04 Discuss The Next Four Years With Your Counselor

Now that you have discussed your future career with your parents and have their commitment to your going to college, it is important to pay a visit to your guidance counselor -- don't let your freshman year pass by without seeing one.

It may be a dreaded activity for you to schedule an appointment and sit down to discuss your intentions regarding continuing your studies after finishing high school, but you'll be glad you did.

Guidance counselors are there to help students. They have information that you cannot otherwise find in any other place, for companies and colleges advertise directly to high schools, and counselors are those people who hold one of the keys to your future.

Nothing impresses a guidance counselor more than a student who is prepared. By visiting them during your freshman year, you show initiative and a real drive to obtain a quality education.

If you have questions, be sure to write them down before you go in to see the counselor. It will help you remember what you wanted to ask even if you are too emotionally intimidated and cannot formulate any original idea at this time. This also shows that you are actively thinking about your future and not just when you are asked about it.

This sort of drive shows counselors that you care, and it will pay off come the time you need a letter of recommendation.

Make an effort to let your counselor know who you are.

While they attempt to get to know all of their students, counselors see many students each day, and it can be hard to keep track of them all. Make yourself stand out by sharing your interests, your summer plans, your life goals. When it comes time to ask for a recommendation letter, your counselor will remember you and will have a wealth of information to work with. A generic letter is far less impressive than one with personal touches.

Bring along a notepad to your appointment. You'll probably want to take a lot of notes. Keeping track of what your counselor says allows you to make better use of the time you spend together. You can better prepare yourself and come up with more detailed questions at your next appointment, if you keep a record of the information you've already obtained.

If in doubt, ask one of your parents to accompany you at the first meeting.

Site Map

06 Volunteer Over The Summer

07 Brush Your Typing -- Learn To Type Correctly

03 Plan Your Curriculum With College In Mind

05 Join Clubs And Extracurricular Activities

02 Take Virtual College Campus Tours

01 Discuss College Financing With Your Parents

Congratulations! You Are A Freshman Now.

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