<p>My sophomore D and I are meeting with her guidance counselor tomorrow. I had to set up the meeting as the counselor doesn't set up meeting that might center around college prep until late junior year. (She and D had a short meeting about class scheduling for next year, but she was not very helpful. When D told her that she was having trouble deciding between one AP and another - she told D to let her know when she decided...no discussing it or giving advice on it.) Our HS counseling in general is pretty abysmal - perhaps because I live in a town where many (not me) can afford expensive external college counseling. But, not once has our counselor met with any of my children to discuss things like SAT 2s (a plan for when to take certain ones) or anything else related to the college process. The only meeting she scheduled with my last kid was to talk about possible colleges late in junior year, and her picks were all wrong. So, I'm not sure what I'm expecting, but I wanted to meet with her now while D is a sophomore, get D on her radar, and....well, I'm not sure what else. So I'm asking for suggestions here - what kinds of topics would be helpful to discuss with the counselor at this stage of the game in order to help my D a little more than my other kids were helped? (This is assuming counselor is capable of helping...but her own kid went to an ivy so she can't be completely clueless!)</p>
<p>Thank you for the input!</p>
<p>Honestly, I think at this point I would let your daughter continue to get to know the counselor without your going in. She could ask the counselor if the school has Naviance, and if students (and parents) are allowed to log into it. She might ask for some suggestions on book titles about college admissions or essay writing. </p>
<p>The important thing is finding ways to help you and your Dd navigate this process, with you two steering the ship. From your comments, it’s obvious that your guidance counselor doesn’t put admission’s counseling high on her priority list until the kids are close to application time, and your coming to her office might actually annoy her rather than help your daughter. (I know that’s not how it should be, but it often works that way) </p>
<p>I don’t think you want the counselor deciding which APs your daughter takes, in any case. That’s something she can decide, with your help if needed, based on her interests and abilities. She probably knows her strengths better than anyone.</p>
<p>I’ll add, since you already have scheduled this meeting very soon, I would make it a very short “hello, just want to meet you” type of meeting, and let your daughter do the question asking.<br>
Sometimes counselors are aware of interesting summer programs where students can explore their interests- workshops and camps, both academic and arts oriented. This might be something you could ask about, I think. She might know of a program that students from your school attended and enjoyed.</p>
<p>Keep it light and positive. That’s the feeling you want her to have about your Dd.</p>
<p>Seems like the important stuff for the student to do in junior year would be:</p>
<ul>
<li>Do well in school.</li>
<li>Take PSAT for real (try for National Merit qualification).</li>
<li>Take SAT and ACT (or at least practice tests under test conditions to see which is better).</li>
<li>Take SAT subject tests if needed at the end of relevant courses.</li>
</ul>
<p>Parents should evaluate finances and inform the student what the price limit is and be willing to do net price calculators on college web sites or provide the student with enough information to do the net price calculators.</p>
<p>Our HS has fabulous college counselors with a great counselor to student ratio in a selective private HS. Even with that, they usually will not discuss most things college with the kids until Jan of jr yr (because they have just finished up with the seniors in getting all of the apps in). Of course, this annoys some of the parents. But I tell you this in order for you to reset your expectations for the meeting tomorrow. </p>
<p>In soph yr, the GCs will talk about
- Parameters to help Figure out which AP classes each individual kid wants to take based on their relative interests. These r parameters, because the kid and parent will usually do the deciding of which ap classes are best given kid’s strengths.
- Plan out SAT2 tests: think ahead for about 3 of them, plan to take them at the end of the corresponding level of class. This is where you would get most help from ur GC. E.g. Does kid take MATH 2 after which math class? If kid takes AP Chem, then plan on taking ap chem test in may and sat2 in chem in June, etc.
- Any summer programs that the GC might know about that corresponds with kid’s interest
- A reminder for kid to keep getting involved in ECs
- Consider prepping over the summer for the jr PSAT esp if kid has a shot at NMSF (tread lightly here)
- See if you can get access to naviance (our school does not release this until jan of jr year)</p>
<p>Agree with others to keep it light. With lots if kids to process, the GC like to herd the cattle (er, kids) thru a set routine so by trying to rush along the side, it may aggravate the GC a bit.</p>
<p>Thank you all! I should mention that I already know the GC from my other children so I can’t position it as a “get to know you” thing and she knows my D too - but the last suggestions from YoHo are really helpful!!</p>