We know that high school is hectic and you barely have time to sleep. You may not want to add another meeting to your schedule, but your guidance counselor is someone you should know from the very start of your high school career. He or she will be a valuable resource for everything related to college, as well as someone you can turn to for any issues you may be having at school. Don’t wait until the beginning of your senior year to pop in for a friendly visit, as you may find yourself waiting in line with a bunch of other seniors who didn’t take the time to plan ahead.

Here’s why you should make the time NOW to get to know your high school guidance counselor…

Get on the Right Track.

Your guidance counselor can help evaluate your class schedule to see if you are taking the appropriate classes to qualify for admission to college. He/she can suggest courses to help put you on the right track for graduation and beyond. You can discuss the benefits of enrolling in rigorous courses, like International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) Cambridge (AICE) or Dual Enrollment (DE), as compared to standard courses. You can also find out about and plan ahead for foreign language requirements. You should meet with your guidance counselor regularly to review your progress toward graduation and prepare for college.

This is Only a Test.

You may wish it was that simple, but college admission tests can be a very important part of the college acceptance process. A guidance counselor can explain the available options (ACT, SAT and SAT 2 Subject Tests), and help you decide which exam(s) to take. Depending upon the colleges you are considering, you may need to take multiple admission tests, so knowing when they are available and the costs involved will help you prepare. Your guidance counselor may also have some study guides you can borrow or know of some test-prep courses available in your area. As a freshman or sophomore, it may also be possible to take the PSAT, and your counselor can help you determine if this is an appropriate choice for you.

These are just a few of the reasons you should get to know your guidance counselor. Be sure to read ’Why You Should Know Your Guidance Counselor, Part II’ soon to see what other assistance a counselor may provide.

For more information on the college admission process, please visit WiseChoice.com.

Tags: college guidance, high school guidance counselor
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