Stronger Guidance, Better Outcomes: A Model for Schools and Families
Across Europe, students face increasingly complex decisions when planning their academic futures. The cost of studying away from home has risen, and most students rely on family for financial support - on average, parents and partners provide 40 percent of students’ monthly income and cash, while 76 percent of students receive in-kind support, accounting for over half of their income (Gwosć, 2024).
Guidance cannot be a last‑minute service; institutions must accompany learners from their first spark of interest through every step of the application process.
This blog explains why a long‑term partnership with students, proactive engagement with parents and a dedicated contact person are crucial to student success.
Supporting students from first interest to final application
The move from school to university can be tough. Students must adapt to new expectations, build fresh social networks and manage independence. Institutions can strengthen student journeys by offering comprehensive guidance from the first enquiry to the application submission:
Host early‑stage workshops, taster classes and open houses so prospective students can explore programmes and ask questions.
Provide step‑by‑step application timelines that include deadlines for documents, exams and financial aid.
Offer digital resources (chatbots, webinars and online portals) and link them with human advisors who can answer complex questions.
Create peer‑support groups and mentoring schemes that foster a sense of community and reduce loneliness.
Make mental‑health support and academic counselling available for students adjusting to university life.
Open house events are the perfect accommodation for students to explore their potential future environment
Engaging parents early and well
Parents play a central role in university choice and the financing of education. EUROSTUDENT VIII data show that family and partner contributions account for 40 percent of students’ monthly income and that 76 percent of students receive cash or in‑kind support, which makes up around 52 percent of the recipients’ income (Gwosć, 2024).
Such dependence means that parents’ expectations and resources shape where and what their children study.
Research also shows that family influence and academic satisfaction positively correlate with young people’s career decision self‑efficacy and happiness (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021). However, over-parenting or excessive control has been linked to career indecision and stress among college students (Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 2023).
Schools therefore need to engage families without diminishing students’ autonomy. Practical strategies include:
Organise information evenings that explain programme choices, admission criteria and labour‑market outcomes.
Provide guides on budgeting, scholarships and student loans to help families plan finances and avoid undue pressure.
Encourage parents to support rather than direct; emphasise that students should explore their interests, with parents acting as sounding boards.
Offer one‑to‑one consultations where families can discuss concerns with guidance staff.
Ensure that communication respects confidentiality and that students’ voices remain central.
Why a dedicated guidance contact matters
A single trusted point of contact can make guidance services more coherent and accessible.
In Bulgaria, parents are legally entitled to receive information and consultation at least once a year on their child’s education and career orientation; the national career‑guidance portal lets users book free e‑consultations with certified counsellors (Eurydice, 2023). Guidance is a free‑of‑charge service and can be initiated by parents, teachers or the child, emphasising dialogue between children and their relatives (Eurydice, 2023).
The “Your Professional Partner” campaign in Romania provides another model: it informs and advises parents on labour‑market trends, presents solutions for developing practical skills and career choices, and organises an annual “Educational Offers Fair” where students and parents can meet schools and industry representatives (Euroguidance, 2025).
These examples demonstrate how a dedicated contact person or centre fosters trust and cooperation between students, parents and teachers.
Platforms like StudyfinderAI can complement these efforts by offering data‑driven insights and easy‑to‑use tools that connect students and families with the right information at the right time.
To implement this model, institutions should:
Assign a trained guidance counsellor to act as a single point of contact throughout the decision‑making and application process.
Provide multiple channels for contact: face‑to‑face appointments, telephone, email and online chat, to accommodate parents and students.
Collaborate with municipal or regional support services (psychologists, special educators) so students with mental‑health or special‑education needs receive integrated support.
Maintain updated, accessible information on study programmes, admission requirements and career outcomes.
Ensure the counsellor receives training in cultural sensitivity and is empowered to support both domestic and international families.
StudyfinderAI complements these efforts with an AI‑powered platform where students and parents can explore programmes and find the best suitable options.
Conclusion
Education is not just about enrolling students; it is about guiding them and their families through a transformative journey.
By providing continuous support, engaging parents constructively and assigning a dedicated guidance contact, institutions can help students make informed choices and build resilience.
StudyfinderAI complements these efforts with an AI‑powered platform where students and parents can explore programmes and find the best suitable options.
Partner with StudyfinderAI to improve your guidance services and empower the next generation of learners. Please use this link to get in direct contact with us via video meeting or send us an email.
References
Euroguidance. (2025). Your professional partner [Good guidance practice]. https://euroguidance.eu/resources/good-practices/partenerul-t-u-professional
Eurydice. (2023). Guidance and counselling in early childhood and school education [Bulgaria]. https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/eurypedia/bulgaria/guidance-and-counselling-early-childhood-and-school-education
Frontiers in Public Health. (2021). Bridging the gap: Exploring the unique transition from home, school or college into university. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.698130
Gwosć, C. (2024). Students’ resources. In K. Hauschildt (Ed.), Social and economic conditions of student life in Europe: EUROSTUDENT VIII (2021–2024) Synopsis of indicators (Chapter B7). wbv Publikation. https://www.eurostudent.eu/download_files/documents/Eurostudent8_2024_240618_Chapter_B7_bf.pdf
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. (2021). The role of family influence and academic satisfaction on career decision‑making self‑efficacy and happiness. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073515
Psychology Research and Behavior Management. (2023). The influence of overparenting on college students’ career indecision. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S000000
Suggested further reading
Euroguidance Network. (2025). Good practices in guidance and counselling across Europe. https://euroguidance.eu/guidance-systems-and-practice/good-practices
