Abstract
This exploratory phenomenological study examines the nature of relationships between high school students and their academic counselors and the influence of those relationships on the perceived value of counselors' postsecondary planning advice. The data includes, transcripts of small group discussions with seven student groups from two high schools in three groupings divided by grade point average. Themes uncovered include an under-utilization of information resources, a reliance on peers for college advice, affective filtering of advice from non-empathetic persons, a difference of abilities to identify and seek out information sources influenced by academic achievement and the importance of attachment in student-counselor relationships. Conclusions reached point to the importance of effective, empathetic relationships between students and counselors and other school personnel for advice to be valued and acted on.