Should seniors be required to regularly meet with their guidance counselors?  Many students think that regularly scheduled meetings are a necessity due to the ever-increasing stress of college applications.  Whether it is to avoid falling behind in work, finalizing applications, or getting help with recommendations, meetings with counselors are important for high school students of any grade.

“Based on how stressed I am already when I think of college, I think these meetings are a good idea.  Sometimes it can be really hard to schedule time with your counselor and I think that most people would benefit from at least a couple required meetings a year,” said junior Allie Chase.  “Especially as a junior or senior, it’s important to keep up with your guidance counselor and make sure that you’re on track with college preparation.”

The anticipation of college applications can stress anyone out, whether they are a freshman or a junior.  Maybe knowing that they will have meetings with a guidance counselor could help reduce some of that preliminary stress.

“If any seniors are feeling stressed about the college process or anything else, they should definitely make an appointment to meet with their guidance counselor,” said guidance counselor Ms. Diana Rafferty.  “Just discussing things that may be overwhelming is often a great comfort and a way to offer a problem-solving solution.”

Meetings with counselors can help relieve the stress of college applications, school work, and any other things that may be weighing someone down.  Especially as a first semester senior, when school may be extremely overwhelming, guidance counselors are there to point students in the right direction.

“Meetings with the guidance counselor are always beneficial for students, no matter what the reason.  Meetings can help answer questions, calm nerves, and build a relationship,” continued Mrs.  Rafferty.

A few required meetings a year could benefit any student, not just a senior, according to many students and staff.  Aside from the pressure of the application process, students face a number of outside stressors, and guidance counselors are there to support any such issues.

“Regular meetings with you guidance counselor should be required for seniors.  If you don’t have meetings, it’s hard to have your work together in time to apply early action to colleges.  I think a lot of my stress could have been avoided by having a few meetings,” said senior Allison Khin.

No student should regret the way they handled their college applications, as this only adds more stress to an already strenuous high school career.  Parents, teachers, and peers can all be of help as well, but scheduled time with a guidance counselor may be what each student needs.

“Having scheduled meetings with a guidance counselor helps students to stay on track, which is really important for senior year.  I think that these required meetings would benefit everyone,” said senior Rachel Reisman.

Getting off track with work and applications could seriously hurt a student’s academics and college process.  Meetings starting junior year could help show students what they should be doing before they even begin the process, which could help them to divide their time well and still have time for other things.  Many people don’t even know where to begin with ACT/SAT testing and the college search.  These meetings could help change that.  Other issues, like missing deadlines or homework, concern students as well.

“I think that seniors should 100% be required to meet with their counselor.  It can help to make sure that no one misses due dates.  For example, I had something due last week that I didn’t know was due until the day of,” said senior Athena Johnson. “ Had I met with my counselor beforehand, that could have been avoided.”

The general consensus from students and guidance counselors alike seems to be that regularly scheduled meetings with your counselor should be required for students, even if they are approaching the end of their high school careers.  Many people think that this would help avoid a lot of the stress that comes with being an upperclassman, especially a senior, in high school.  College applications, school work, and many other things add stress to a student’s life, and guidance counselors are ready, willing, and able to help students handle those stress factors.