The Balancing Act: Guiding Seniors Through Shifting Plans and Resilient Pathways
by Stacy Thompson
The Balancing Act
Senior year can feel like a tightrope walk—students balancing deadlines, dreams, and shifting circumstances while we, as counselors, try to steady the line beneath them.
We’ve all been there: investing in their post-secondary ambitions, dreaming alongside them, and wanting their success almost as much as they do - only to watch those plans wobble or fall. Whether it’s a missed deadline or a change in circumstances, these moments can feel discouraging. Yet, as counselors, our role is not to mourn the missteps but to help students regain balance and find their footing again. Deadlines and shifting plans are part of the journey, but they don’t define a student’s future. Our responsibility is to serve as guides, not gatekeepers, reminding students that setbacks are temporary and resilience—not perfection—is what carries them forward.
Anchoring The Rope
Empathy Before Solutions
Helping students land on their feet begins with creating a safe space. As counselors, our instinct may be to jump straight into problem-solving, but the first step is empathy. That means:
Listen first: create space for students to share openly without judgment.
Acknowledge emotions: validate feelings of disappointment, anxiety, or relief.
Identify the “why”: missed deadlines may stem from family stress, mental health, lack of resources, or misunderstanding of the process.
Normalize change: remind students that shifting goals is part of growth.
Above all, we must affirm each student’s experience. They need to hear that it’s okay to change plans, and it’s okay to feel the weight of those changes. What matters most is helping them see that their story isn’t defined by a single setback, but by the resilience they build moving forward.
💡Tip: Check out the Contigo Ed WOOP micro-course module to access a framework to support students in planning actionable strategies for obstacles or setbacks.
Building a “Plan B” Culture
Setbacks feel less daunting when students already have a safety net in place. In the book “Ready, Willing, and Able: A Developmental Approach to College Access and Success” by Dr. Mandy Savitz-Romer and Suzanne Bouffard, part of the “planning” or “organizing” component to developing a career- and college-going identity describes that youth need to be taught strategies on how to develop alternative plans and multiple pathways for reaching their goals (pp. 167). A backup plan isn’t just for those who miss deadlines—it’s a tool for every student navigating the uncertainty of senior year. When alternative options are mapped out ahead of time, students can bounce back more quickly, regain momentum, and keep moving toward their goals. A “Plan B” culture encourages students to always have multiple pathways planned, normalizing flexibility and reminding students that resilience is built not by avoiding obstacles, but by preparing for them.
💡Tip: The Contigo Ed Postsecondary Pathways micro-course module includes materials on planning for multiple pathways with your advisees.
Family Engagement: Shared Balance, Shared Growth
Families are essential partners in a student’s evolving journey. From the beginning, invite them into the conversation so they understand both the opportunities and the challenges ahead. Acknowledge parental concerns alongside student emotions, and emphasize resilience and adaptability as shared values. Facilitate dialogue that aligns expectations, reduces conflict, and positions families as allies rather than bystanders. By shifting the focus from immediate setbacks to long-term success, counselors can help families see change not as failure, but as part of growth.
💡Tip: To help facilitate the conversation with families, consider starting with Contigo Ed’s Letting Go Session family meeting template to get the conversation started.
Guiding Steady Steps
8 Strategies for Advising When Student Plans Keep Changing
Plans rarely unfold in a straight line, and the reasons for change are as varied as the students themselves. The following student profiles suggest advising & strategy solutions for some common challenges that may cause student setbacks. The offered suggestions, however, are flexible and widely applicable, offering mix‑and‑match approaches that emphasize exploration and resources. What remains consistent is the need to guide exploration and connect students with resources, with approaches that can be tailored and blended to fit each situation.
Motivation Mapping: for the “Pivot King/Queen”
Challenge: Frequently changes plans — one week it’s nursing, next week it’s coding bootcamp.
Advising: Sometimes, going back-to-basics is the best way to support a student moving forward. Celebrate adaptability, but anchor exploration with career assessments and structured reflection exercises.
Strategy: Contigo Ed’s Aspiration Courses include counselor resources for Motivations & Future Plans to support developing college aspiration.
Rolling Admission: for the “Deadline Ghoster”
Challenge: Adopts a “no worries, I’ll figure it out later” mindset. Avoids tasks until the last minute, then disappears when deadlines loom.
Advising: Reframe urgency with positive language, connect deadlines to the student’s personal goals, and use visual timelines. Use gentle check‑ins, break tasks into micro‑deadlines, and leverage text reminders or peer accountability.
Strategy: Research colleges with ‘rolling admission’ or late application deadlines and chunk admission deadlines by type. Tools, such as the BigFuture College Search allow users to filter searches by Admissions window deadlines.
💡Tip: Remind students to use consolidated application portals, such as Common Application, Apply SUNY, Apply Texas, or Cal State Apply to manage application deadlines in a centralized portal.
Spring Intake: for the “Late Bloomer”
Challenge: Realizes postsecondary goals after deadlines have passed.
Advising: Focus on the future and don’t dwell on missed opportunities.
Strategy: Search for colleges that offer ‘Spring Intake’ application cycles for students to begin in January (rather than the fall semester). While most colleges with spring deadlines will likely be public +/ non-residential colleges, there are some private colleges that offer spring start dates, such as the University of Puget Sound or Saint Mary’s College of California.
💡Generative AI Prompt: “What 4-year, non-profit colleges or universities in [your state] offer spring intake applications for Freshman or First Year applicants to enter college in this Spring Semester (instead of the traditional Fall Semester start)?
