What should colleges do to manage the increase in apps?

[ucbalumnus]

@helpingmom40

I think guidance counselors need to do a better job at pointing kids in the right direction. We used a private admissions coach because their “sales pitch” spoke to us about how guidance counselors don’t give the personalized direction kids and families need. We saw that in our HS with all kids applying to the same schools: Ivy+/big names/in state publics, no conversation about budget or financing and with graduates attending the same 10 colleges. In general, it is the same situation we see on here with students applying to several high reach schools and bemoaning going to their safety.

A typical high school guidance counselor has to work with dozens or hundreds of students, and not just on college-related matters.

Part of what parents are paying for at elite high schools is a dedicated, knowledgeable, and well-connected college counseling staff to give better assistance on college matters than at a typical high school.