Even at this early stage, planning for college is an overwhelming thought. In today’s inhospitable economic climate and with one job for every six applicants, the stakes are higher and the implications trickle down as far as junior high school. My neighbor’s daughter, a sixth grader, told me yesterday that she wants to go to Harvard so she can have a job. Eek! I can’t even begin to cover all of the things that are wrong with that statement!
This Ivy League mania greatly contrasts the situation in my day. When I went to college, the process was almost effortless. I didn’t study for the SAT’s or even tour college campuses. I just applied to the closest University of California and called it a day. Of course, there were economic reasons behind my choice. I knew my parents couldn’t afford a private school price tag and that I wouldn’t be eligible for many choice scholarships either (nonetheless, I filled in the bubbles to be considered for both Hillel and Christian scholarships because I was adamant about not being pigeonholed. I didn’t even make it to the interview rounds though.). In retrospect, I would have appreciated the help in choosing a school and wish professional college counselor services had been available to me.
Today, the professional college counselor industry is a thriving composite of former university admissions officers, MA’s, and people who are probably just trying to hold onto their youth by hanging out with high schoolers. Surveys suggest that there are between 4,000 and 5,000 operating in the U.S. right now and that that number will double in the next three to five years! They charge an average of $160 per hour but often offer packages that take a student from tenth grade to university freshman. Independent educational consultants, as they are also known, guide students through the college selection and application process. They help students research universities, fill out application forms, register for the SAT’s, and make sure that admissions deadlines are met. Some specialize in types of students they assist, from those with disabilities to those with interests in studying abroad.
The counselors are great for busy parents and students who don’t have the time or resources to research colleges, but there are risks. College counselors do not have to be licensed or accredited. The title is vague and does not necessarily reflect any official training or experience. Of course, I am not saying these people are hacks. On the contrary, an effective college counselor will illuminate academic paths and opportunities that your student would otherwise know nothing about. For example, I heard an anecdote about a college counselor who paid for herself by finding a little-known scholarship specifically for lacrosse players with Irish ancestry.
The best way to protect yourself when shopping for a college counselor is by seeking recommendations from friends who have used them. If you don’t know anyone who has used one, there are organizations designed to monitor and maintain the integrity of the profession. The National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Independent Educational Consultants Association can refer you to members in your area. These groups verify the counselors’ resumes and college-visit experience as well as provide continued education programs and conferences for them.
Of course, even the most expensive college counselor can’t promise a letter of acceptance (if they do, it is a clear sign they are illegitimate). In the end, the greatest service provided by professional college counselors is time saved.