Where to Seek College Admission Help
So you have reached the point in life that you have decided to go to college. Regardless of your age, you are probably filled with the same questions every college applicant faces. “How do I choose a college?” “What do I need to do before I apply?” “How do I select the right degree plan?” Each of these questions lead to one major question: “Where do I turn to get answers to my questions?” Luckily, there are several potential sources to help answer your questions: high school guidance counselors, college academic advisors, and college program directors, just to name a few.
If you are in high school, the most likely person to answer your questions is your guidance counselor. Guidance counselors are a great resource and can help you make important decisions, such as which classes and tests will increase your chances of getting into the college you want. They can help you fill out applications, sign up for necessary testing (i.e. ACT, SAT, etc.), and can help you narrow down your areas of interest so that you can select a degree plan.
If you are no longer in high school, and decide to go to college, you can seek guidance from the college or university’s academic advising team. Most universities require their academic advisors to have a minimum of a Master’s degree in their area of specialization, so that they have the knowledge base necessary to answer complicated questions, such as which area of specialization one should pursue within a particular degree. In most cases, universities will assign an admissions advisor to prospective students, so that they have a single point-of-contact who can explain the process and answer any questions. These individuals are also available to high school students, but tend to be secondary contacts, since the guidance counselor is typically the primary contact.
Program directors are probably the least utilized resource, since they are higher up the contact hierarchy. However, there are instances when program directors will become the primary advisor, for instance, when individuals are pursuing doctoral or post-doctoral educations. In these cases, the program director may have more salient information than an academic advisor, since the needs of the learner are more specialized, at this level.
The decision to attend college is one of the most important decisions you will make. It can lead to a great deal of confusion and distress concerning where to go, what to study, and how to get there. However, if you use the sources available, (guidance counselor, admissions advisor, and/or program director), the entire process can be much less stressful!