Wow. It feels weird to be typing on this part of the forum! Coming over from boarding schools. Allow me to fill y’all in a bit: I was a boarding school applicant for two years. I learned a lot about admissions and even more about life. I ended up never going, but the reason isn’t important here.
Now, I’m going to be a Jr in public high school and I’m clueless. I’m starting, really, all over again. However, life is more complex than ever and I doubt the amount of time I’ll have to scour places like this on the internet in order to learn. If only there was someone who could help that already knows all of this! Like a college admissions counselor (or whatever the proper term is).
The question is: How do I find one? Where do I look? Who is good, who is not good? Etc.
I’m looking more for “we’ll help you find the right college and apply” and less for “we’ll read your college essays”. But, essay help never hurts I suppose!
The best way to find a college counselor is to ask families from your high school that have used them successfully. They are the best resource and many times the counselor will give you one free consultation before you sign-up with them giving you the opportunity to interview several for best fit.
Things that were/are important to us: a) had great credentials; b) were local (i.e. knew our local high school), c) successful placing students to “good fit” colleges, d) charged by the hour and not as part of a package. She also was/is extremely positive but firm that my D20 would listen to her advice. Whereas if we gave her advice it went in one ear out the other.
Note: you can do a lot of the leg work yourself by spending time on CC and asking questions (like you are doing) but CC can only help you so much and we don’t know your full transcript, ECs, Naviance results, culture of your HS, how best to “package” your application, etc. Only someone that really works with you and knows you can do all of this effectively.
In addition, test scores are so important that I would have a game plan on how you will study for the ACT/SAT and plan on taking it at least twice unless you get the score you want first time. A personal tutor might be valuable?
Some here say you don’t need a private college counselor but with so much at stack, 4 very important college years and the money involved; spending a few sessions on a counselor is money well spent IMO. Good luck and let us know if you have other questions about the process.
Definitely get referrals, preferably from people you know. Some will not work by the hour, and that’s because they limit the number of students they work with and want to be sure to know them and their families well and to be available to them.
While it’s helpful if they are local, many are very effective working through Skype. Ones that have worked in college admissions for a while get bonus points from me. Make sure they focus on fit. For some kids, Yale is a fit, but for most, it’s not.