In order for postsecondary decisions to be successful, a good fit between the student and the college or university is critical. Many factors beyond grades and test scores impact finding this right fit–including the specific preferences, interests, personality, and long-term goals of the student. Counselors can be a vital conduit to helping students reflect on what they might want out of their college experience and matching that to postsecondary options. 

In order to do this, counselors need to understand a student beyond the information on their transcript. Given overwhelming counselor caseloads, hectic schedules, and many teenagers’ natural hesitance to open up to adult authority figures, getting to know students on this deeper level can be challenging. Counselors can use the questions below to connect with students, encourage them to share more nuanced details about themselves and their goals, and begin the process of exploration and reflection to find the best postsecondary options for them.