How to Select a College Admissions Counselor
What’s Covered:
- The Benefits of College Consultants
- Independent Educational Consultants vs. Consulting Firms
- Questions to Ask Educational Consultants
- Where to Find Expert Advisors
The college admissions process can be overwhelming at times. With so many moving parts and open-ended requirements, it’s often not clear how you should approach each section of your applications.
That’s where a college admissions counselor can help. Admissions counselors are professionals you and your family can consult on any step of the admissions process, from the first stages of creating a school list to finalizing your essays. Their goal is to personally assist you in selling yourself to colleges. Read on to discover what types of admissions counselors are out there, along with some useful questions to ask them.
The Benefits of College Consultants
It’s not just the wealthy who can benefit from college education counselors. On the contrary, these experts help a wide array of high school students gain admission to their dream colleges. In particular, the services are beneficial to those with specific or niche passions, such as athletics or musical theater. Additionally, college counselors can help students identify lesser-known schools that have strong programs in their chosen majors.
College counselors also provide valuable services to families of students with learning disabilities and other educational challenges. Along with ensuring students have the appropriate amount of time for SAT and ACT testing, consultants can work with you to identify schools that offer the best and most supportive programs for your teen’s needs and goals.
Independent Educational Consultants vs. Consulting Firms
Parents seeking college admissions support for their teens can generally choose between two different options: IECs and consulting firms. Also known as independent educational consultants, IECs help students throughout the application process. Along with supporting students in identifying the best reach, target, and safety schools, they offer information on financial aid and scholarships and provide feedback on admissions essays.
In most cases, parents drop their teens off at a local IEC’s office to discuss college admissions questions one on one. This in-person support can help both students and parents feel more confident in the process. However, it’s worth noting that most independent educational consultants work with a very limited group of students with similar profiles. As a result, they might not have the up-to-date information needed to support teens from different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and religions.
On the other hand, college consulting firms tend to work with a larger group of students, allowing them to utilize the latest data to support a wide range of students from diverse backgrounds. Along with solving college fit issues, firms support teens in selecting the best high school coursework, choosing extracurriculars, and revising their college essays. While IECs mostly work with students who are ready to send out applications, consulting firms know the college journey begins as early as freshman year of high school.
Questions to Ask Educational Consultants
So where do you start when choosing an IEC or college consulting firm? The best admissions counselors have prior experience working with students of various backgrounds and profiles.
Because college counseling remains unregulated, students and parents have to do some of their own legwork when choosing a firm. Here are some important questions to ask before selecting a college admissions counselor:
- What is your background?
- How many students have you worked with?
- What is your track record for helping students gain entry to their target schools?
Make sure the answer is no to the following:
- Does your company accept compensation (monetary or otherwise) from colleges or programs in return for a successful placement?
- Do you write essays or fill out applications for students?
If the answer to either of the last two questions is yes, this company is best avoided. Additionally, teens and their parents should stay away from any firm that offers an acceptance guarantee. The truth is that no reputable admissions counselor can promise to get a student into a particular school, and those who claim to do so may be using unfair, dishonest, or illegal tactics.
Where to Find Expert Advisors
Now that you have a good idea of what to look for when choosing a college admissions counselor, you may want to start working with one. If so, CollegeVine is here to help! Using our college advising platform, students and parents can connect with experts for one-on-one advising sessions or essay reviews. You can get started by booking a free consultation with an expert to see if they’d be a good fit for you.
