I hear from so many parents, “The school guidance counselor didn’t help guide my teen with what college to go to.” Or, “I wish we had you when we went through this with my first child. We didn’t have much help or guidance.”
As parents, we often think it’s up to the guidance counselors to set our kids on the right path. Many parents feel that the counselor should ensure their teen is on track to graduate and provide options of what to do after graduation. They have more information than we do about colleges, jobs, and so forth. So it makes sense, right?
But the truth is…
It’s our responsibility as parents, NOT the school guidance counselor, to help our children plan for their future.
In most schools, there is one guidance counselor for 100+ students. Plus, they have many different responsibilities including:
- testing
- administering transcripts
- counseling
- coordinating with state agencies
- managing dual enrollment
- maintaining records
And that’s just a few of the responsibilities. How can we expect guidance counselors to provide enough individual attention to each student? Parents who have been through the college planning process say it’s a full-time job, from 9th grade until graduation. While counselors have access to all your teenager’s academic records, do they really KNOW your son or daughter?
Plus, there may be better opportunities that the guidance counselors are not aware of. Many schools offer career services, but they require initiative on the student’s part to access them. Counselors and school services can indeed steer your teen onto the right path, but their college and career planning is ultimately up to you, the parent.
Don’t make the mistake of other parents by assuming the school is solely responsible for guiding your teen through the college planning process. Take charge and help your teenager plan their future. If you need assistance on where to start, I am happy to help. Click here to schedule a complimentary strategy session with me today.