COLLEGE COUNSELING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES

By Robert Paul Weiner, Ph.D.

Thinking about college?

For most teens who are – and for their parents, as well – this can be very exciting, but also, unfortunately, very stressful.

The stress is understandable, because there are major decisions to be made: the student (usually with the family’s help) decides whether to attend college; the student decides where to apply; the institutions decide whether or not to accept the student; the student then decides which, of the available choices, to follow up on.

Deciding where to apply may prove very confusing. After all, there are about 3000 colleges, universities, and professional-technical schools in the United States, and more abroad, as well. The schools might be located in the middle of wheat fields, in a forest, on the beach, in a small town, in a large city, or even online. They might have 500 students or 50,000. They might cost $500 or $50,000. They might be very competitive or not so competitive. They might be traditional or experimental.

Smart decision-making about college therefore involves a multi-dimensional consideration of academics, career goals, physical and social environments, finances, psychological maturity, family structure, and philosophy or religious belief.

Deciding about college involves the whole family – while the primary focus is on the success and well-being of the student, the decision also greatly affects the finances, emotions, and the lifestyles and activities of parents and siblings, and even of friends and relatives.

Deciding about college involves long-term planning. Some parents make choices to maximize a child’s university options already when they are in preschool. Early in high school, the student will choose courses and may take tests in preparation for their college path. By summer of Sophomore year, many students start visiting colleges and preparing for the SAT or ACT. By the end of Junior year, plans begin to coalesce; Fall senior year, applications are made. And one year later, in most cases, college.

The transition from high-school to college is very much an American coming of age ritual – powerful, difficult, liberating. It is a ritual complete with extended family involvement, separation and individuation, competition and challenge, celebration, and the subsequent rights and responsibilities of adulthood.

This whole process is a creative exercise, as you imagine possibilities, invent strategies, and solve problems. The process can be very time consuming, and it is therefore also an exercise in time management. And, this is also an exercise in maintaining a healthy sense of balance – of planning and acting but not obsessing about the decisions.

Where can you find help? Most high school students can get help from parents, other family members, teachers, friends, school guidance counselors, and college admissions staff. Online, one can find information about many colleges and universities, and there are also some good, general websites with a wide range of helpful information. Sometimes, students attend special classes for test preparation or essay writing. As valuable as these forms of support may be, there are times when some families – yours perhaps -- want additional advising. After all, this is a serious financial and personal commitment, and it’s best to move ahead as wisely as possible. You may need more detailed information about different schools, or financial aid programs, or college essay writing, or the best high school courses and activities to pursue in preparation for college.

This is where an independent college counselor like me steps in.

I can help with a number of these details. But far more than any details, I can offer you understanding and vision about the bigger picture. I will work with you to help clarify what it is you want, to show you a wide range of options, and to identify the best possible fit for you.

Having taught and advised at the college level for twenty years, I have seen what makes students happy and successful: it is a matter of matching the student’s talents, interests, and character with the right institution. Only then will the student be intellectually challenged but not overwhelmed; find the right balance between being free and being responsible; meet lifelong friends; and grow into a healthy and successful adult.

Most college counselors agree that finding the right fit is crucial. Fortunately, with over 3,000 colleges to choose from, you are bound to find not just one, but several different schools which will fit well for you, as long as you make the most of them.

Figuring out how to proceed with this is not an exact science, but an experienced counselor can help you make an educated guess. I believe I can help you more effectively than most other counselors because of my interdisciplinary academic perspective, my knowledge of university life, and my familiarity with students and their families.

During my twenty years in academe, I have interviewed prospective students, helped decide about admissions to the university, advised students on their studies and careers, taught courses on adolescent coming of age, and engaged students in the specific process of reviewing their educational development between high school and college. I have seen thousands of students go through physical, intellectual, and emotional changes – seen some fail, but seen most succeed academically and socially.

I have also been in a unique position to help students think about possible college majors.
This is because I have administered three college-level interdisciplinary studies programs, taught in seven different departments, and published books and articles in diverse fields. It is also because I have worked in business, journalism, and theater, have traveled extensively, and have lived in four American states as well as Europe. I have been involved in non-profit organizations dealing with the public schools, peace, interfaith dialogue, sports, and counseling.

And I have had the opportunity to see a very interesting cross-section of colleges and universities, having studied and taught at a number and having visited a couple of hundred in the U.S. and abroad. I hold degrees from Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Yale, and the University of Cologne; and I have been a teacher at Saint Mary’s College, Shimer College, New College, Contra Costa Community College, John F. Kennedy University, and Sonoma State University.

All these experiences have prepared me very well to advise you about applying to college. But the best college counselors are not merely knowledgeable – they relate well to a wide range of people. In fact, the advisor’s ability to identify with your needs and aspirations is key to the whole process. Year after year, students say that this is my strength. I enjoy meeting young people and their families and working with them on the college decision process. Each person has so many different qualities and possibilities; each situation is a chance for me to help in a very meaningful way; each collaboration is a chance for all of us to be genuinely creative.

Below are the names a few websites that might be helpful in your college decision-making process. If you would like some more personalized help, or references, please contact me at 925-932-0550, or rob@creativityandbeyond.com.

-       Rob Weiner

to learn more about Dr. Weiner and his other projects, please visit creativityandbeyond.com.