In the midst of applying for colleges, while seniors have been writing personal essays and inputting details into their applications, most have started to notice that they aren’t as prepared as they should be. Without the proper guidance, college applications can be a treacherous road.
At Gabrielino High School, every senior gets the opportunity to speak to their counselor at least once while applying for college, and certain workshops are offered for writing PIQs or filling out the Common App and UC App. However, while these are important resources that are offered, more could be done to assist seniors in applying for college.
It is important to recognize that school counselors are assigned students in every grade level and can only give a limited amount of attention to each individual student. The class of 2025 had no formal introduction to applying for college outside of the A-G requirements before their senior year, and with the limited time that counselors have for each student, it is important to teach students about the college admissions process and how to apply to college before the application season begins.
Every senior attends a mandatory seminar where they are given their transcripts and provided with information about college applications. However, this comes far too late. Students should be given certain baseline information about applying to college in their freshman year, such as the range of GPAs that each UC and Cal State accepts, how to navigate a college website, what opportunities AP classes provide, what a weighted GPA is, and what it means to max out on AP courses. This information needs to be provided as students embark on high school.
Senior Nicole Otoguro decided to get outside help when applying for college by hiring a private counselor. Otoguro states, “Since counselors can’t meet with me as much as I need them to, I felt like a private counselor could give me the attention that I need.” Even though Gabrielino is a small public school, it is still a public school, and when counselors cannot give every student the same attention a private counselor can, it is even more important to thoroughly prepare students for college applications early on rather than waiting until it is too late to make any changes.
The first time Gabrielino students receive information about college applications is at the end of their junior year. Given the limited number of school counselors, it is important to equip students with the information they need to complete college applications on their own. Students should feel comfortable with the layout of the Common Application, and UC application preparations should come long before their senior year to ensure they are confident when submitting their applications.
