When Should I Engage a College Counselor?

Parents often ask when it's best to begin working with a college counselor. If your student is aiming for admission to a top 30 university, I recommend scheduling an initial one-hour consultation before selecting courses for 9th grade. Early planning ensures that your child builds a strong academic and extracurricular foundation.

A general timeline for ongoing support might include:

9th Grade: 1-4 hours to establish goals and guide academic and activity planning

10th Grade: 1-4 hours for continued academic alignment and early preparation

11th Grade: 5-10 hours to focus on college exploration, testing strategies, and application planning

12th Grade: From June through the fall of senior year, students generally require 10-25 hours of counseling, depending on the number of applications and the level of support needed.