The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) offer the following advice for choosing an independent educational consultant:
  • Have a minimum of 5 years of experience working as a college counselor in a high school or as an admission officer at a college or university
  • Have training and experience that matches any other services offered
  • Offer individual attention to each student
  • Work with the entire family to help identify what is best for the student and what options are available
  • Be accessible and responsive to questions and concerns
  • Work closely with your high school counselor
  • Gain first-hand knowledge of a wide range of colleges by regularly meeting with admission officers and visiting campuses
  • Offer unbiased advice when evaluating information about colleges
  • Belong to appropriate professional organizations
  • Attend local, regional, and national conferences

Why Hire an Independent College Counselor


  
The cost of a college education is one of the most important investments a family will make in their lifetime. With more than 3000 colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, the options facing your child can be an overwhelming experience for many. While school counselors do a great job helping students with the college planning process their caseloads are not exclusive to just this aspect. There are many students and parents that may desire individualized time and attention that many school counselors cannot always provide due to their caseloads and other professional obligations. An independent educational consultant can offer unbiased help. They are not tied to any institution which allows them to serve as a neutral party between student and parent. In addition, they can provide and supplement these services to navigate through the college application process in order to make it less stressful and more productive.
“An educational consultant brings to the family the knowledge and skills of an experienced professional, coupled with a commitment to assuring that the [student's] best interests are met."
-Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)