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The College admissions process can be overwhelming. Who really knows how to fill out all of those forms and get everything submitted on time? Why is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so important? And when is your absolute last chance to sign up for the SAT? You can't be expected to know everything, but there is someone who does: Your  

Guidance Counselor

 ! When it comes to college admissions, this person knows it all.

Penn State Mont Alto sophomore, Eric Nakano, says his guidance counselor in Glendora, CA, helped him through the arduous process of narrowing down college choices and getting recommendation letters. "I always appreciated her advice and work, especially since I rarely gave her much notice before something was due."

Here's the deal: The better you know your counselor, the more willing he or she will be to help you in a pinch (though it's not advised to push it!). Finding your way through your guidance counselor's office may be a task in itself, but it's well worth it. He or she can provide lots of information on different colleges, Career fields, test-taking strategies, Financial aid, scholarships, and much more.

Guidance counselors can even take you through the college admissions process step by step. (After all, they go through it year after year!) One of the first things to do is ask your counselor for a timeline breaking down the college admissions process. The better you know your counselor, the more willing he or she will be to help you. It should include important dates, events, meetings, and deadlines.

Next up, ask for help with a self-awareness assessment, says Sherri Webber-Mains, a guidance counselor at Chambersburg High School, Chambersburg, PA. Don't worry, if you're not sure of which major to choose - Webber-Mains assures your guidance counselor can help you. A self-awareness assessment can better enable you to narrow your list of careers and majors, she says. Although you don't have to know exactly what you want to do with your life, it's helpful to at least know what interests you when looking for a college.

Another important thing guidance counselors do is help you narrow down your list of potential colleges. Shawn Chiappelli, a counselor at Shippensburg Area High School, Shippensburg, PA, recommends coming up with a top-10 list of things most important to you. These should include a college's location, size, cost, and academic majors offered, he says, and it may be general or very specific. Let's say you're looking for a medium-sized school near the ocean to study biology and play lacrosse. Tell your guidance counselor! Once you decide what's important to you, he or she can help you find colleges that match your needs.

Speaking of the right fit, your guidance counselor will be honest about your chances of acceptance to particular schools. Your parents may be thinking Ivy League, but your 2.0 GPA and 800 SAT score may mean someone needs to help you (and your 'rents) reevaluate what's in your best academic interest. Trust your guidance counselor �- he or she should encourage you to apply to a reach school, a safe school, and a fall-back school, says Webber-Mains.

With this in mind, when you meet with your guidance counselor, bring along a list of questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help. That is why he or she is there - to help you! According to Webber-Mains, some counselors have been known to go to extraordinary measures for their students.

For example, she recalls one student who worked extremely hard to complete an application and gather the necessary forms and recommendations to apply to Princeton. Because of 9/11, the admissions package was locked in the Princeton post office because of the Anthrax scare. It was the student's guidance counselor who came to the rescue and spent hours helping him redo all his paperwork. The counselor even spent time on the phone with the admissions office at Princeton to try and work out a solution.

Speaking of Visiting Your Counselor: Make an Appointment
Don't just show up out of the blue. Your guidance counselor is a busy person with a million things to do. Make an appointment and have an agenda of things to discuss once you're there.

Be Prepared
That means bring a list of questions and know what type of help you'll need: Picking a career field? Finding financial aid? Determining which college is right for you? Make sure to speak your mind.

Don't Rush!
It's not a good idea to ask your guidance counselor to write you a letter of recommendation and then say, "Oh, by the way, I need it tomorrow morning." Give him or her at least two weeks notice to complete any necessary paperwork for you.

Start Early
Begin researching colleges with your guidance counselor as early as possible. If you're going to graduate this year, it's not too late, but you will have some catching up to do.

Relax
Finally, try not to stress yourself out too much. The admissions process is overwhelming and confusing for everyone, but keep in mind you're not alone. Other college-bound students are experiencing the same post-high school jitters as you. Get to know your guidance counselor, ask for help, and rely on him or her to assist you through.

Ask Your Guidance Counselor...
1. What important tests should I take, and when are they scheduled in my area?
2. What resources do you have to help determine what career field may best suit me?
3. Will there be a workshop at the school to explain the financial aid process and learn about the FAFSA?
4. What local, regional, and national scholarships can I apply for?
5. Will you write a letter of recommendation for me?
6. Do you have a contact person in the admissions office at Such-and-Such College?
7. What are the important deadlines (for FAFSA Forms, applications, scholarships, etc.)?
8. Do you know any students who attend Such-and-Such University for me to talk to about their experiences?
9. How can I improve my SAT scores?
10. Can you explain my financial aid package?

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