When it comes to advising students in their college admissions process, many people are part of that support system. But when does it become too many?  The old saying “too many cooks in the kitchen” easily applies to the college admissions process.  When there are too many people involved, it often causes the feeling of chaos. We see that when a family or student is feeling worried, they tend to seek out multiple opinions, which can cause confusion. This invites a lot of room for opinions and subjectivity when it comes to things like crafting an essay, building an activity list, how to select classes, or when to send test scores. The more people a student or family seeks advice from, the more likely they will receive conflicting responses. 

Here are some tips to navigate this:

1. Try to limit the number of people you ask for help from and consider their background.
2. Get to know your High School Counselor. They will play a significant role, particularly when helping you send supporting documents like transcripts and letters of recommendation. They are also familiar with the ins and outs of the process as a whole. 
3. English teachers can be wonderful editors of essays for grammar and spelling mistakes but do not necessarily have a background in college admissions. This does not mean that they cannot be helpful, but college counselors, like here at Campus Bound, will help you brainstorm, format, and craft a unique essay that are geared towards what is needed for a compelling college essay. 
4. Family and Friends- Just because a parent, sibling, or friend of the family has gone through the process does not mean that the process will be same for each person. A lot changes year to year.  Your uncle who went to that Ivy Leage forty years ago, went though a much different process! Same goes for your sibiling who was a recruited athlete. 

There are so many well-intentioned individuals who want to help! The guidance will range student to student since the individual needs are never the same. One size does not fit all. At Campus Bound we strive to make the process as stress-free as possibly, knowing each role is vital to supporting the student. Hiring a college counselor can help streamline the process, help alleviate family tension and ensure students are on track to successful go through the college application process.