10 Dos and Don'ts When Hiring an Admissions Coach

College admissions are hard. With many moving components and a short time to complete them, finding a way to be competitive can become overwhelming and arduous. What should my student focus on the most? How should they even narrow down the colleges they want to attend? Are their extracurricular activities enough, or is there more we can do?

Additionally, with the Varsity Blues admissions scandal, many people worry that working with a college counselor is negative, but there are many benefits to having a trustworthy college admissions coach on your side!

What should you look out for when seeking help? We’ve compiled a list of ten dos and don’ts to focus on when looking for a college admissions coach that’s right for you & your student:

Research is key to making the best decision for your student and their unique college admissions journey. There are many options—finding a counselor who matches personality and goals, exploring counselors with different focus areas, resources to support your student’s endeavors, and much more—it can be a lot to wrap your head around!

Take time to scope out different counselors and their specialties—do they have experience in research? Computer science? Humanities? Pre-Med? What types of schools have their previous students received acceptance to? Is my student seeking a more independent approach to their college counseling journey or someone with higher bandwidth to help them along the way? Do the personalities and goal-setting seem to mesh well?

These are important questions to ask or have your student ask when looking for a college admissions coach who will be the right fit for them. Remember, it’s okay to introduce these questions into the initial conversation to ensure that the counselor will support your student as they embark on their journey and give them the confidence to succeed and thrive.

To help ensure the guidance your student receives is expert, it’s helpful to see if the college admissions coach is a member of reputable organizations such as the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) or the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Organizations like these have been around for decades and represent enrollment management, higher education admission, and counseling professionals who support students on their paths to higher education.

Having an accreditation from a reputable institution like the ones mentioned above means the college admissions coach commits to a strict code of ethics, upholding integrity and professionalism in their work to help students achieve success in the best interest of the student. Additionally, college admissions coaches who are members of organizations like NACAC receive timely updates on the college admissions landscape, helping to keep students and families working with them informed of any changes they should be aware of.

Video: Why NACAC? - Tracy Jackson

There’s value in learning from others, so why not ask those who have been down the same road? Speaking with other families who have worked with college admissions coaches can provide valuable insights into their methods and effectiveness and help you understand if counseling is right for your student’s goals and situation!

Ask the college admissions coach if they have any happy families they’ve worked with in the past to see if there’s a story that resonates best with your goals and situation! These can be case studies, testimonials, or resources families have provided the counselor with, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Here are some of our past students and their experiences with Empowerly:

When looking to work with a college counselor, make sure your student understands what services are included and what works best with their academic, extracurricular, and college admissions goals. Counselors have focuses within certain fields or interests, so it's important to make sure that you find a college admissions coach that meshes well with what you’re looking for and what services they offer to help you through your journey.

Ask questions like:

• Do you help with essays? How much time can you dedicate to me for this process?
• Are you specialized in a research-based field? What resources can I use to strengthen my skills and build my competitive edge in this discipline?
• Do you have and use a portal? How often can we communicate with it?

Being open and honest with the counselor you’re looking to work with can help make the process run smoother and fall closer to what you’re looking for in terms of success, so don’t be afraid to ask questions before you make a decision.

One of the most important things on this list is to ensure that the admissions coach is a good fit for you or your student! It’s important to see if your personality and goals fit well with those of your prospective counselors, as you will spend most of your time working together! 

Are you a more do-it-yourself student? What are your interests? Do you like to communicate over video often, or would you rather work through email? How motivated are you? 

These are all introspective questions you should ask yourself before seeking the help of a college admissions coach and can dictate the effectiveness and efficiency of your college application process.

Every student is unique. Each has their own hobbies, goals, motivations, and personalities, and they all play a part in their motivation and habits, so it’s important to ensure the counselor recognizes and follows a personalized approach! A good counselor will tailor their advice and strategies to fit your child's individual strengths, interests, and goals and will take into consider any additional learning needs or support they may need to rely on throughout their entire journey.

Make sure you and your student are open and honest about anything the counselor should know in regards to learning styles, schedules and activities, academic information, and anything else that seems applicable to the process. They will only be able to help you if you communicate, so being upfront will allow the admissions coach to tailor your experience specific to you!

