Do I Need A Consultant For College Planning?

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If you’re a parent of a high school student and you’re wondering if you need a consultant for college planning, like most things related to college admissions, the answer is: it depends.

For parents who are considering whether or not their family needs a college consultant, please ask yourself these questions:

  • Do you like doing deep dives into data?
  • Do you have a realistic understanding of what college admissions looks like now? (HINT: It is nothing like when you went to college!)
  • Are you a capable writing tutor and editor?
  • Do you like being a project manager of a complicated process with lots of moving parts and different deadlines?
  • Do you have the time to devote to this process over the summer before senior year and through the fall semester?
  • Do you and your child have a relationship that can withstand the stress of needed critical feedback and regular reminders?

If you answered YES to all of these questions, then you probably do NOT need a consultant for college planning. Go for it!

If you answered NO to any or all of these questions, then seeking the advice of a professional Independent Educational Consultant is very likely worth your time and money.

What are the different types of college consultants?

There are different types of consultants for college planning. Some will only work with students if they’re contracted at the beginning of high school, and others take on students in the fall of senior year. Some college consultants work in service packages focusing on different aspects of the application and admissions process, while others offer comprehensive, start-to-finish services only. Still other college consultants work hourly, meeting with students on an as-needed basis. There are plenty of college consultants who work in a hybrid model, allowing families to choose the level of service that meets their student’s needs.

Finding a college consultant whose personality clicks with your student and whose services meet your family’s needs means your time and money will be well spent.

College Planning Consultants (aka College Guidance Consultants)

These college guidance consultants often start with your child early in the high school years. These consultants enjoy working with students on everything from high school course selection to summer programs. They work to craft a student’s resume to tell a particular story on the college application. College planning consultants are not a good choice for students who experience anxiety or have perfectionist tendencies.

College Admissions Consultant

The college admissions consultant focuses on helping a student build their college list. This process involves getting to know the student, both their background and their goals. Often a college admissions consultant will give personality or interest assessments as well as aptitude tests to guide the student to potential majors or courses of study. 

A quality college admissions consultant is a great listener. Being able to understand how teens talk and communicate nonverbally is essential to ensure that the student’s voice is centered in the college list building process. 

Ultimately, the college admissions consultant will combine her expert knowledge of various colleges with what the student has expressed he needs and wants. For many consultants, developing a college list is a highly collaborative practice that allows a student to feel that they could be happy and successful at any school to which they apply. 

College Essay Coach

Some professionals choose to focus their practice only on the writing portion of college applications. These college essay coaches support students from brainstorming through final draft. If your student is nervous about coming up with a good topic or feels they lack quality writing skills, a college essay coach may be what your family needs.

Because the work of a college essay coach can be so varied, I’ve dedicated a full blog to What Does A College Essay Consultant Do?.

College Application Consultant

If you’re looking for someone to help your child complete their application, a college application consultant can help. This person will focus on executive function and accountability to make sure each part of the college application is completed correctly.

By breaking down the college application into manageable sections, the college application consultant helps students learn project management skills, time projection, and the satisfaction of completing a multifaceted project. The student then has these skills to use once she is in college, reducing the overwhelm that a lot of college students feel regarding academic expectations.

Many college application consultants will also provide guidance regarding how to complete the application so that it is a coherent, convincing narrative of the student’s accomplishments and goals. 

What’s the real reason a lot of families hire a college consultant?

One of the misconceptions is that families hire college consultants to get their kids into colleges they couldn’t get into on their own. Nothing could be further from reality! No professional consultant with any integrity will guarantee admission into any school. Period.

Probably the best reason to invest in a college consultant is that there is an objective third party for all college talk. Having a professional involved can help take the stress out of this highly-charged process. Preserving the parent-child relationship is one of the most compelling reasons people hire college consultants. We are part sounding board, part cheerleader, and part emotional punching bag. It allows you, the parent, to be there for the fun milestones of senior year.

I also suggest my blog 10 Ways to Be A Prepared Parent of a Kid Applying to College for some tips on how to lower family stress during this overwhelming season of life.