College Counselling Is Not About Having It All Figured Out
- Anushka Goyal
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
Inside College Counselling, Episode 1: Cyndee Kawalek
If you are a student or parent just starting to think about college, the whole process can feel weirdly big. There are deadlines, school lists, test scores, activities, essays, finances, and a lot of people with strong opinions. It is easy to feel like everyone else already knows what they are doing.
That is exactly why this series exists. We made it for students and families who are new to college counselling and college counselors themselves and want honest, simple conversations that actually help.
In this episode, we talk with Cyndee Kawalek, who has spent years working with students and families, about what college counselling really looks like in real life.
And the big message is pretty comforting: college counselling is not about pushing students into one perfect path. It is about helping them figure out what fits.
If you want to connect with Cyndee, you can check out her LinkedIn and reach out to her directly there. Cyndee Kawalek Linkedin
What this conversation is really about
This episode is about the human side of college counselling, its not just about applications or admissions and “top schools.”
It is about:
understanding the student first
helping families make sense of the process
figuring out what a good path looks like
and remembering that the “right” college is not the same for everyone
That is a lot more helpful than pretending there is one correct answer for every student.
College counselling starts with listening
One of the clearest themes in the episode is that good counsellors do not start by telling students what to do. They start by listening. Cyndee talks about the importance of slowing down, asking questions, and really understanding the student before giving advice. Some students are trying to figure out college. Some are trying to figure out career direction. Some are dealing with stress at home, pressure at school, or fear about making the wrong choice.
That is why counselling cannot be one-size-fits-all.
A student who says, “I want to go to a top school,” may really mean, “I want to feel successful.”
A student who says, “I do not know what I want,” may really mean, “I need help making sense of my options.”
The conversation has to go deeper than the surface answer.
What to remember
If you are a student, it is okay not to have a perfect answer right away. A good counsellor is there to help you think, not judge you for being unsure.
Not every student needs the same path
A lot of families assume college counselling is mostly about aiming high and getting into the most selective schools.
But this episode makes a different point: the best path is the one that actually works for the student.
Sometimes that means a four-year university. Sometimes it means community college first. Sometimes it means transferring later. Sometimes it means taking a slower path because the student needs more support, more time, or a better fit.
That is not lowering the bar.
That is being realistic.
A student does not need a “famous” school to have a meaningful future. They need a place where they can learn, grow, and stay on track.
What to remember
Instead of asking, “What school sounds impressive?” try asking, “What school makes sense for this student right now?”
Strong applications are about more than grades
Another important part of the conversation is the idea that selective colleges are looking at more than academics.
Yes, grades matter. Yes, test scores can matter at some schools. But many colleges also want to understand what a student has done outside the classroom, how they think, what they care about, and how they have grown.
That can include:
internships
volunteering
research
leadership
athletics
creative work
or long-term commitments
The point is not to collect activities like trophies. The point is to show real interest and follow-through.
Cyndee’s message here is very grounded: students do not need to do everything. They need to do something meaningful and stick with it.
What to remember
A strong application usually sounds like a real student, not a checklist.
AI can help, but it cannot replace a real person
This part of the episode felt especially current.
Cyndee talks about using AI tools in her own work, but she is careful about what AI can and cannot do. It can help with organization, brainstorming, and creating systems. But it cannot replace human judgment, empathy, or the back-and-forth conversation that happens in real counselling.
That matters for students too.
AI can be useful for:
getting started
organizing ideas
drafting outlines
building habits
or helping you think through options
But it should not do the thinking for you.
The real value of counselling is that someone helps you sort through your own thoughts, not just hand you answers.
What to remember
Use AI as support. Do not let it replace reflection, learning, or real conversation.
The college process is emotional, not just academic
This is the part that families sometimes underestimate.
College counselling is not just about forms and deadlines. It is also about stress, pressure, uncertainty, money, and big feelings. Students worry about getting in. Parents worry about cost. Everyone worries about making the wrong choice.
Cyndee brings a lot of empathy to that reality. She talks about the need to understand what students are carrying, not just what they say they need help with.
That is what makes counselling useful. Not perfection. Not performance. Just real support.
What to remember
If the college process feels overwhelming, that does not mean you are behind. It means you are human.
Practical takeaways from this episode
If you remember only a few things, make them these:
College counselling should help students find fit, not just prestige.
Good counselors listen first.
A student’s path can change, and that is normal.
Applications are stronger when they reflect real interests and experiences.
AI can support the process, but it cannot replace a person.
Families do not need to figure everything out at once.
Closing thought
This episode is a good reminder that college counselling is really about people.
It is about students who are trying to make sense of their next step. It is about families who want to help but do not always know how. And it is about counsellors who guide, support, and help students move forward with a little more clarity.
That is what this series is here for: to make the process feel less confusing and a lot more human.
If you are just getting started, you do not need to have all the answers yet. You just need a first step.
Check out BetterMind Labs and how we help high school students with their college admission journey.
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