I have talked before about how it’s not the guidance counselor’s responsibility to fully prepare your child about their future. It’s the parent’s responsibility. You can click here to read the blog if you missed it. I did have one parent comment that it’s the child’s and parent’s responsibility. I fully agree, but as parents, we have to sometimes provide our children with advice on how to move forward. Especially if they have no idea what they want to do for their future.
One way to guide your child is to have them reach out to their guidance counselor. They can share resources, provide insights about some options, and make sure your child stays on track to graduate. The guidance counselor wants your child to succeed.
Encourage your child to start meeting with their guidance counselor in their freshman year of high school and then meet another 2 – 3 times throughout the school year. The counselor will be able to provide the best guidance, the better they get to know your student.
Before your child has a meeting with the guidance counselor, have them formulate the questions they want to ask. Here are some possible questions:
- What’s the best way to plan my high school courses for the college I want to attend?
- What career tools does our school offer?
- When is the PSAT scheduled? What study services does our school offer?
- When do I need to consider dual enrollment?
- Would dual enrollment be the right fit for me?
- When and where are college fairs offered?
- Does our school provide college tours? When?
- What are the best schools for the career I want to go into?
Encouraging your child to meet with their guidance counselor not only provides support but also encourages them to start thinking and taking ownership of their future
Parents, make sure to attend any parent nights at your child’s high school. They give key information about graduation requirements, testing dates, college fairs, and more. Also, check out your school’s guidance counselor page on the school’s website. It can include key dates and reminders.
If you are interested in knowing more about dual enrollment, check out my series of blog posts about it. Our local high school guidance counselors provided great insights into what to consider and how to determine if it’s the right choice for your child. You can click on each link to go to the specific blog.
- Is Dual Enrollment Right for Your Child
- Four Fundamental Things to Know About Dual Enrollment
- Dual Enrollment Could Impact Your Child’s Social Interactions
What questions do you have for a school guidance counselor? Post in the comments below.