Student-to-Counselor Ratio

Recommended

Oregon

The College Consultant seeks to bridge the divide between two worlds: that of the School Counselor and College Admissions Officer. The American School Counselor Association suggests that school districts aim for a student-to-counselor ratio of 250:1, but the reality of the matter is that the vast majority of states are nowhere near these numbers. According to the most recent data, Oregon, in particular, has a student-to-counselor ratio of 511:1, while the national average hovers at 464:1. Over the last few years these numbers have gotten better, but as it stands there is a long way to go.

The problem is even further exacerbated by the fact that school counselors are asked to fulfill a number of roles, most of which have very little to do with college admissions. When asked, counselors reported spending only approximately 20% of their time on college counseling. With a 40-hour work week, this translates to roughly 8 hours a week, or 320 hours a year (based off the average 40-week work schedule). In Oregon, this means that the counselor only has about 38 minutes to devote to each student, most of which will be spent writing recommendation letters (or helping the student find someone to do so), offering coursework suggestions, and organizing college fairs.

College Admissions Officers, on the other hand, can provide access to a wealth of information and will always have the most up-to-date information about admissions data, program requirements, and university demographics. The very nature of their job, however, means that they are salespeople whose knowledge is primarily restricted to the institution to which they belong. While they will undoubtedly know things about some schools—most likely those within their competitive league—and may have even worked at other institutions, they are always only an expert on one.

Both of these positions are absolutely indispensable, and the value that they can add to the admissions process should not be overlooked; however, over the past few decades, there has been an increasing demand for independent college consultants to fill the void. Because of the very nature of their job, independent consultants are often better able to provide individualized guidance concerning high school coursework and extracurriculars and walk students (and parents) through the increasingly complex admissions process.

What A Consultant

Should Do

While the internet has done wonders in that it provides individuals with a seemingly endless stream of information, students and parents often report finding it difficult to sift through all of this (sometimes contradictory) material. The consultant’s job is to streamline and demystify the process in a way that gives students a single, unified plan of attack. For many, this process will begin sometime during their junior year as they meet with their consultant to discuss their intended majors (or lack thereof) and what they are looking for in an educational institution. With this information in mind, the students, parents, and consultant then work to identify a tentative list of colleges and universities that will best connect with each student’s particular interests, also keeping in mind the inevitable financial obligation that comes with an acceptance.

As the list of schools becomes more refined throughout the summer, the consultant should begin to provide information on, and help the student reach a decision about, Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED). It is also at this time that one will start formulating essay ideas and, ideally, begin the writing process. Consultants will then walk students through the process of seeking out letters of recommendation, constructing “brag packets”, or putting together a portfolio. They’ll also ideally keep the student well informed about approaching due dates so that there is no mistake about what comes next.

When the students receive word from all of their schools, the consultant should then be there, if needed, to review the offers and help the student make a final decision. At Apogee, I also like to offer students a quick exit interview to give them some advice about navigating the coming transition and to provide them with some initial information concerning graduate school and career preparation.

What A Consultant

Should Do