College Counselors and You: Making the Most of Their Guidance

Navigating the path to college can be totally overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to balance schoolwork, extracurriculars, and your social life. Instead of trying to do it all on your own, consider reaching out to trusted adults around you who can help. Your teachers, parents, guardians, and others all want to see you succeed!

One of those adults who can help you immensely during this time is the college counselor at your high school. They’ll be an invaluable resource, as they’re equipped with tools, knowledge, and experience to help you as you chart your path toward higher education. Here’s how you can make the most of your relationship with your college counselor.

Read Counselor Newsletters and Bulletins

No matter what grade you’re in, it’s important to stay informed throughout high school. Your counselors likely send newsletters or bulletins that are packed with vital information about college application deadlines, scholarship opportunities, and upcoming workshops or college fairs.

These communications are probably the first place you’ll hear about these important dates and opportunities. Don’t just skim through these. Read them thoroughly and make sure to mark dates on your calendar so you don’t miss anything.

Newsletters will also have information on valuable websites, books, and tips on everything from writing personal statements to acing your SATs. Bookmark helpful links and refer back to them as you prepare for college.

Reading your counselor’s communications helps ensure you’re familiar with everything in the college application landscape and better equips you to ask informed questions.

Meet with Your Counselor

It’s also important to schedule regular meetings with your counselor – don’t wait until the last semester of your senior year to establish a relationship. Regular check-ins can help you stay on track for college applications. Set a cadence that works well for both you and your counselor, whether it’s once a semester or more frequently as deadlines approach.

Before each meeting, make sure to write down any questions you have for your counselor so you can maximize your time together. These could cover anything from early decision to college fit.

Also, let your counselor know about your career goals, interests, and any concerns you have about your future. The more your counselor knows about you, the better they can guide you.

Get Guidance Early On

The earlier you start planning for college, the more options you’ll have available to you. Don’t wait until junior or senior year to think about life after high school. Start meeting with your counselor as early as freshman year to discuss your academic and extracurricular interests. Your counselor can also help you identify any possible gaps in your resume, like community service opportunities that could make your application stand out.

Also, meeting sooner gives your counselor more of a chance to help you with your major and career plans. They have access to career assessments and skills tests that can show you where your aptitudes lie.

By starting early with guidance, you’ll have a more complete picture of what colleges are looking for and gradually create a strong application over time. Plan your high school course selection and work on standardized test prep so that you can make decisions throughout your high school career that are aligned with your college goals.

Foster a Positive Relationship

Approach your relationship with your counselor as a partnership. Be respectful and proactive –show up to meetings on time and be communicative about your needs. Keep them informed about any changes in your academic interests, extracurricular activities, or college plans so they can provide you with the most relevant support.

Utilize Your Counselor’s College Planning Tools

There are a lot of college planning tools out there, and it can get overwhelming trying to find the one that’s right for you. Your counselor likely has access to online platforms or tools designed for college planning, like career assessments, application trackers, and college comparison tools. When you meet with your counselor, they can use these tools to help you plan.

For example, CollegeBoard offers a BigFuture Toolkit designed for counselors. Universities like USF also offer counselor toolkits equipped with information that your counselor can use to guide you through the college planning process.

Attend Your Counselor’s Workshops

Counselors often host workshops or sessions on topics like financial aid, essay writing, and college selection strategies. Attend as many of these events as you can to absorb their knowledge.

They may give you new insights or information – for example, a workshop on scholarships that are available in your local community could lead to you getting financial assistance that you otherwise wouldn’t have. More scholarships equals less money you’ll have to pay back later, so that’s a win!

Build a Personalized College List

There are almost 6,000 colleges and universities in the United States – trying to choose the one that’s right for you can be tough. When you discuss your interests and academic preferences with your counselor, they can help you develop a college list full of dream schools, match schools, and safe schools. They might be aware of colleges that align with your goals that you hadn’t considered.

Your counselor can also give you perspective into various colleges’ cultures and environments, especially if they happen to be an alumnus or have extensive experience with those institutions. They can help you plan campus visits, too!

Get Help Learning About Financial Aid

Applying for student loans is a confusing process, so it’s beneficial to have guidance from someone who has expertise in that area. Your college counselor knows all about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and can give you tips on applying for that.

Lately, there have also been updates to the FAFSA. Traditionally, it’s available for everyone on October 1. For the 2025-26 academic year, the FAFSA will only be available on October 1 for a certain group of people and it will be released to everyone on December 1. Your counselor can help guide you through those types of changes.

Work on College Applications and Essays Together

Before you submit your college application, get your counselor’s feedback on any supporting materials that you might need, like an application essay or a resume. Not every school requires these (USF doesn’t!) but if you’re applying to a school that does, your counselor will give you insight into how you can tailor your documents to different colleges.

Also, if you’re applying to a school or even a scholarship that requires an interview, work with your counselor on mock interviews so you can rehearse and have them offer constructive criticism on how to enhance your interview performance.

Ask for Recommendations and Advocate for You

Many colleges ask for letters of recommendation. If you’ve already established a strong relationship with your college counselor, then they may be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you to help strengthen your application.

If you have any unique aspects in your academic journey, like overcoming challenges or a learning disability, your counselor can help you communicate that to colleges and help come up with a plan to lead you toward success once you get to college.

Stay on Track for Success

By actively engaging with your college counselor and tapping into the myriad of resources they offer, you can not only effectively navigate the college application process but also discover opportunities and insights you didn’t know about.

Once you’re at college, tap into your university’s student success resources. At USF, we have an entire team ready to help students succeed while they’re here and beyond. Learn more about our student success staff and the ways they can assist!