Managing Stakeholders

How to have challenging conversations built on a partnership of respect and trust with parents, teachers and students

Working with students

How to help book-smart students become street-smart

Many students have strong academic grades but cannot translate their success into the professional world. Here’s how we can help them

Pop-art illustration of one woman whispering to another

How students really choose their universities

The countries and regions that attract students from a particular school can vary year to year – often depending on who is saying what to whom

Explorer in pith helmet, wading through tall grass

‘I don’t know what I want to be. Is that OK?’

Identity Status Theory suggests that identity formation involves two stages: exploration and commitment. This can help explain how students view their own futures

Student with head against wall in frustration

How to support students who don’t get the exam grades they need

Counsellors often want to fix the situation for the student – but we can’t change their grades. There are, however, other ways we can help

Why counsellors are the ideal role model for students

Students are generally receptive to counsellors’ guidance – and counsellors can maximise this influence, setting a standard for students to follow in their working life

Student looking stressed and overwhelmed

How to support neurodivergent students with university applications

Preparing and applying for higher education can feel overwhelming to neurodivergent students. These strategies can help the process feel more manageable for them

Why learning about history can help us make sense of national stereotypes

Why are Americans so extroverted? Why are Asian students so focused on rankings? We should avoid stereotyping students – but studying history can help put trends into context

‘But I need that predicted grade for my application’

Do students really need a specific predicted grade? Or do they just want – or demand – it? Understanding the difference between ‘need’ and ‘want’ can help counsellors form an appropriate response

‘I want a degree that will make me more employable’: a counsellor’s response

Competitive job markets and fear of debt mean increasing numbers of students are applying for degrees that will lead to a job – but it’s not always so straightforward

Light shining through keyhole, as key is inserted

Why a university degree is so much more than just a degree

Economic, social and cultural capital are important considerations when planning for the future – so perhaps it’s time to include them in conversations about best fit

Silhouettes of three women, with different images in their heads

How to help students with special needs find the right university

Unsupported, students with special needs can lose touch with their own abilities – but with the right interventions, many will excel at university

What is a teenager?

Teenagers are the key population counsellors work with – so it can be useful to know what developmental psychology tells us about adolescence

How to have difficult and sensitive conversations

Difficult topics and conversations often come when you least expect them. Here are some strategies to prepare you for these moments

How to help students with SEND prepare for university life

By understanding the diversity of students with special educational needs, counsellors can better advocate for the necessary resources and systems to support them

Shocked-looking student listens to rumours

Students’ common misconceptions – and how to tackle them

As university counsellors, we become used to hearing confused or mistaken ideas handed down from year group to year group, or spread via social media

How can counsellors best support LGBTQIA+ students?

Here are four simple ways for counsellors to support LGBTQIA+ students – helping an often-marginalised community feel heard, safe and included

Toddler in suit speaks on phone, while dollar bills fly through the air

How to persuade students that there’s more to work than salary

Students feel under pressure to decide on their careers at an increasingly early age and are gravitating towards higher-paid careers, often at the cost of their own passions and interests. How can counsellors help combat this trend?

Do good grades matter?

The education system is fixated on grades – but university counsellors need to demonstrate that good grades aren’t all that’s needed to succeed in life

Student holds up mini blackboard, with the word "No!" on it

‘What do I do if an academically bright student doesn’t want to go to university?’

Some students are not interested in higher education, even if they are academically talented. How can we respect their decisions, while also giving them all the options?

Student looking at complicated maths problem on blackboard

Counselling resource: The scary maths of university admissions

University admissions rates don’t tell the whole story – as international applicants, our students are competing for far fewer places

Celebrity, being photographed by paparazzi

Paying in sweat: how to advise student actors, athletes and singers

How do we, as school counsellors, give advice to students who are already facing professional career-related challenges as athletes or performing artists?

Collage of faces in bright colours and patterns

How to be inclusive when counselling students

What does ’inclusivity’ mean? Who does it refer to? And, most importantly, how can we ensure that our practice is inclusive?

Four students, walking and laughing together

Four students – and four important counselling lessons learned

It’s important to understand what’s motivating students, and to get to know them outside the counselling office – as these four case studies illustrate

Two push buttons, one marked 'Facts' and the other labelled 'Beliefs'

How do our cognitive biases affect our counselling?

We like to think of ourselves as rational beings, but we approach life – and the university-application process – burdened with cognitive biases

Hand on rung of ladder reaching up to the sky

How to motivate your students – and make sure they motivate themselves

Some students will need endless cajoling simply to register on a university application platform. Is there anything counsellors can do about this?

Table set with chopsticks, knife and fork

Why we need to shed our cultural baggage

We are all shaped by our cultural context – but, in order to do our jobs effectively, we need to be able to transcend it

Woman holding a budding plant in her hands

Five ways to help students feel valued

To nurture success, counsellors need to build strong relationships with students. Here are five ways to ensure that students feel valued

Silhouette of basketball player aiming ball into net

How to help your students set effective goals

Applying to university involves successfully setting and completing a series of goals. How can we best help students with this?

A smiling counsellor chats to two students

How do you create a relationship of trust with students?

What does an honest and authentic relationship with students look like? And how is it best achieved?