Transfer Planning: for the “FOMO Planner”
Challenge: Hesitates to commit because they fear missing out on a “better” option.
Advising: Encourage decision‑making frameworks (pros/cons lists, values alignment), and illustrate opportunities to change course if they discover a preferred option later.
Strategy: Review statewide transfer courses, such as the Texas Core Curriculum’ Common Course Numbering System or California Common Course Numbering Project. Highlight ‘guaranteed transfer’ programs often available a public colleges or universities, such as the Coordinated Admissions Program (CAP) at the University of Texas.
Flexible Financial Aid: for the “Burnout Scholar”
Challenge: Related to senioritis & summer melt, burnout happens when students are exhausted from APs, extracurriculars, or family responsibilities, leading to disengagement.
Advising: Normalize rest and connect them with wellness resources. Provide low-stakes opportunities to ‘finish strong’ with financial aid.
Strategy: Reduce the quantity (or perceived quantity) of financial aid applications by finding and prioritizing college applications that… (1) do not require the CSS Profile, (2) offer set merit-based or need-based scholarships, using only the student transcript & FAFSA, and/or (3) require only a single, ‘general’ scholarship application, rather than separate scholarship applications.
💡Tip: Check out the ContigoEd course on “Self Control & Mindfulness” for some strategies to use with students!
College Fit: for the “Over-Analyzer”
Challenge: Analysis Paralysis. The over-analyzing student might get stuck comparing every possible option, leading to decision fatigue.
Advising: Limit choices, highlight “good enough” options, and remind them that action beats perfection.
Strategy: Revisit “college fit” criteria to help students prioritize their options. Facilitate guided questioning, like the ones introduced in the OverGrad College Decision Guide for Counselors blog post. Avoid applications with “binding” admission policies, and check enrollment deposit policies to offer peace-of-mind for students who are afraid to commit.
💡Tip: Check out this video on “Choosing a College” to support students & families in finding the right fit.
💡Tip: Reference the Contigo Ed College Fit Lesson Plan & Handout for tools to use with students
Career-Focused College: for the “YOLO Dreamer”
Challenge: Wants to chase spontaneous passions (travel, influencer career, startup idea) instead of traditional college.
Advising: Validate creativity, then help them map out practical steps (budgeting, short‑term credentials) to keep options open.
Strategy: Emphasize opportunities for students to connect their passions to their studies through career-focused college pathways. Some options for students to explore their passions without foregoing or delaying college might include:
Apprenticeships or work study
Part-time study
Career-focused certification pathways, such as RN to BSN transfer programs
Summer job programs
💡Tip: Watch the recording from Contigo Ed’s Beyond Traditional Pathways webinar for strategies to integrate apprenticeships into college counseling
Gap Year Programs: for the “Quarter‑Life Prequel”
Challenge: Experiences an early “quarter‑life crisis” in high school - overwhelmed by choices, unsure of direction.
Advising: Normalize indecision; revisit career exploration tools and alternate pathways to college. Emphasize academic or leadership programs that would be value-added opportunities to help the student prepare for a delayed college entry.
Strategy: Guide students to explore high-quality gap year programs, such as those recommended by the Gap Year Association. Consider programs that offer financial aid, such as Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) -or- paid programs, like many offered through AmeriCorps. Some programs even offer college credit and allow usage of 529 Education Savings Plans, such as Outward Bound’s Gap Year Expeditions.
Balance Beyond the Tightrope
Walking the tightrope of senior year is never easy - for students or for those who support them. Deadlines shift, plans change, and sometimes dreams wobble. Yet regardless of the situation or the ultimate solution, counselors are there to guide exploration and provide resources to help students overcome setbacks. Highlighting diverse outcomes reminds students that there are many ways forward, and each path holds value. The tightrope doesn’t end after applications or even graduation; it continues into college, career, and beyond. By listening with empathy, building a “Plan B” culture, and partnering with families, we help students see that balance is possible even when the rope feels shaky. Our role is not to keep them from falling, but to ensure that when they do, there’s a net - and a culture of resilience and peer support to carry them forward.
Resources
Contigo Ed Resources
WOOP - micro-course to help students identify meaningful goals, anticipate obstacles, and create actionable strategies for success
Postsecondary Pathways - micro-course to help counselors guide students in exploring viable postsecondary options and locating career-aligned opportunities in their region
Letting Go Session - family engagement agenda A bilingual reflection tool for families to discuss hopes, fears, and transitions as students prepare for college
Motivations & Future Plans - aspiration bundle courses that supports students in exploring motivators, linking interests to careers, and connecting both to post-secondary planning
College Fit Lesson Plan & Handout for tools to use with students : Provides educators with structured activities and tools to help students assess college fit across multiple dimensions
Beyond Traditional Pathways webinar for strategies to integrate apprenticeships into college counselingEquips counselors with strategies to integrate apprenticeships into postsecondary advising and connect students to local opportunities
External Resources
BigFuture College Search allow users to filter searches by Admissions window deadlines. Allows users to filter over 4,300 colleges by admissions deadlines, location, affordability, and academic fit
OverGrad College Decision Guide for Counselors blog post offers counselors a framework of guiding questions to help students evaluate financial, academic, and cultural fit when choosing a college
Gap Year Association- comprehensive website that offers vetted resources, accredited program listings, and planning tools for students considering a gap year.
