Many 11th graders who next year aspire to apply to university may ask themselves many questions and are confused about how this process will go. I am certain of this, as a year ago I was in their shoes. One recurrent question made by future seniors is whether high school counselors, like Dina at TCS, are plotting our whole future, like some kind of genius strategist. Or are they just giving us the general directions and hoping we don’t crash and burn along the way?

We may think that we know what college counselors are for but, let’s be honest, we really don’t know the hard work and help that college counselors give us in making one of the most important decisions of our lives. What’s the real deal? If you are feeling anxious about this process and in need of knowing how to prepare, you are in the right place as you will discover and get to know who Dina is and exactly how she helps us in this process.

Fernando Altman, a senior at tcs who’s heading off to study industrial engineering in Costa Rica, brings up something a lot of us deal with. Trying to fit everything into senior year. Altman mentions Dina at TCS helping him with some important stuff, but also how much he relies on help from outside of school. If you think about that, it is up to you to decide which path you are taking, counselors guide the way but it is up to us to decide which path we want to take.

“With Dina, she has helped me, like, for example, with the transcripts from grades. And she has also like giving me advice on what else should I do, but mostly outside of school… I’m going to study industrial engineering. It’s mostly a path I decided to take on my own.” Altmann said.

Altman pretty much says that it doesn’t matter how much others help the decision in the end is yours. But he also warns that it is essential to seek help outside school. This isn’t a necessity as in TCS Dina helps you with the entire process, but it can be helpful to have other opinions in such important decisions such as other counselors or family members.

“The advice I can give them is to seek out for help because it is a task that is very difficult to do on your own,” Fernando said. “So seek out for help and also like start doing it from early because being a senior requires a lot of things to do… So do it with a timely manner.” Altmann said

Fernando highlights that Dina texts back super fast and seems really on top of things, this is great as you can have the relief that any doubt at any given time, Dina will be there to answer joyfully. The best part is that she makes you feel supported in the entire process.

“Usually, like when I text her, she responds to me immediately…the communication with her is really good. She’s very active. She sends emails. And also, there’s a chat for seniors that Dina communicates very often…And I think that she makes herself very useful and makes us believe that we can have like access from her.” Altman senior student said

Pablo Nichols, a senior at tcs High School, talks about how attentive Dina was and how she supported him when he was going through the EIAapplication. Even though he hasn’t really asked her for career help, he sees that she’s made a real impact.

“To be honest, I haven’t asked her about my career options, but what I did ask her about that she gave me a lot of support on was if I should do or I shouldn’t do a gap semester. But I have heard from other people that she has been a great support picking their career, their university, etc.” Nichols senior student said

Counselors can give you advice and support, you’re the one who’s ultimately making decisions, and it all comes down to if you decide to listen to them. All the information about the different options are offered. It is normal to feel overwhelmed and to have mistakes in the process but in the end, everything will be fine.

“She followed every step. I had some problems paying and she was very attentive to me. She texted me a lot like, could you pay? Do you need help with anything else? And she has also, even from the distance, helped me with it… You feel like she has been with you and she has been attentive of you and your interests.” Nichols said

We may not always think about the impact our grades have on our application , they are crucial as they reflect your academic performance, Nichols is proof that with his grades he managed to enter to university this is a call to students to keep their grades high as they can take you really far in this process.

I think that for like, as I said before, picking a university, she hasn’t been so good for me (1:15) because I haven’t really talked to her about that. I managed to enter to EIA with my grades and an interview”

Choosing the right courses can be overwhelming, but students at Tcs have access to guidance that helps them align their studies with their future aspirations. A key strategy is identifying what subjects they dislike to narrow down options. However, the most effective tool is MaiaLearning, which provides personality and vocational assessments. As Dina Rechani the college counselor at Tcs explains

“The BEST tool we have is the MaiaLearning Personality and Vocational assessments that you can find in the area called ‘Character’… There, each student has 6 assessments that will help the counselor identify the skills and strengths that they have and look for careers that fit.” Dina Tcs college counselor said

For 11th graders looking ahead to college applications , staying informed and organized is crucial. The more organized you are the easier this process easier for both you and your counselor. Take in mind that universities will look at your grades from the last few years.

“The first piece of advice is to join the WhatsApp group so they are informed about all the visits, programs, meetings, etc… . I created the “Class of 2026” group and we already have 95 members (and two teachers) so we are missing quite a few students. Secondly, request a one on one meeting to discuss options. They can find my Calendly information in the whatsapp group or they can email me and I will send it.
Finally: keep up the grades!!! Universities will see your 11th grade grades and GPA as well as all you have done since 9th grade.” Rechani said

For students planning to apply to universities in Colombia, academic performance in the final years of high school plays a crucial role. Different institutions have varying requirements, making it essential for students to stay informed about their options. Dina mentions

“Universities in Colombia will look at your grades during the last 2 or 3 years of high school. Depending on the university you will need to have better grades than others. The only one asking for Prueba Saber results, at the moment, is EAFIT. I am not sure if others will follow.” Rechani mentioned

Research supports the idea that universities place significant emphasis on academic performance in the final years of high school. According to a study by the International Association for College Admission Counseling (IACAC), many universities worldwide, including those in Latin America, prioritize a student’s GPA and coursework rigor when evaluating applications. The study highlights that institutions often use a student’s last two or three years of academic performance as a key predictor of success in higher education.

Beyond grades and standardized tests, universities also consider a student’s overall profile, including extracurricular activities and leadership experiences. According to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), modern universities are increasingly valuing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, recognizing that academic performance alone does not determine future success. The report emphasizes that students involved in sports, arts, community service, or leadership roles demonstrate qualities that are essential for adapting to the evolving job market. In Colombia, universities like Universidad del Rosario and Universidad EAFIT have begun integrating holistic evaluation processes, where a well-rounded profile can strengthen an applicant’s chances of acceptance. This shift highlights the growing importance of balancing strong academics with meaningful extracurricular engagement.

Schoolcounselor.org says that academic guidance must be helped with extracurricular activities and with the parents so she provides us with all and every advice. Helping with the courses you select and recommending different extracurriculars with parental collaboration to solve your personal and academic. Also in financial awareness.

So, when you really look at it, it seems like college counselors, like Dina at TCS , are there to lend a hand, point you in the right direction if you don’t know it, and be there to support you when you need it. But let’s be clear, they’re not going to magically create your perfect future. It is your effort that will determine how far do you want to get in life, but it is a relief to have a great person like Dina supporting you along the way. For most of all enjoy this process as you only get to live this once.