<p>I agree. A residential college setting is far more preferable in terms of opps to observe , and far less likely to be hopelessly inept or just clueless. And the college is very aware of their admit rates and markets the same. Much like a prep school, wouldn’t you say?</p>
<p>At least at that summer program, research program level, the kids at that college will be on relatively equal footing. I will delude myself further by thinking it is more of a meritocracy. Don’t dash those hopes just yet, will ya?</p>
<p>here we had a pretty much hands off approach after finding a good school for D1( and I am talking K-12 not college)
We didn’t have academic backgrounds- never was really able to help much past spelling quizzes or driving on field trips.
I knew that other parents did much more, but that just wasnt’ something we knew how to do or were comfortable with.
Since not all families and students are starting at the same place- I think it is the professionals job- including high school guidance counselors- to help students bridge the gap of coming from a backgroundl with fewer resources/expectations.
This doesn’t include being painfully honest and placing same amount of weight ( and of students that were disliked- more weight) on negative attributes rather than positive ones.
The guidance counselors role is to be an advocate for the student- why would the family assume anything less?
Whether a public school or private- the counselor is being paid by the family-
If you were hiring a “headhunter” to help you get a job, how happy would you be if they portrayed you as “humorless” and “mechanical in your approach to life”. The companies reviewing your file may be turned against you even before the interview. :(</p>