What should I ask when hiring a College Consultant?
You have decided to hire a Independent Education Consultant (IEC) to help your student with their college search, congratulations! Here are some questions you should ask an IEC before you sign on the dotted line:
How did they get into the profession? There is no one path to become an IEC -- some IECs worked in an Admissions Office, others are former high school counselors and some have professional experience outside of college admissions. The goal with this question is to understand their motivation for working with students and if their philosophy is a good fit for your family.
Are they a member of a professional organization? There are three national professional organizations: HECA, IECA and NACAC. NACAC also has regional affiliates as part of their structure. Most IECs will post their affiliations on their website but if they don’t, ask! You would not hire a lawyer that is not a member of their Bar Association, nor should you hire an IEC without them being a member of a professional organization.
What is your IEC’s role vs. the student’s role? Your student is applying to college, therefore they need to complete their own applications. An IEC will support the student filling out their applications and editing their essays, but it is unethical for an IEC to do the work for the student.
How much do you cost? IECs do not often post their prices on their website and fees for service range greatly. When you ask about pricing, be sure to understand what that includes. Do they cap hours they will work with a student? Will they help your student with outside scholarships? To prevent future misunderstanding, know what you are buying.
What do you guarantee? There are no guarantees in the college admissions process and an IEC should not be making any promises. If they are promising acceptances to any specific college, that is a big red flag. I would be leery to work with anyone not setting realistic expectations from the beginning.
If you are looking for more information or other questions to ask, please visit HECA FAQ About Higher Education Consultants.
Ready to work with me? Send me an email at hello@apariciocollegecounsulting.com and we can set up a complementary 15 minute conversation to see if I would be a good fit for your family.
