What is the main goal of collaboration between school counselors and college access professionals?

• A. To expand support and improve postsecondary outcomes for students
• B. To reduce counselor numbers
• C. To shift responsibility away from schools
• D. To focus only on exam scheduling

Answer: (A)

The main goal of this collaboration is to expand support for students and improve their postsecondary outcomes. When school counselors team up with college access professionals, they pool their strengths: counselors understand students’ development, hopes, and barriers within the school context; college access specialists bring focused knowledge about admissions processes, financial aid, scholarships, and the resources available outside the school. Together, they create a more seamless path from high school to college, coordinating timelines, offering targeted advising, running workshops on applications and FAFSA, and helping students explore options that fit their interests and finances. This collective effort is especially crucial for students who face systemic barriers, because it aims to increase access, readiness, and persistence in postsecondary education, not just to handle isolated tasks.

Focusing on reducing counselor numbers isn’t the aim of this partnership; the goal is to maximize impact with the team already available. Shifting responsibility away from schools conflicts with the idea of strengthening school-based support and accountability. Finally, limiting the focus to exam scheduling ignores the broader purpose of guiding students toward meaningful college options and helping them succeed once they get there.