Lexington, KY - From the audience of a recent presentation I made on evaluating college campuses, 90 faces were turned in my direction, listening intently. Their questions were not unusual for those involved in the college selection process: What do we look for when we tour? How do we assess a college's fiscal health and its leadership? What will be important to convey to students?
This particular audience, however, was not filled with parents of college applicants, but with adults contemplating a new career direction in educational consulting. They came to Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania to learn more about the field, and this session was part of a four-day workshop presented by the Independent Educational Consultants Association, a professional association that sets the standard for ethics and competence in the field.
Workshop participants' ages ranged from 30 to 70, and they came from across the United States and overseas. Many had prior experience as college admission officers or high school guidance counselors; some had been college professors or secondary school heads. A few had been downsized and wanted to reapply skills and knowledge in a more autonomous setting. Some were looking for an interesting opportunity post-retirement, and others brought an entrepreneurial spirit and a vision of creating a sizable business. What they shared were high levels of intelligence, excellent educational backgrounds and a passion for helping students explore educational opportunities.
Why do families use educational consultants?
When families seek support beyond their child's school counselor, they want an additional perspective and a high level of individualization. Many school counselors have a strong knowledge base about college admission. Many also have administrative responsibilities beyond college advising and student caseload numbers in the hundreds, precluding them from spending as much time as they'd like helping individual students with the college search and application process. Educational consultants work with a much smaller number of students, which allows significantly more time with each one. Consultants tailor college suggestions for each student's interests and needs, and help students understand what's important when sizing up colleges. Consultants also help students understand how to present themselves clearly and effectively in applications.
Students working with educational consultants continue to receive guidance from their school counselors, and not only in the form of suggestions for colleges and scholarships to research. The school counselor is responsible for writing a letter of recommendation when required for an application and for sending official transcripts to colleges upon request. Some school counselors welcome contact with students' outside advisors, and in the best of circumstances, counselor and consultant can meet or talk by phone to share ideas about the student's college search.
Given the importance of choosing the right college today and the enormous investment involved, many parents like the idea of having two valuable resources in the student's corner: the school counselor and the educational consultant.
Five things to look for in selecting an educational consultant
1. Does the consultant have relevant background, having worked in college admissions or as a school-based college advisor? Your consultant should have firsthand knowledge of the admission process in order to help your family understand it clearly.
2. Does the consultant visit campuses for firsthand information and attend professional conferences, regionally and nationally? These efforts enable the consultant to exchange information with colleagues and stay current with trends in the field.
3. Does the consultant hold membership(s) in professional organization(s) with standards for competency and ethics, and/or is the consultant a Certified Educational Planner? Checking credentials is important when engaging any professional.
4. Is the rapport right? This is especially important where your children are concerned.
5. Does the consultant allow the student to own the process? The consultant should guide the student toward colleges that would be excellent matches, help to clarify priorities and provide feedback so the student's applications represent that student's best work. But the work is the student's.
It's not just about getting in
It's really about finding the right fit. Educational consultants are "students of colleges," in the words of a colleague in Colorado, constantly devouring information about colleges and their programs in order to make effective recommendations to students. Educational consultants are also "students of students," learning about issues related to adolescent brain development and psychology, and about high school curricula and extracurricular opportunities to be equipped to meet students where they are. If your family is searching for the right college, take time to search for the right educational consultant as well.
Jane S. Shropshire guides students and families through the college search process and is Business Lexington's Higher Ed. Matters columnist. Contact her at Jshrop@att.net.