The best counselors for younger vs. older students

My child is in middle school. Should we start with a former admissions officer?

Usually, no. There’s a common misconception that pairing a seventh grader with a former Ivy League admissions officer for six years all but guarantees a spot somewhere down the line.

It’s an understandable instinct, but it misreads what young students need.

Most former admissions officers built their careers working with juniors and seniors — many have only worked with undergrads.

Their guidance makes sense for older high school students deep in the college application process.

Give that same guidance to a twelve-year-old, and it sails over their heads. The underlying skills and maturity aren’t there yet.

A prestigious bio is reassuring to read, but it tells you very little about who can best help a younger student grow.

What do younger students actually need from a counselor?

Middle schoolers need a foundation before they start thinking about a college strategy. What moves the needle at this age is executive functioning, the right study habits, exploring real interests, learning to speak up in a room, and getting comfortable talking to teachers.

These are the building blocks for future success on college apps.

Former educators and school counselors have these exact skills. They know how to mold young minds, rather than talking over them. When a middle schooler spends these years developing study habits and curiosity, the eventual application has something real to draw from.

That groundwork, far more than an early-start admissions plan, is what creates a strong candidate.

When should we bring in a former admissions officer?

When your child is ready for it. The strongest approach to successful college admissions is a progression rather than a premature single pairing that lasts years.

At Empowerly, we start your child with someone who’s spent years working with younger students and can lay the right foundation.

As your child matures and strategy starts, we’ll bring in a former admissions officer to sharpen the plan, with periodic consults along the way.

Think of it as a spectrum. A former Harvard admissions officer working with a seventh grader will not get your child into Harvard.

But a student who has learned how to study, lead, and carry themselves with confidence will be ready to make use of that when it counts.