Your teen’s school counselor is one of the most important people in their college admissions journey. But let’s be honest—how well do you actually understand their role? Many parents assume counselors will handle everything from building a college list to reviewing essays to crafting a strategy for admissions success. But the reality? That’s not always the case.

School counselors are hardworking professionals with the best intentions, but they’re often stretched thin. In many schools, each counselor is responsible for hundreds of students, making it nearly impossible to provide the individualized attention your teen needs to stand out in the competitive college admissions process.

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Whatever you call the school counselor at your child’s high school -- guidance counselor, college counselor, etc -- please know that they are an integral part of the college application process. A few elements of their job are: 

• to offer college advice to you and your child

• weigh in on the selection of courses for each year

• write a school counselor recommendation on behalf of your child

• send the transcript

• communicate with colleges about your child’s application and interest

Some school counselors do this better than others, and usually, it depends on their caseload of students. 

As a parent, you should attend any college preparation presentations that your school offers.