College Counselors: The Unspoken Superheroes

In the midst of college application season, students are dedicating countless hours into perfecting their applications. However, alongside the students, our counselors are also working day and night to help our students reach their full academic potential while balancing a vibrant school life. We as students are so hung up on academics and social life that we often fail to acknowledge the importance of our counselors. This Spirit edition’s spotlight goes to Mrs. Gilmore, an unspoken hero of our community.

College admissions counselors work to bring out the best in students. They personalize your resume and help you stand out in a pool of hundreds of thousands of applicants. According to Mrs. Gilmore, she prioritizes “casting a wide net,” instead of taking a fixed, unoriginal path. She advises students to explore a wide range of opportunities, even if that might go against the social pressures of getting into the top 10 universities.

Know it or not, there could be a more fitting option for you, and your counselors will guide you through the world of endless open doors. As Mrs. Gilmore said, they will help you “understand the different application systems, application timelines, application plans, testing, opportunities,” - you name it.

Our counselors, including Mrs. Gilmore, value relationships over anything else. By “advocating and networking,” counselors meet with college admissions officers to learn institutional priorities of universities and colleges all around the world. Of course, the counselors’ value the relationships with their students. As Mrs. Gilmore said, "If you’re a good college counselor by the time your senior is graduating, you have absolutely fallen in love with them.” The counselors appreciate each students’ “own color to the landscape of college admissions, just like a parent has different love for each child.”

You may also be subject to what the general SFS population is frantically curious about: affirmative action.

For those who are not aware yet, affirmative action is a controversial college admissions policy that distinguishes applicants based on their racial background. The purpose of affirmative action was to promote inclusivity and diversity in college and the workforce. This custom was practiced in college admissions until recently; the United States Supreme Court ruled affirmative action unconstitutional and thus restricted high education institutions from employing it.

Now, many students hold severe misconceptions about the restriction of affirmative action, such as:

1. It will be much easier for Asian American students to get accepted into competitive colleges.

2. International students, including those from Asia, will be heavily impacted.

The assumption that many make is that academically strong Asian students will have a crushing advantage in college admissions.

For private institutions, the restriction of affirmative action will not make a considerable difference for international applicants. Private institutions have minimal financial connections with the state’s government and will find ways to advocate for their institutional priorities, international diversity being a possible priority.

Now is a great time to check your Managebac to see who your college admissions counselor is. It’s never too early or late to build a connection with your counselor who’ll be excited to see you and will look forward to the journey that you will embark on as a team.