Teacher in a classroom with teenage students

Counsellor resource: why counsellors should be classroom teachers, too

Delivering regular classroom lessons could make a huge difference to your counselling. Here are some ways in which it could help your students, along with a downloadable course curriculum plan to help you structure your counselling classroom sessions

How to create the right relationships

Counsellors need to empower students and parents to make informed decisions about university admissions. Sharing our knowledge allows us to work together as a community

Working with colleagues and SLT

Drawing of two women giving each other a high five

Why close collaboration with Sencos is now essential

In Asia, growing numbers of students with special needs are enrolling in international schools – creating a greater need for counsellors to work collaboratively with Sencos

How to work with independent counsellors

It is inevitable that some of your students will work with independent counsellors. Instead of resisting, here are some ways that you can all work together to support your students

Counsellor resource: working with SLT in a school

Working with senior leadership teams can be a challenge for high school counsellors. Here’s a case study on how one counsellor created clear working pathways between the SLT and counselling team

Woman with arms folded, looking sceptical

What do you do when teachers try to offer university counselling?

Teachers often try to offer university application advice to students, out of a well-meaning desire to help. How should counsellors tackle this?

Cake divided unequally between three people

How to divide up roles fairly among a counselling team

The job of university counsellor is multifaceted, with a range of different roles and responsibilities. How do you make sure these are divided up fairly among your team?

Man looking scared and backing away from something

Call my agent: how to work constructively with education agents

Many university counsellors wince at the mention of agents – but their knowledge and contacts can complement our own role

Two people, pushing giant puzzle pieces together

My student has hired an independent counsellor. Now what?

The use of independent counsellors can make a school-based counsellor’s role more challenging – but it doesn’t necessarily have to

How COBIS is championing high school counsellors

Colin Bell, CEO of COBIS, shares how COBIS is helping school counsellors to access professional development and gives some tips on how to work with stakeholders to champion their role

Starting a new school? Here's how to fit in

A counsellor starting at a new school needs to be able to understand its culture, speak its language and work out how they fit into the bigger picture

Artistically blurred image of people in a conference room

University visits and fairs: how to meet all stakeholders’ needs

University visits and university fairs can be instructive, useful and enjoyable for all involved – with the right preparation

A mountaineer extends a hand to help a fellow climber to the summit

How do you convince stakeholders that you’re on their side?

Actively listening, establishing trust and navigating challenging conversations with empathy will enhance your ability to help students and their parents

Working with parents and families

Why university counsellors are not fortune-tellers

Often, parents want university counsellors to predict a student’s future, including university, job and salary range

How to broaden definitions of success for students and parents

Involving students and parents in a range of workshops and university fairs can help broaden their definition of success

Two children, one dressed as a doctor, the other as an engineer

What counsellors in Asia should know about working with parents

Many Asian parents take a proactive role in their child’s academic journey – but these good intentions can often reflect outdated and inaccurate ideas about education

Counsellor resource: three activities to empower parents

Starting a quarterly parents’ club can provide a forum for counsellors to work with parents to understand their biggest concerns around the university application process

Student doing maths calculations on blackboard

How to persuade parents that maths A level is not essential for success

In many cultures, mathematics is often considered the most important subject, and students are expected to study it at advanced level – regardless of their career aspirations

Line drawing of two heads, one with a brain and the other with a plant growing where the brain should be

How to combat parents’ obsession with grades over skills

Parents often value high academic grades over interpersonal and soft skills – but this no longer reflects universities’ priorities or the reality of the job market

Mother and daughter embracing in airport

‘A waste of time and money’: parents’ perceptions of gap years – and how to counter them

Universities now see a gap year as a valuable asset, enhancing academic motivation – but the parents of putative gap year students may need a little more persuasion

Mother acts cool; teenage daughter is very embarrassed

How to involve parents in the counselling process

Involving parents in university or careers fairs can add immeasurably to the effectiveness of counselling provision – but requires careful planning

Navigating cultural or generational differences in education

Navigating cultural differences and expectations for students can be tricky, writes Himani Swami. Here are some strategies for communicating with both students and parents around these differences

Black and white photograph of folk singer, playing guitar

Bringing parents along on students’ academic journeys

Your sons and your daughters may not be beyond your command – but it’s still up to counsellors to show parents that the answers are blowin’ in the wind

Counsellor resource: effective communication with parents

Using these techniques to effectively communicate with parents and other stakeholders can help to improve relationships

Are parents demanding a well-known university? Here's what to tell them

Families often look for a strong brand name and high place in university rankings when selecting a university – even if that's not what their child needs

A robot hand holding a screen around free-floating letters

ChatGPT prompts parents can use to support their children’s university search

It’s useful for students to be able to discuss university plans with their parents. But if parents don’t know where to start, these AI prompts can help them with discussion points

Parent and school counsellor chatting happily

Four tips for putting parents at their ease

As college counsellors, we can sometimes forget about our students’ parents – but in many countries the parents are the decision-makers

Counsellor and parent looking at a laptop together

How counsellors can communicate well with parents

Some parents will spoonfeed their children; others will not be involved at all. Finding the right balance is important – and that’s where the counsellor comes in

Whose career choice is it – students’ or parents’?

Parents can have very definite ideas about which are suitable degrees and which are just ‘games’. But no child should be coerced into a career that doesn’t match their skillset, says Fareha Yusuf

A boy and his father talk to a member of school staff

Ten tips for working effectively with parents

Applying to university is a significant step for students and their families. But parental expectations can often create additional pressure for students. How do we deal with this?

Collaborating with universities

Man delivering a talk to lecture theatre full of students

Why university reps should not be talking about their institutions to students

Students will take away far more from a university visit if reps talk about a specific subject or give practical advice on the application process

Globe, showing various famous world landmarks

How to plan student visits to university campuses

With nearly 30,000 universities around the world, it can be difficult for students to know which ones to apply to – which is why visiting some of them can be helpful

Counsellor resource: How to collaborate with university admissions reps

Admissions representatives are founts of knowledge when it comes to university applications – partnering with them is a win-win situation. There is also a downloadable letter template and spreadsheet to help your organise your relationships with admissions offices

Two students, chatting with an adult over coffee