By Christian Guerithault ’14
THE ROUNDUP
Finding the right college and path in life is something that all high school students will experience.
Having a college counselor guide you through the process can help alleviate stress and be a helpful tool for a student.
Mr. Rey Santos is in his second year at Brophy and he is one of three college counselors who help juniors and seniors choose the right college and possible career.
“Helping students choose the right college is looking to see what that right fit may be,” Mr. Santos said. “That right fit can work on different levels from location to the type of school.”
Mr. Santos is the counselor for more than 100 Brophy students; he said he knows how important having a college counselor can be to high school students.
“Having a college counselor is important because the process of applying for colleges is becoming more detail oriented,” Mr. Santos said. “The nice thing about having a college counselor is that the process is one of the main things that we can focus on.”
Last year, Mr. Santos counseled students from the class of 2012. One of his students was Emmanuel Rodriguez ’12.
“Mr. Santos was a great counselor,” Rodriguez said. “He gave me great feedback on my college application essays, he kept sending me emails reminding me to submit all of the necessary documents before deadlines; he forwarded me many scholarship opportunities and so many other great things. He really helped make everything a smooth process.”
Mr. Santos was not only a good counselor in the eyes of Rodriguez, but also a good person.
“Mr. Santos is a warm-hearted person,” Rodriguez said. “I remember there were days when I felt like talking about some really bad issues that I had going on at home and Mr. Santos did a great job of relieving my mind. He is a genuine man for others.”
His job comes with a lot of hard work, but Mr. Santos said that he enjoys a lot about being a college counselor.
“I enjoy the diversity and experience, college counseling is not very prescriptive,” Mr. Santos said. “The diversity in what guys hope for in their college experience is great.”