Why do high school guidance counselors only care about the A students?

Question

My daughter is a college bound A-B student and although she's a sophomore I would have liked for her to take the SAT this year just to experience it plus she is finishing World History and I thought it was best for them to take the section test soon after finishing the class. I didn't go to college and I don't know how things are done and I just found out that yesterday was the last day to register for the test! AND that was late registration for an additional fee! Now she can't take it until October! I've had to get on this counselor a few times to call my daughter in and give her some attention, but there are some things I just don't know about without her help! I don't know what else I can do since I've never gone through this before and I can't afford to do much if anything on my own. I've bugged the counselor here and there, but I don't want to do too much so that it will backfire. Any suggestions?

I beg to differ with some of you, but she is not too young to take the test. She's completing World History in June and we thought it best for her to take the SAT World History subject test at this time. Does no one see the logic in that? And she has taken the PSAT, what does that have to do with anything? The PSAT doesn't give them a schedule at the end of the real SAT test dates and deadlines which I had no clue about until I asked the counselor about it for the 3rd time which of course she got back to me too late. I also realize she has many students to tend to but sophomores are her priority as she is the sophomore counselor. There are no seniors or juniors for her to deal with unless per chance she is helping another counselor with their job. As for it being my daughter's responsibility to find out about this stuff... how is she suposed to know unless someone tells her and the other students? They have obviously not gone through this before. Someone has to educate them.

No one seems to understand that we did contact the counselor throughout the year and asked for information. In my previous add-on I stated that I contacted her 3 times, and that was specifically about the subject. Each time I said something to the effect of, I'm sorry to bother you again, I'm sure you're very busy but since I didn't hear from you regarding my previous inquiry I thought I would check with you again... The information was not given until late on afternoon of the last day of the deadline. All testing locations within 3 hours of us were FULL. Also, I'm talking about the SAT subject test for World History, not the reasoning test... By October it will have been 4 months since she finished the class. I feel like I'm talking (or typing :-) ) to a wall. Forgive me for thinking that inteligent life existed here and that I would get more thoughtful answers. Some of you have given some good information, but honestly there are just some real righteous idiots out there.

Answer 1

You do know all of this information is easily available on the internet, right? You know how to use the internet, because you are using this forum. The guidance counselor has to deal with hundreds of students, and you have your children.

Answer 2

My mother was a high school counselor for over 20 years. She definitely did not care only about the A students! She had hundreds of students, and she tried to meet individually with every student during registration for the next school year to check up on them and ask what their plans were and so forth. Other than that, she only had time to see students who made appointments to meet with her. She would try to get them in to see her within 24 hours of them making the request. Remember that counselors have many more students than a classroom teacher does, and that they have to keep up with all the paperwork that goes with scheduling, testing, special education, and other administrative tasks. A counselor would not have had any way to know that YOU wanted your sophomore daughter to take the SAT unless you or she asked about it (most students do not take it until their junior year). The counselor might have planned to have a general meeting with the junior class next year to discuss planning for college (some counselors do this).

A basic rule is that if you have questions or concerns, you need to ask about them. Do not wait to be contacted. A counselor will probably only call you if she finds out that your daughter is into something bad that you need to be aware of. If your daughter is not a trouble-maker and gets good grades, then the counselor will assume that every thing is fine unless you tell her otherwise.

It is not the end of the world for your daughter not to have taken the SAT this time. She can take it next year, and she can also take the PSAT, which is cheaper than the SAT, and is a good practice test, as well as being the qualifier for national merit. There is still plenty of time for her to take the SAT several times if she wants. It doesn't matter to colleges how many times she takes it. They will only look at the best score.

You can get test dates and registration dates at collegeboard.com, and download a free practice test. If you are trying to get your daughter ready for college, she needs to working on extra-curriculars and volunteer work/community service. Those are important things to be able to list on a college application. Next year, start researching which colleges have your daughter's major, and work on narrowing the list to 3-4. Then in the summer or fall of her senior year, try to visit each of those colleges and meet with an advisor for her major and someone in financial aid. Take all her records and test scores and your family's last income tax form. They will give you an idea of what scholarships and/or financial aid are available. Then you and your daughter can decide which of those schools to apply to based on all the information you have. Make sure you get applications in the fall of her senior year. A lot of colleges have application deadlines in the winter, and you need time to work on getting everything in the application. Your daughter should also go by the counselor's office at least once a month during her senior year to ask if there are any other scholarships she would qualify for. Counselors get new ones in all the time. Some of the smaller ones that require essays usually have less competition, but if you can put several of them together, it will help with college expenses.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

You need to call the counselor and explain your concern in a calm manner that does not sound as though you are accusing her of anything. If you do she will never help you.

