My daughter is currently a 9th grader and we are looking for an independent counselor who could provide a one-time consultation to help us think through her high-school academic pathway.
She is leaning toward a STEM-oriented path, and we would like advice on course selection and planning for grades 10–12.
We are not looking for a long-term counseling package, just a 1–2 hour strategy session with someone experienced in college admissions and high-school academic planning.
Does anyone have recommendations for affordable online counselors who offer this type of consultation?
You might ask a parent face book page, the high school (which might know some if they’ve worked with them for a family) or look at one of the certified planning associations for college counseling. They’ll have a counselor locator.
Honestly, make sure you cover the core each year -
English, Language, Science, Social Science, Math.
Then you don’t really need counseling. These are the core courses colleges want to see - some, like social science, science and foreign language - some want two, three and most competitive four years.
And teachers should be determining where a student can go. Some like to “advance” in math - but they aren’t ready - and a teacher should be determining that.
Personally, I wouldn’t see why you’d need a counselor for this - but that’s some ideas in maybe how to find a local one someone has used.
But for a 9th grader - honestly - naaaaah.
PS - they don’t need extras like computer science, etc. over the core classes - so make sure you have the core before you wade into electives, etc. Nor do they need to progress 3 math levels up, etc. They need to take classes that stretch them, but not that they’re not able to handle - you don’t need, for example, multi variable calc in HS, etc.
I would suggest you ask around to friends and other parents with older kids for recommendations. It will be important to hire a counselor familiar with your child’s school both the curriculum and college placement/path.
This is also good use of your in school counselor, even at a big public school (if that is the case) they should be able to provide solid guidance on course sequencing and speaking with the STEM teachers would also be helpful - both of these in school resources should be able to speak to how the class levels compare with different college acceptance, rigor classification and how often elective STEM courses offered plus clubs and activities at the school.
Lastly, you can also do a search at IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) for your zipcode, city etc for a list of counselors in your area. There is no barrier of entry into the profession and it is important to hire a consultant that is part of one of the professional organizations, knows your school and area, visits colleges and is active member plus works with students similar to yours and has knowledge around your needs - be it financial aid, merit money, instate schools, STEM, music arts etc…
If this site doesn’t work for you, look for someone affiliated with IECA (they have an online database of names) and/or NACAC. Both IECA and NACAC have requirements that must be met (educational, experience) to become members.
In my neck of the woods, people tend not to share if they are working with/worked with an independent counselor, let alone their name!
If you went to college, you might also check if your college alumni association offers anything. My wife went to UVA and the alumni association actually offers a very light, but free couple of counseling sessions like this. For the first one in 9th/10th grade, they specifically focus on course selection/planning. We found it interesting to hear an additional perspective, but they didn’t say anything that you can’t find here.
I am not really sure what the benefit of an independent counselor would be for grades 10-12 course selection. I think you can get excellent advice here and hopefully at your daughter’s school.
Students need to take the courses that are required by the HS. Many, but not all, colleges require X years of a foreign language.
Teachers in our HS made course recommendations based on the strength/progress of the student (ie college prep, honors, AP etc).
A “STEM oriented path” can include many different careers, but I don’t think it is necessary to think too much about this in 9th grade. My advice right now is that your daughter take the recommended HS classes, do her personal best, get involved in activities that interest her, spend time with friends and family, and get enough sleep/nutrition.
You are so smart to start this process early if SLO is top choice. SLO is different than any other CSU. Generally HS counselors are not versed on the intricacies of Cal Poly.
Competitive colleges generally look for HS students to complete four years of English, Math, Science (including bio, chem, and physics), Social Studies and a Foreign Language. Of course all HS graduation requirements must be met. Classes should be at the highest rigor level manageable for the student (allowing time for ECs, family, and friends). Some colleges also look for an arts class (music, art, etc.). Even with a STEM path projected, I would suggest a well rounded HS schedule perhaps with an additional STEM class mixed in as time allows. HS is viewed as a time to get a well-rounded education and college is typically when students get into a specialization.
Agree that the combination of teacher recommendations and the guidance counselor is often enough. If you want a private counselor then it is best to seek out someone in your local community, preferably one who is familiar with the HS. I’d ask around.
All this is true - but a student also shouldn’t over do it. Many want a certain school but may not have the academic aptitude to over reach and may end up with other issues (mental health, etc.) so I hope the parents don’t force what isn’t natural.
Tons of great schools out there for STEM of all selectivity ranges.
Take math every year, advancing to at least precalculus or calculus. (Math beyond single variable calculus may need to be taken at a local college.)
Take foreign language to at least level 3 or 4, depending on the colleges targeted. Heritage speakers who want to continue study of that language should take appropriate higher level courses (although this may require taking them at a local college). Some STEM subjects may benefit from choosing specific languages.
Take history or social studies every year (or at least three of four years) according to the usual college prep sequence at the high school.
Take biology, chemistry, and physics. Additionally consider an advanced level science of the student’s choice.
Take a year of visual or performing arts.
If there is schedule space, consider academic electives of interest, some of which may be used to gauge interest in potential college majors (e.g. statistics, computer science, PLTW engineering, etc.).
Choose honors or AP courses as appropriate to interest and placement.
However, if your high school is a 6 (instead of 7 or 8) period high school, and has more voluminous non-academic requirements (health, PE, personal finance, etc.), that can make it difficult to fit in four years of the first five subjects listed above plus a year of arts (and any additional academic electives).
There are some useful podcasts out there hosted by independent college counselors. I would link to some here but I fear it’s against the terms. But if you go to your podcast platform and search for college counseling and course selection you should get some helpful episodes. I would listen to several because, just like the rest of the internet, these podcasts tend to have a specific bent.
If I recall correctly, if you have a kid who is very advanced in the course curriculum early, there are special considerations to avoid unexpected problems in the later high school years. I wish I remembered what those were…but the podcasts go into it.
The most common “very advanced” subjects tend to be:
Math, where the student is on the +2 or higher track (will reach calculus in 11th grade or earlier).
Foreign language, where the student enters high school as a heritage speaker or alumni of a K-6/8 immersion program.
A very advanced student who wants to continue study of those subjects beyond the usual level offered in high school (calculus in math and level 4/5/AP in foreign language) may need to find a local college where they can take appropriate higher level courses, since high schools may not offer those more advanced courses.
Also, for math, a student on the +2 or higher math track should be earning A grades without unusual difficulty in all high school math through calculus. A student on the +2 or higher math track who is struggling in math may have been over-accelerated (perhaps due to competitive pressure from parents and parents’ peers).