How to Use your High School Counselor: Ask the Right Questions

High school is the proverbial stepping stone from childhood to adulthood, often making it a confusing and, times an overwhelming, period. You’re bound to have questions about the next step in your life, but sometimes that most puzzling question is what to ask. Here are questions you should throw at your high school counselor the next time you wonder what you’ll do after high school graduation:

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. What upper-level classes are available at this school? Ask if your school offers Honors, Advanced, Gifted, Intensified, Advanced Placement (AP), and/or Internal Baccalaureate (IB) classes. Colleges love to see that you’ve taken a challenging course load.
2. What advanced classes do you think are appropriate for me? Most students should not take all upper-level classes every period of the day because they often amount to unmanageable amounts of homework and unneeded stress. You, your parents, and your counselor should decide what your strengths and weaknesses are to determine which advanced classes are right for you and which ones you should avoid.
3. What does the average student course load at this school look like? Remember, you want to stand out in the college admissions process, so try to take a course load that goes above and beyond what the average student at your school takes. If you attend a highly competitive high school, this may be very difficult, but after discussing the subject with your counselor, you and your parents should be able to lay-out a schedule that suits your academic needs.
4. How is my GPA calculated? Different schools have different methods of calculating grades; some use 4.0 scales, while others use 10.0 or even 12.0 scales; other schools don’t calculate grades at all. Find out if your school weights grades (i.e., giving extra quality points for taking upper-level classes).
5. What is my current GPA? What can I do to improve my GPA? If your high school operates on the traditional 4.0 scale, you should maintain a 3.0 GPA if you’re looking at less competitive colleges and at least a 3.5 GPA if you’re interested in top-tier colleges---but remember that grades aren’t everything. If you fall slightly short of a college or university’s accepted average GPA, great standardized test scores, outstanding extracurricular activities, and a stunning essay may be enough to get you accepted anyway.
6. Are most of the graduating seniors at this school college-bound? Where do many of them go to college? It’s to your advantage if most seniors at your school don’t go to college, but if you attend a highly competitive high school, you will have to work extra hard to get accepted by your top school. Finding out where most seniors at your school go to college will help you gauge your grades and standardized test scores, and help you determine if you’re a good candidate for the college most seniors at your school end up attending.
7. Do you think I am a good candidate for college? What can I do to improve my candidacy for college? Maybe your past scholastic performance indicates that college may not be the best option for you after high school, but if you work diligently this year to improve your grades, then you’re at least in the running for a junior or community college---and you can always transfer to a four-year college later on.
8. When should I take the SAT I and SAT IIs? Is this school a testing center? Ask your counselor everything you need to know about the SAT; while your score on the test is not the most important factor in determining your acceptance into a college, it is one of the most important factors, so you need to be prepared to take the test and do your best.
9. When can I take AP/IB tests? Does this school pay for them or must my family cover the cost of taking the exam? Most colleges expect you to take at least one AP/IB class before you graduate from high school if you school offers any, but the most important thing you can do when taking the class is registering for the test. Colleges often care more about your score on the test than your grade in the class, so study hard for the test.
10. 10. Does this school have a dual-enrollment program with the local community college? When can I begin taking classes there? If possible, try taking a class at your local community college during the school day in lieu of a regular high school course, or after school, or over the summer---so long as you think you can handle the intensity of a college-level course. It’s a great to prove to colleges that you’re prepared for a challenge.
11. What scholarships are available for students like me? This is an essential question if you suspect your family will have even the slightest difficulty in paying for college---which is probably 98% of Americans. Don’t think that you can depend on government aid alone; your family probably doesn’t qualify for as much from Uncle Sam as you hope. Unless your annual family income is under $45, 000, your family will have to pay for something---unless you win some fabulous scholarships. So start doing your research early!
12. What careers do you think seem like a good fit for me? If you have any doubts about your vocational direction, this is a wise question to ask, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow your counselor’s advice. Remember, what your counselor says is only a suggestion. Ultimately, you can do whatever you want to do so long as you have the motivation.

Tips & Warnings

• If it makes it easier, print these questions out and bring them to your counselor---and then don’t be afraid to ask away! After all, you have a right to know the answers!