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Author: Ann Ahn
College Counselor, Head Counselor, MEK Review
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Every year, events such as Back to School Night and parent-teacher conferences emerge as significant milestones for parents, albeit often fraught with anxiety. While they are initially engaging, parents may find themselves increasingly apprehensive as their children advance through school, particularly by the time they reach high school. Listening to each teacher’s brief agenda can be overwhelming, raising questions about applying this information to parenting. An encounter with the counselor might leave parents wondering whether they or their children will be remembered after the meeting. As children progress to the 11th grade, parental concerns grow more focused, especially regarding college preparations.
The most prevalent question during this period is, “When should we start preparing for college applications?” The serious preparation begins in earnest with meetings with school counselors. Assigned at the start of high school, these counselors accompany the student throughout their four-year journey, maintaining comprehensive data on course selections, grades, and school activities. As college applications necessitate recommendations from two subject teachers and a guidance counselor, these meetings become pivotal in determining the content of those essential letters.
With SAT scores and last semester's grades in hand, parents and students should create a college application list, basing discussions on this preliminary framework. Sharing specific schools, even dream institutions, opens dialogues. While lists may initially be aspirational, they become grounded over time through the counselor’s experience and data.
For those unsure of their direction, evaluating elective courses, extracurriculars, and subjects they excel or struggle in can offer a starting point. Compiling a resume detailing achievements and activities since 9th grade can also facilitate productive counselor meetings, highlighting strengths and areas to emphasize.
Students with academic shortcomings or unremarkable profiles may struggle to stand out. However, positive guidance letters remain critical for those eyeing college dorm life post-graduation. Thus, parents should strategize, at least outlining preferences concerning college size and location.
Understanding how the counselor views your child is crucial. Students with excellent grades yet minimal interaction with counselors risk disconnect. While they often seek recommendations from favorite subject teachers, they must not overlook the counselor’s letter, which reflects broader school life.
Counselor meetings may result in either open encouragement or surprising recommendations, neither of which are ideal. Though commendable at face value, a broad endorsement without strategy suggests a lack of guided planning. Further detailed strategizing with the counselor, refining school choices based on experience and history, remains essential.
Predicting the content of your child’s recommendation letters can often be discerned from counselor discussions. Guiding 11th-grade students through overlooked aspects is a positive form of attentive parenting. Ultimately, success in college applications arises from a collaborative effort between the school, students, and parents.
In aiming for successful college application outcomes, an early start and strategic approach are paramount.
