Making the Most Out of Your Guidance Counselor Meeting ─ 4 Tips for 8th Graders
Somewhere between now and the early part of spring, you will meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your course load for your upcoming freshman year.
Guidance counselors are a tremendous resource when it comes to designing a game plan for high school that works for you. They can help you understand your options, make informed choices and create a balanced schedule that supports your long-term goals. To get the most out of your meeting, though, it’s helpful to begin by being prepared. Here’s how to get started:
Step 1: Know Your Goals
Before you head into that meeting, think about what you want to achieve in high school. If you’re reading this, you’re clearly aiming to get into one of the top universities available – but what else can you use to refine your objectives?
Do you have a specific career already in mind? If it’s too early for you to have clarity there (and that’s not unusual), what is your field of interest? What subjects do you enjoy the most? What extracurriculars do you embrace with the most enthusiasm?
College admission officers put a lot of value on students who challenge themselves academically, participate in meaningful extracurricular activities and demonstrate a commitment to specific projects or interests.
Step 2: Do a Little Research
The more you know about your options, the easier it’ll be to talk about them with your guidance counselor, so try to get an idea of what your high school has to offer before your meeting.
Review the course catalog or the school’s website to see if you can learn what classes are available for freshmen (or stop by the guidance counselor’s office and ask for any information they have). Look into clubs, sports, theater options and any other extracurricular activities that spark your interest. If you have access to any older siblings or relatives that have already been there, ask them for their perspective.
Step 3: Go In with Questions
All the research you do will help you prepare a list of questions – and you want to have them written down and ready. Here are some starters:
- What are the differences between regular, honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes?
- Is there a way to get college credit for any classes while you’re still in high school? How soon can you start?
- Are there specific classes or activities that colleges like to see on applications?
Your freshman year is just the start of your academic journey, and you’ll likely start off with a heavy load of core classes. Your electives – whether you take them in art, computer science, business or something else – can be used to explore your interests. Talk to your guidance counselor about how to keep both a short-term and a long-term plan in mind for the years ahead.
Step 4: Be Open to Advice
Your guidance counselor may suggest classes or opportunities that you don’t even know exist – so keep an open mind, even if that means exploring subjects that you hadn’t initially considered. Don’t be afraid to schedule a follow-up meeting, either, if you feel like you need to talk over your options more than once or make some changes.
Remember: This meeting is about your future. Your guidance counselor is there to help, but you need to take charge and give your input so that you get advice that is customized to your needs. The more active you are in planning your high school journey, the more success you’ll have on your educational path.