Almost every high school student has been told to meet with their college counselor. However, today, Google provides answers to nearly every admission question and social media offers unique college application advice. So, are college counselors really necessary?
For many students, the college application process is extremely stressful and overwhelming. Having a trained professional can help them choose schools, write essays and understand financial aid.
“My [private] college counselor and I meet every month to discuss various extracurriculars, summer programs and other aspects of my application to ensure I am on track,” FHS sophomore Aishi Nanda said.
Despite this, the biggest issue that arises with counselors is accessibility. While private college counselors offer personalized advice, they can be expensive. In contrast, public school counselors have hundreds of students to assist, limiting individual attention available to students.
“When comparing the counselors side-by-side, my private counselor has helped me all throughout my high school journey, through summer programs and clearly strengthens my college application,” Nanda said. “On the other hand, I feel that school counselors focus more on the mental health aspect, rather than school rigor. There isn’t much guidance for the college application process.”
Both private and public counselors provide structured support, helping students build strong applications and navigate complex decisions. They can also offer insight into scholarships and financial aid opportunities that students may not know about. In addition to direct guidance, they often connect students with valuable resources such as college search tools like Naviance and College Board’s BigFuture, which help streamline the application process.
However, FHS Guidance Counselor Eric Medeiros feels that FHS counselors give the same resources and support as any other counselor could.
“We generally do not recommend that students seek private counselors, and the main reason is that we do everything that they do, and we’re free,” Medeiros said. “Students have full access to us and can ask us the same questions they have for private counselors. I’d like to bring up that we have the correct credentials to provide college guidance, while some private counselors may not. If private counselors are working for no organization, I recommend students to be cautious about choosing counselors for that reason.”
Another factor to consider is online resources. From YouTube videos explaining application strategies to public forums like Reddit where students share insights on college application tips. Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have also become popular spaces for admissions advice, where college students, admissions officers and educational consultants share quick tips on building strong applications.
At the end of the day, students have more options than ever before when it comes to college guidance. Students are no longer limited to school counselors and private advisors, but can also use online resources. What matters most is finding a method that works for them.
