idea to seek out someone with a broad knowledge of the universities or colleges you hope to apply to. Working with someone who has a comprehensive understanding of your potential schools offers the opportunity to discuss campuses, programs, majors, or scholarships that you may not know about without insider knowledge. Think of your college admissions counselor as a resource for researching any college or university. You can explore more options for your future by finding a college admissions counselor that can introduce you to a range of schools that suit your goals.
4. Someone Who Understands Your Goals
Your college admissions counselor should also have a good understanding of your goals. Perhaps you hope to go into law school after completing your undergraduate degree. A good college admissions counselor will be able to point you in the direction of undergraduate programs that set you up for success with the Bar exam. If you want to be a teacher, your college admissions counselor may be able to point you in the direction of undergraduate degrees that offer teaching certifications within their four-year program.
Researching the college that is right for you can be a big task, and many students are only able to scratch the surface when finding out which schools are best suited for them. Some students need help finding a college or university that offers the major they are looking for. Other students require a college admissions counselor to supplement their research for specific locations, campus sizes, or scholarship programs. Regardless, you need to find a college admissions counselor who understands your goals for the future and who is able to supplement your research for finding the school that is right for you.
5. Personalize Your Options and Strategies
One last important thing to look for when finding the college admissions counselor that is right for you is the ability to personalize your consulting options and strategies for admission. Your college admissions counselor can help you schedule your ACT and SAT prep, set goals for high school courses and grades, understand the expectations of admissions officers, and practice for admissions interviews. They can also help you research potential schools, write a strong admissions essay, and submit everything you need on time.
Important Questions to Consider Asking Your College Counselor
Your college admissions counselor will serve as a resource for all aspects of the college admissions process. Here are some questions to consider asking your admissions counselor before you start the process of applying to schools.
1. How will you assess my current academic standing to create a plan for my application process?
Finding out how your counselor evaluates you as a student is helpful for understanding their perception of your academic background. More importantly, it will give you an idea of how your counselor views your eligibility. It may bring up a discussion of where improvement is necessary and how you should spend your time.
2. How can you help me attain my goals?
Asking how your admissions counselor will help you attain your goals is another important discussion. It will give you an understanding of how involved they are willing to be in your applications, schoolwork, essays, test prep, and more.
3. What is your background with admissions work?
Asking about their background can give you an idea of their qualifications. Remember, someone with a background in college admissions can give you an inside look at what colleges and universities are looking for!
4. How can you personalize my admissions strategy?
Lastly, ask the admissions counselor about personalized strategies they can implement into your application process. Work with someone that can make adjustments according to your schedule, strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
These four questions are a great starting point for managing your expectations, opening up detailed discussions about your future, and creating a plan for success with your admissions counselor.
As you begin the process of finding a college admissions counselor, consider these details, questions, and tips. FLEX College Prep offers students the opportunity to work with former admissions officers who use their experience and knowledge to help you through your application process. Whether you are looking for advice when selecting a major, an evaluation of your academics and high school courses, help to schedule your ACT and SAT testing, guidance throughout the essay writing process, or support researching the best college for you, FLEX’s college admissions consulting program can lead you to success!
Students need to stand out in the competitive admissions landscape. FLEX College Prep is a team of the best strategists in the industry and takes a holistic approach to ensure students use their pre-college years in intentional, enriching, and personally satisfying ways. Since 2001, we’ve worked with families to help students unlock their potential and find happiness, meaning, and success in college and beyond.