Should you work with a college admissions consultant?
Written by: Dr. Stephanie Oswald
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with the thought of navigating the college admissions process, it’s recommended to find an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC). Most often, you will hear them refer to themselves as “college admissions consultants” or “college admissions counselors.” The key is to look for their affiliation with the Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) as either an Associate or Professional Member. Their training and years of experience prepare them to help you and your teen unpack all aspects of the admissions process to ease your stress and make a confident decision about college. In addition, IECA members adhere to Principles of Good Practice that distinguishes them in the field.
There’s a lot of information to filter through when it comes to figuring out each step of the college admissions process. If you’re in Facebook groups, Reddit forums, or simply chatting amongst friends about to walk through each stage of college admissions, you know everyone has their experience and opinion, so why not connect with an expert who can help you weed through all of the noise and get to work?
What is an IEC?
An IEC is an individual who has completed an in-depth training institute hosted by the Independent Educational Consultant Association focused on all aspects of the college admissions process. In addition, an IEC continues their professional development with college visits and engaging in conversation with a network of colleagues across the United States and around the world who are doing the same work.
If you’re still curious to learn more about the benefits of working with an IEC, let’s continue with a look at common beliefs and the reality of the situation:
Common belief: I applied to college so I know how this works
Reality: Yes, you did apply to college and you know something about the process, but applying to college changes every year and the competition continues to increase. Admission rates for Ivy League colleges are in the single digits, students are submitting more applications when using the Common App, and colleges are leaning into maximizing their yield (the number of students who commit to attend) when building an incoming class.
Why work with an IEC: An IEC stays up-to-date on the latest trends and news in college admissions and can find the answer from a trusted colleague when something new enters the admissions landscape. Your teen will have the process streamlined to avoid distractions and you will enjoy their senior year because someone else will be keeping your teen on task.
Common belief: I can handle all pieces of the application process with my teen
Reality: The college admissions process has a lot of moving parts. Timelines for submitting applications, multiple and varied essays depending on where you’re applying, college visits, interviews, organizing activities, requesting recommendation letters, and the list goes on and on. Each part puts stress on your teen and your family dynamics. You have your beliefs, your teen has their beliefs. Doors slam, eyes roll, and everything feels unmanageable.
Why work with an IEC: Why not let an IEC be the one to handle all of this for you? You’ll get more of your time back to spend with your teen and enjoy their high school years. There’s no doubt the college admissions process can present challenges for families. You’re not alone, but knowledge is power, so find yourself an IEC to navigate the rollercoaster of a ride you’re embarking on with college admissions and allow yourself the time to enjoy your teen.
Common belief: My teen’s high school counselor knows them better and is right there at school to help them with their college applications
Reality: High school counselors are wonderful, but they are overwhelmed. The average ratio nationwide for students to counselors is 408:1. There’s no room for individual attention and guidance by counselors with such an extreme caseload. Unless your teen is in their office every day and making themselves known there’s not individual, personalized guidance through the process.
Why work with an IEC: An IEC has a small caseload of students to ensure individual and specially tailored guidance through the college admissions process. If you’re ready to work with an IEC, it’s best to secure a spot early to ensure they’re available when you’re ready to apply. With the rise in competitiveness of admissions, many IECs fill their caseloads early and quickly for each admissions season. An IEC will provide you with a clear, actionable roadmap to get you from start to finish.
Common belief: There’s no reason to pay when I can join a free Facebook group or use Google
Reality: There’s no doubt the amount of free information available is amazing. You can find a lot of answers to your questions, but it also takes time to read through everything and determine what’s important and what’s not. Facebook groups have their purpose, but they can also be spaces where people criticize, provide false information, and contribute to your stress.
Why work with an IEC: Ease your stress and invest in quality guidance for your teen. College is an expensive investment. You want to be sure you’ve explored all options and set your teen up for success with guidance from someone who knows how to help your teen submit a competitive application with confidence.
Working with an IEC will provide you with personalized guidance, thoughtful planning, and give you your time back to focus on what matters most, your teen. It’s a process that takes a lot of energy and can challenge your patience, so why not let someone outside the family bear the burden? An IEC has the knowledge, training and experience to walk you through each step with ease and confidence. With the school year rapidly approaching, get on Dr. Stephanie Oswald’s calendar today (Calendly link) to secure your spot for the upcoming admissions season. The Common App opens on August 1, and while you don’t have to start immediately, you want to be prepared.
