Just about anyone who has a student in school knows there are school counselors, but many of us don’t have any idea what they do. We know they provide guidance and assistance with college and career planning, but that’s just one part of the career that also includes social and emotional counseling and addressing academic needs – and for a national average of 250-400 students per counselor! With that much to do, for that many students, counselors need all of the help they can get. Parents who understand the work of the school counselor may be better able to partner with their student’s counselor to support their student. Lynn and Vicki spoke with Patrick O’Connor, author of College Is Yours and past president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling to learn more about what counselors do and how students and parents can make the most of this important relationship.

SUBSCRIBE VIA
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneIn Radio | iHeart Radio

Please leave us a review at “Love the Podcast” to help others find us.

In this episode we were able to talk with Patrick O’Connor who has served as high school counselor and is an expert in the field of counseling. We talked about Patrick’s new book  College Counseling Advice for Those Who Give College Counseling Advice and also focused on how parents can partner with their student’s counselor to support their student. Patrick also shared that he has a book for parents as well – College Is Yours 3 is written to help parents know what they need to know.

School counseling involves a lot, but is primarily focused on three things – social and emotional growth, academic progress within the school, and post-secondary planning. It’s a big job description! Training and certification can vary greatly from state to state and it’s not necessary to be a teacher before you become a counselor. Counselors generally work with another counselor for many hours of training before they become a counselor.

The national average number of students per counselor – 450 students to 1 counselor, but some states have a higher ratio. Counselors are faced with making decisions about how to get the work all done – often through group programs and programs for parents to know how to help their students.

Patrick’s first piece of advice for students to make the most of their counselor was to read that first piece of communication that comes out from your counselor at the beginning of the year. This will help you understand what services the counselor provides and the best way to contact the counselor.

We heard a message we’ve heard many times before – “Let the student drive the bus!”  Patrick reminded us how important it is not to underestimate our students. Parents know their student best, but it’s important to keep this goal in mind.

We loved the idea that the key to being college ready (so important!) is to make the most out of high school. It’s important for the first year or so of high school just to focus on high school and not start focusing on college too early. Learning the skills to be a successful college student happens during high school through the counseling curriculum. Counselors prepare activities to get students ready for the college admission process.

Patrick suggested the power of visiting college campuses as a way to explore the college option. College isn’t for everyone, but seeing first-hand what college is all about can help students think more about their future.

Parents have three main roles in working with the high school counselor – make sure you are reviewing the communications that come from the school counselor, if you see anything in your child’s behavior that seems concerning consider communicating that to the counselor, be the partner when it’s time for college visits, conversations about paying for college.

Patrick shared information about a free college counseling seminar designed to help seniors investigate colleges, build a college list, apply for admission, financial aid and scholarships, and begin the transition to college during the school day. Check out Senior College Seminar.

Patrick also recommended a good book by Rick Clark, Director of Admission at Georgia Tech – The Truth About College Admission

Also – Guiding the Gifted Child: A Practical Source for Parents and Teachers by James T. Webb

Finally, Patrick recommended a column he wrote that is a quick read but a great guide for parents: College Counseling in Under 500 Words 

Don’t forget that you can listen to all of our previous podcast episodes here or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also go to followthepodcast.com/collegeparentcentral to add our podcast (it’s free!) so that you’ll receive each new episode as we release it.

Let us know what you’d like to hear about on future podcasts! Leave a comment below or email us at podcast@collegeparentcentral.com.

Note: Some links in our post are for affiliate products. If you use our links, College Parent Central receives a small percentage of your purchase price. This does not change the cost to you.  We think it’s only fair to let you know that.