Are private college counselors worth it? The answer is a resounding yes. Investing in a good college admissions consultant can be a great way to ensure that your child gets into the school of their dreams with little or no debt. David H. Nguyen, PhD, founder of Next Level Prep, explains that location is an important factor when it comes to finding the best educational consulting agencies.
Companies based in a region will understand the characteristics that admissions officers look for in school students from secondary schools in that region. This gives consultants an advantage, as they have worked with many students in the same area. That's why our university consulting agencies are divided state by state. A college consultant can help clarify goals and values, and then identify schools that are a good fit for your child, both academically and socially. According to Forbes, social adjustment is one of the main reasons students end up transferring to another school.
Private counselors may not have the same knowledge as school counselors, since school data is unique to school databases like Naviance. Rather than doing a basic Internet search for "university consultants near me", the best place to find a college admissions consultant is through a professional association such as HECA or the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Most school counselors' time is divided between college counseling and many other tasks, while consultants only offer college counseling. It's a good sign if consultants are members of these organizations, as it means they are part of the professional community of university consultants and comply with the ethical standards of these organizations. For more information on how you can safely and effectively navigate the college admissions consulting landscape, see Confessions of a College Prep Consultant by college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen. In this situation, a private counselor might give you the GPA average needed to enter a college, but it wouldn't be exclusive to the GPA needed at your school. Unfortunately, most high school students don't get the right help or support from their school counselors. For an overview of the pricing landscape, see college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen's ranking of the best college admissions consulting agencies.
Students who do not have access to a private college counselor can always meet with their school counselor and make use of the resources available to them. But if you expect a consultant to take your child to college, that's not only unrealistic but also unethical on the consultant's part.
