Find Help on Your College Applications
When you find yourself needing some extra assistance in the college admissions process, who can you turn to? Talk to the people you know and who have supported you!
Consult your guidance counselor
Your counselor has gone through extensive training and spent several years (or even decades) steering students through the college search and application process. They’re a good resource for everything from picking a major to writing application essays and applying for financial aid. Not only are they able to help but they want to help – most counselors are drawn to the field because they’re eager to enrich students’ lives.
Use your peers
Your friends are going through the college admissions process too and therefore they may have the same questions as you. Discuss your concerns — maybe they’ve already found solutions to a problem you’re facing or you can combine brain power to come up with answers together. Also consider checking out online discussion forums. Sometimes it’s helpful to hear an outsider’s perspective and you can find people from all walks of life who’ve been receiving advice from different counselors and using different resources.
Engage your parents
Some parents will want to participate in every step of the admissions process, while others may not be as interactive. For some parents, the college process may be unfamiliar or they just don’t know how to help. Be upfront with your parents and explain why college is important to you. Then provide them with very specific suggestions of how they can help. Clarify your goals, interests, and concerns — the more they know, the better they can help.
