Counselors vary in terms of experience and expertise. In some settings, the counselor remains assigned to your student for his four years of high school, while in others there is some shifting during grades 9-12. Make sure to meet your student's counselor early in the freshman year and determine what kind of counseling system is used for the high school years and how college advising is handled. Some counselors will have a working knowledge of the financial aid process. Some schools have specialists in college admissions that may or may not have expertise in personal social development.
Counselors see students individually, in classroom guidance activities and in large groups.
They also may sponsor and participate in a host of evening sessions regarding the college admissions process or facilitate student participation in college fairs. Make an effort to attend all of these sessions . Freshman and sophomore years are the time for you and your student to truly get acquainted with the counselor, and for the counselor to begin to get to know you and your student's dreams.