<p>Does it help if your counselor is from the same university you're applying to? It's a coincidental thing, that I came across a few days ago. It's not like I would purposely pick said counselor to increase my chances. We're broken off by last name and A-M end up with x counselor and N-Z end up with x counselor. I fall into A-M. So does it help in any way? Not asking for a direct admission but I'm sure that if an admission's rep would google my counselor they would realize he is a relatively recent alumni and a very big alumni as he's given keynotes and other such things. Many reps would probably recognize his name right off the bat</p>
<p>Counselors with contacts are ALwAYS a good thing. Just don’t assuming the contacts are only with their alma mater - good counselors know all the important people at a huge number of schools. The two probably work together, and if one has a kid who’s interested in a school the other has a contact at, they’ll probably put in a good word.</p>
<p>However, don’t assume they can get you in. They can fix things when they go wrong like a missed deadline by a few hours, they’ll know what a school is looking for, they’ll know who to ask for the inside word on something like a deferral. They can’t get a 23 ACT into Harvard unless your name is on the library or you can throw the football 70 yards with pinpoint accuracy while half a ton of human flesh is trying to remove your arm from your torso.</p>
<p>That said, they are probably the most under-appreciated part of the whole college process. Listen to them, the good ones know what they’re talking about. They’ve done this hundreds of times - you and your parents, once, maybe twice if you’ve got an older sibling or two. If they say you have no chance, and they should be honest, you have no chance. If they say your essays need work, they do. A good counselor on your side can make all the difference, and you need an advocate in this process.</p>
<p>Thanks. I think this new counselor is just who I need to achieve my dreams. Hopefully he’ll steer me in the right direction as far the application goes.</p>