Is knowing the student’s HS important when choosing college advisor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks everyone, kid is average and a rising sophomore, I mostly need someone to manage his work and make sure he sticks to deadlines, someone who isn’t his parent.
Our school counselor didn’t strike me as completely useless which to me is already great for a public school counselor, so I guess we don’t need a complete insider.
The first person is familiar with other schools in the area, just doesn’t have super specific insight into our school.

If you need someone now to help your rising sophomore manage his work, an executive function coach might be more appropriate than a college counselor. Your DS won't be completing college applications for a couple of years and a college counselor isn't going to keep him on track for daily homework.

+1

If you're thinking of a college counselor, though, the thing that tipped the scales for us was being local. We interviewed 2 (one local and one remote and both with good experience/reviews), and chose the local one. Having someone sit down in-person with DC and got through the process, essays, etc. has been super-helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Similar background? If it’s what I think it sounds like, I’d go with the first advisor provided they are good. One of my neighbors has her son choose his advisor and he chose the one from a similar background. The man knows NOTHiNG! He attended a week-long training for iECs but had no idea that a child of immigrants needs the highest level of math offered at the school to get into MIT. This kid had been recruited by MIT but thanks to dropping down in math was rejected. Be careful! I am helping a number of kids now who have advisors who did not know this. Familiarity is one thing but if you want results, choose well!

Needing high-level math to get into MIT is the standard for everyone not just the children of immigrants.