You have to realize that she has a large amount of students and parents to cater too. With your daughter only being a sophomore, she is probably caught up and rather busy with getting seniors and juniors ready for college.

I would call her and ask for a phone conference to sort out your questions or an in-person meeting.

Remember, before you get upset . . . she's probably just really busy. It's not that she doesn't care. Whatever you do, be polite if you're not it's not likely that she will help you or your daughter.

Answer 4

Look, she's young to take the test. Schools (Colleges) will look at how many times you've taken to test, which looks to them like your trying too hard or your so dumb you need the practice. She can take what is called the PSATs, this is a practice test for exactly that reason. I applaud you for your efforts in making the guidance counselor do their job. When I was a senior in High School (I was in the college prep track) but was not at the top of my class because other kids in lower level classes but got better grades than me. Then there were the troubled kids who took up a lot of their time, and the sex-ed, and drug awareness programs they were responsible for heading up. And I actually had to go to my counselor and say, when were you gonna call me in to talk about school. Their answer was "Oh, you want to go to college?" I will never forget that! So I say stay on top of them, or do it yourself. You seem like a go getter. All it takes to set up college is contacting the schools for applications and visits which the college admissions office can help you set up, they will help with the financial piece of it to. We ended up doing everything on our own since they could care less about me at HS. And I'd rather have recommendations from those who had faith in my future like close family friends and employers. I don't know if this pertains to her or not but maybe she could be getting a job, doing volunteer work, or other outside civic activities to help support her college acceptance; since SAT's are only a small part of the bigger picture when it comes to being accepted.

Answer 5

Depending on your school, the counselor could have more than 500 kids to deal with. She can't make every kid special, it's your daughters responsibility to find out this information. The websites are online for the SAT's, AP's, etc. There are probably plenty of resources right in the office I bet, and the counselor will be willing to help if she only ASKS. The counselor isn't a mind reader, she doesn't know what your daughters plans for the future are, so the least your daughter can do is make her intentions known to the guidance counselor first. It's time for take responsibility, she can't just be expected to be 'called in' for a checkup, if she needs something she needs to learn to do it herself. If you want to prepare her for college, you can't have mom calling and doing everything for her. You need to support her but tell her she needs to do some of it on her own.

Answer 6

I think you're pushing too hard, just get your daughter the practice book and software. SAT scores arent the end all be all. The counselors are probably focusing ont he juniors and seniors, because there are closer to college. Be careful if you push your daugter too much she's not going to want to go at all. My SAT scores were not the best, but my GPA was EXCELLENT and I got into a top notch university. Make sure she gets good grades, and slowly start preparing her for SATs, the counselors will talk to her when its time. If she wants to talk them i'm sure they will talk to her now or then. You can also research online for information.

Answer 7

I asked myself the same question at one time since I hadn't attended college either. So, what I did, is I went back to school, earned myself a degree, and I am now a part of the education system. Sometimes, we have to take action and become a part of the system to make a difference. I feel that you have a strong background and experience from your own personal views that would probably qualify you as an excellent counselor. Then you can care about the all students.

Answer 8

First, don't make silly generalizations. ALL high school counselors are not created equal! Second, it's your daughter's responsibility to forward information about testing dates. If you want more input, make an appointment for you and your daughter to have face time with the counselor and get the poop straight from the horse's mouth!

Answer 9

go in and sit down with the counselor and discuss everything in person.. the squeeky wheel gets the grease.. that's how things get done in schools.. however, be reasonable too.. remember, that counselor has hundreds of kids to deal with..

Answer 10

I think the two above are morons.

Anyways, just let her take it in October, its not the end of the world now is it?

Right morons?