College Application Series - Part 2: HIRING A COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT?
By Karen Treon
At College Parents of America we try to provide realistic and practical guidance for families navigating the college experience - from the start of the application process through the post-college job search. We provide a lot of general information and guidance when it comes to applying to and paying for college, but we know that many families will need or want more help. We are big fans of independent college consultants and the services they provide, and have a few tips to offer if you are thinking of hiring one to work with your student.
STEP ONE: Prioritize figuring out a budget. Your family may want to research costs with the help of a college admissions consultant, but ultimately the budget decision will be based on your family’s financial situation and comfort level. In other words, a college admissions consultant can be of enormous help in identifying costs and aid opportunities, but the ultimate budget decision will be based on your family’s ability to pay and willingness to pay. We suggest that families do this early in the process. (LINK TO INTERNAL POSTS ON TOPIC AND VIDEO SERIES).
STEP TWO: College admissions consultants are incredible, but professional services are not cheap! Assessing your family’s need for professional support and the scope of support needed are important early steps. You might want to start the process by meeting with your student’s high school guidance counselor to make sure you understand what services the high school offers and what supplemental services your student needs. You can also look into free resources in your region. For example, many public library systems have college admissions support services, and local colleges and universities often offer workshops and programs that help guide families.
STEP THREE: Research your options! A great starting point is word of mouth. Ask friends, family, and colleagues if they have recommendations. You can also visit the Independent Educational Consultants Association to learn more about services and find a list of accredited consultants in your area or available virtually. The National Association for College Admission Counseling is an equally valuable resource. Members of these organizations have met certain qualifying criteria, are up to date on new developments in the field, and adhere to ethical guidelines.
STEP FOUR: Interview consultants. It is critical that your student be an active part of this, as the consultant will be working directly with your student the vast majority of time and their relationship is critical. We suggest that you discuss the range of packages available. For example, a consultant might offer a comprehensive package that offers start to finish services (starting with the search for colleges and going all the way through scholarship application support) or you might be in a situation where your student just needs essay editing and support. We always like to include the question “What questions should I be asking you that I haven’t thought of?” Make sure that costs are clear and you understand the process for adding services during the process if necessary (most consultants cap their student loads and might not have the flexibility to expand the scope of services – it is important to understand this at the outset.)
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND REALITY CHECKS: Most qualified admissions consultants offer comprehensive services and have broad knowledge of different situations. But if your student is focusing on low acceptance rate schools and/or applying Early Decision to a low acceptance school, you may want to make sure your consultant is experienced with that. Many consultants who focus on this type of work have experience working in admissions offices and understand how things work behind the proverbial curtain. Similarly, if your student is interested in an audition or portfolio based admission, you may want to find an admissions consultant with specific experience in that area. Finally, if your student is an athlete and is seeking recruitment, you should consider that in your hiring (and if you are hoping to better understand this process, Coach Renee Lopez is an incredible resource.) And as for reality checks . . . if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Credible consultants don’t promise certain results – they are more focused on finding good fits for your student and your budget. And we may be showing our bias a bit here, but authenticity is vital. The best consultants are those who help students show their true selves in their college applications.
