Many decisions will be out in a few weeks, and I was wondering if it was possible that the college counselor already knows which schools a person is likely to be accepted to? I am pretty sure many private school college counselors advocate for their students, since they asked what our top 3 choices were. I am asking for a friend by the way.
Advocating on the front end is different than knowing on the back end. It is very unlikely that your counselor knows if you (or your friend) got into school X. They would obviously know if school X contacted them and asked for additional information (rare, but it happens) but that’s it.
Also, there are other reasons than lobbying on your behalf that your counselor asked you what your top 3 choices were. In the old, old days (your grandparents generation) there was more back and forth between top-tier private schools and selective universities, but these days it is much more subtle.
Private school counselors (to generalize) have a lot more knowledge of their students, and thus I believe have a better sense of where to guide applications and what to expect. Our school has 2 full time counselors for 72 seniors (that’s not a typo). I know the letters are personal and well written. The counselors have a record of success with highly selective colleges.
Applying to the right schools is a combination of art and science.
I don’t believe that counselors are ever provided decisions before they are released by the schoools, but I do think that in rare instances a verbal recommendation on behalf of a kid which the counselor truly feels is a “fit” for the school can carry some weight. I doubt that happens as often at a school where the counselor has hundreds of students to look after. I honestly feel that is one of the biggest issues that differentiates applicants based on income disparity. There are so many kids who don’t get good advice, and who don’t know where to apply.
As an aside…my spouse went to State U in the 80’s, assuming it was the most cost effective choice. In retrospect, a small school would have been a much better fit, and would have most likely provided enough aid to compete with the state school on cost. We only realized that when looking for schools with our children.
Sometimes the schools call counselors to ask questions. My guess is that the counselors often have a sense of the likelihood of admission after these calls. But they aren’t going to tell you.
In some circumstances, private school counselors do know. I go to a private school with 100 kids and 4 counselors, and my counselor told me he knew of my ED result two days before I knew (but he didn’t tell me due to confidentiality reasons).
It isn’t a guarantee, but if it is a small private school and a local college where the school has a good relationship with the AOs, the admissions rep will call/email the counselor when decisions are finalized as a courtesy for the counselor, so the counselor can help the student along with the process.
Some counselors at some schools (likely a small %) do have calls beforehand with certain schools they have a relationship with, and thus know outcomes ahead of time. But the counselor is not supposed to disclose this info to the applicants.
Would you say that counselors would know a month in advance?
No.
Not all decisions are even complete yet.
And you said you have your own ED decision already. Your friend should be asking for him/herself.
LOL the colleges themselves likely don’t know a month in advance. It’s a sprint to the finish.