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Your counselor holds keys you can't pick up yourself — official transcripts, fee waivers, a recommendation letter, and a map of where students like you have gone. Especially if no one in your family has done this before, knowing how to work with them is a real advantage. Here's how.
Send your transcript, school report, and counselor letter
Colleges require official documents only your counselor can send — your transcript, the school profile, and (at many schools) a counselor recommendation. Building a relationship means that letter can actually speak to who you are.
Hand out fee waivers
Counselors distribute SAT/ACT fee waivers and college application fee waivers for eligible students — money you can't get any other way. If cost is a barrier, this is the first conversation to have.
Help build your college list and plan
They know which colleges past students attended, what aid they got, and which deadlines matter. A counselor can sanity-check your reach/match/safety balance and flag schools that fit you.
Connect you to scholarships and programs
Local scholarships, TRIO and college-access programs, dual enrollment, and summer opportunities often flow through the counseling office first. The students who ask hear about them; the rest miss out.
Busy counselor? You still have to ask
At many schools one counselor serves hundreds of students and can't reach everyone. That isn't a reason to stay quiet — it's a reason to be the student who shows up, asks clearly, and follows up. Initiative is what unlocks their time.
Introduce yourself early — don't wait for senior year
Many counselors juggle hundreds of students. The ones who get the most help are the ones the counselor knows. Stop by in 9th or 10th grade, say hi, and share your goals so they can keep you in mind.
Come prepared and specific
Instead of "what should I do?", bring a focused ask: "Can you help me find local scholarships?" or "I need a fee waiver" or "Here's my college list — does the balance look right?" Specific questions get specific help.
Give a brag sheet before asking for a letter
If you need a counselor recommendation, hand over a short summary of your activities, challenges you've navigated, and your goals. The more they know, the stronger and more personal the letter.
Respect deadlines and follow up politely
Give plenty of lead time for documents and letters, confirm a week before deadlines, and say thank you. A counselor who feels respected goes the extra mile.
If your school's counseling is stretched thin, lean on free college-access programs (TRIO, Upward Bound), a trusted teacher, a community mentor, or this site's free tools. The goal is the same: someone who can help you with transcripts, deadlines, and a plan.
Use every resource: claim test fee waivers, learn how to ask for a recommendation, and build your college list.