Why a college counselor in the first place?: There are many qualities to look for in a college — anything from its physical location to its curriculum, its research centers to the spice and verve of its student body. But even if a rising junior gets straight on which ingredients they want, it’s daunting to consolidate and pinpoint the colleges that fit the perfect recipe. And what about all the great schools they haven’t even heard of? The options are intimidating in scope. Having a guide who knows the landscape can help whittle things down — preferably one with first-hand experience.
My own college application story: As an 11th grader, I applied to many colleges, but ultimately decided to do a 5th (also known as ‘Post-Grad’) year of high school at an Arts Academy instead. I wanted more guitar and trombone training before I went off to college, with the plan of ending up at a conservatory. So I applied to colleges for a second time a year later, but completely changed course by eventually enrolling in a small, liberal arts junior college in California — Deep Springs College. Despite it being the most selective college in the country (at the time) with an elite academic reputation, this was only a two year program — which meant that I had to go through the application process yet again. If I wanted to get a Bachelor’s, round three was a must.
By the time I enrolled in UC Berkeley, I was a veteran, three-time undergraduate applicant. Accepted by 11 of the 14 colleges I applied to (one of which was Ivy League), I had cultivated a keen sense on how to craft a solid application. I had considered dozens of schools, looking to every corner of the country for an institution that catered to my interests. And the end result was that I experienced both ends of the collegiate spectrum. At Deep Springs, I attended the smallest college in the country. UC Berkeley, meanwhile, is one of the largest public research universities in the world. Deep Springs’ liberal arts curriculum was eclectic, self-designed, and unconventional; UC Berkeley’s had all the classic distribution requirements typical of U.S. higher-education systems, and I jumped through all the conventional hoops to graduate there.
My experience was certainly not exhaustive, but it was nothing if not broad; I know the lay of the land. I’m now familiar with universities and colleges of all stripes, from alternative models to elite Ivy Leaguers to local community colleges nation-wide.
What counseling looks like: As a college application counselor, I help students hand-pick a healthy selection of colleges based on their interests and desires, and tier them by financial feasibility and probability of acceptance. This process, however, is more than just finding the right colleges to apply to. It’s also about staying organized, approaching the right people for help, and presenting oneself well. Who to ask for letters of recommendation? How to ask for an interview? How to prepare for an interview? Which extracurriculars to include in the application?
My goal with all my students is to help them stay organized and hold them accountable throughout the process – I create a calendar for important events and deadlines to meet, a checklist of important tasks or people to contact, and spreadsheets of schools, research institutes, internships programs and graduate opportunities. Having a living resource throughout this process is invaluable, and can save a lot of time.
If you’re interested in starting the college search with my help, please go to the contact page to reach out
Henrik Herb - Education Consultant 