Questions To Ask Your Child's Guidance Counselor

The more I talk to parents, the more I realize how much help and guidance they truly desire when it comes to their child's education. Parents today want to know the following:

* what courses should my child take in order to get into college?
* what kinds of outside activities should my child be involved in?
* what electives should my child take in order to "look good" to a college?
* what are the requirements regarding GPA, SAT, ACT, etc., in order to get into a good college?

Parents, let me encourage you to meet and develop a professional relationship with your child's guidance counselor. When meeting with him/her, here are some pivotal questions you will want to ask. Remember, the sooner you can meet with your child's guidance counselor, the better off your child will be; the better choices you as a family can make for your child's future.

1) What academic courses would you recommend for a child who wants to attend college?
2) What are the graduation requirements regarding academic core classes?
3) What elective courses does the school offer and what would be best for a child who wants to attend college?
4) Does the school offering tutoring for students who need help in certain core subject areas?
5) What activities can a child take part in during the summer in order to prepare for college (courses at the local community college, community service, etc.).
6) When is the ACT and SAT offered? Does the school offer the PSAT?
7) How often can my child take the ACT/SAT?
8) What do the majority of colleges require in regards to ACT/SAT scores and GPA?
9) Does the school offer any kind of college/family nights (where colleges come and present information to the students/parents about the school)?
10) Does the school provide any kind of personality inventories for students who desire to learn more about themselves?
11) What kind of information does the school provide in regards to paying for college (financial aid, scholarships, etc.)?
12) What college resources does the school offer or what would the guidance counselor recommend (Occupational Outlook Handbook, college guides, etc.)?

If you make it a priority to meet with your child's guidance counselor where you can ask the questions listed above, you and your child will be well on their way to a smooth transition between high school and college.

Until next time,
Jen