5. You don’t know what questions you should be asking.
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The students I work with tend to fall into two groups. The first are the kids who have little or no idea what they want in a college; this makes a lot of sense because they haven’t gone to college yet, so how would they know? The second are the kids who know exactly what they want in a college, whether it’s size or location or a particular major. But in reality, these students are more similar than they initially appear. The kids who are uncertain have never been asked the kinds of questions that would help them figure out what is important to them, and what they hope to get out of their college experience (beyond large vs. small or urban vs. rural). And the kids who seem sure have usually adopted those views for external reasons; when I start asking questions, they become a lot more flexible and open-minded.
 
The process of applying to college is an incredible opportunity for reflection and self-discovery. Students who seize that opportunity submit stronger applications, get more acceptances and scholarships, and are more likely to have an extraordinary college experience that prepares them for whatever they want to do next. But you can’t do that without answering some big questions. A meaningful college application process takes time and critical thinking, and a good independent counselor can help guide students through that to find better-fit schools, complete stronger applications, and have a more successful college experience. 

4. You’re worried about paying for college.

I can count on one hand the number of families I’ve met who are not at all worried about paying for college. College affordability is a huge concern for most families, and the solution is not to cross your fingers, hope Bernie Sanders gets elected, and enacts free college tuition before your kid graduates high school. One thing that often surprises families is that the vast majority of money available for college – we’re talking 90-95% - comes from the colleges themselves. There are exceptions like the Gates Millennium Scholars or the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, but most outside scholarships are a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. This can certainly be helpful, but it would take a lot of outside scholarships to add up to a year’s tuition. In contrast, colleges have enormous financial resources to share with students in the form of merit scholarships and grants.
 
The best way to get those scholarships starts well before you actually submit your applications. Colleges practice what’s called “preferential packaging” meaning they can offer more free money (like merit aid) to students they are especially interested in. Colleges are more likely to offer merit scholarships to students who are a good academic and personal fit. These are students who are at or above the academic profile of other applicants (like those safety schools I mentioned before). It also means clearly articulating how and why you would be a valuable member of their community. Building a thoughtful college list, including a good number of target and safety schools, can maximize your chances of receiving substantial financial aid. Independent counselors are excellent resources for guiding students through a conscientious search process and identifying those good-fit target and safety schools.  

Next: Reason #5 - What are the right questions to ask?