Trusting your instincts is crucial when choosing a college admissions counselor. While it's important to consider all the factors discussed above, your intuition can often offer valuable insights into whether a counselor is the right fit for your child. If something feels off during your time with a counselor—whether it's a lack of transparency, conflicting values, or a general sense of unease—it's important to trust your gut!

The college admissions process is a significant milestone in your child's life, and the counselor you choose will be pivotal in guiding them through this journey. Therefore, you must select a trustworthy counselor to provide expert advice, support, and mentorship. The counselor you trust should prioritize your child's best interests, offering personalized guidance tailored to their needs and goals. They should listen attentively, communicate openly, and establish a supportive and collaborative relationship with you and your child. By trusting your instincts and choosing a counselor you genuinely trust, you can ensure your child receives the guidance and support they need to navigate the college admissions process successfully.

Avoid choosing a college admissions counselor solely based on their claims of getting students into top-ranked schools. While impressive, such claims don’t necessarily reflect the counselor’s ability to find the best fit for your child. The college admissions process is highly individual, and what matters most is finding a school that aligns with your child’s unique strengths, interests, and aspirations. A good counselor will prioritize understanding your child’s personality and goals, guiding them toward institutions where they will thrive academically, socially, and personally. Focus on finding a counselor dedicated to helping your child identify and gain admission to the colleges that best fit them rather than just the highest ranked.

Always conduct an interview before hiring a college admissions counselor. This crucial step allows you to gauge their approach, expertise, and compatibility with your family's values and expectations. During the interview, you can discuss their methods, experience, and how they plan to tailor their services to your child’s unique needs. It's also an opportunity to ensure your child feels comfortable and confident working with them. Skipping this step could lead to a mismatch in expectations and a less effective counseling experience. A thorough interview helps ensure you select a counselor genuinely invested in your child's success and aligns well with your family’s goals.

When selecting a college admissions counselor, cautiously approaching promises of guaranteed admission to specific colleges is essential. The admissions process is incredibly competitive and unpredictable, with numerous factors beyond anyone’s control. No counselor can guarantee admission to a particular institution and cannot compensate for additional factors beyond the counselor’s and student’s control. Beware of college admissions coaches who make such claims, as they may be overselling their abilities or employing unethical tactics. Instead, focus on finding a counselor who provides honest guidance, helps your child present their best self in their applications, and supports them in exploring various suitable college options. Ultimately, it’s about finding the right fit for your child's academic, personal, and professional goals rather than fixating on any single institution.

With this, it’s also important to remember that counselors are not miracle-makers. The college admissions process is complex, with no 100% guarantees or specific recipes for success. Students who are at the top of their class academically don’t always gain admission to their dream university, so it’s important to find a counselor that focuses on building your student’s profile out holistically with the time that they have. If you sign up your student for counseling the summer before college applications are due, the counselor you’re working with will only be able to use the materials they have on hand but won’t have extra time to suggest additional coursework or extracurricular activities to participate in. Remember, keep an open mind in this process and the counselor will do their best to help your student every step of the way!

When selecting a college admissions counselor, it is imperative to consider their area of specialization. Certain counselors concentrate on specific types of institutions, such as liberal arts colleges or Ivy League universities. Each school category has distinct admissions criteria and values different student profile aspects. 

A specialized counselor can provide tailored guidance that aligns with your child's interests and aspirations, helping accentuate the strengths and experiences most pertinent to their desired schools. Ensuring that the counselor's specialization aligns with your child's objectives enhances the probability of formulating a compelling application that resonates with admissions committees.

We at Empowerly recommend starting early in the college application preparation process, as finding a college admissions counselor to help with your student’s particular needs may be harder to find later in the planning process. Being proactive in starting the search earlier will help you get counselors more aligned with your student’s needs and can better help them prepare for their best-fit university experience, rather than rushing at the end to get materials ready when it’s close to the deadlines.

Ultimately, your child should feel confident and comfortable with the counselor. Given that they will be sending in applications come college admissions deadlines, it’s important that their opinion is weighed heavily in the final decision process! Make sure your student is happy with the counselor and will receive a high value from the time they spend throughout the process.

Hiring a college admissions counselor can be a valuable investment in your child’s future. By following these dos and don’ts, you can find a professional who will provide the expertise and support needed to successfully navigate the college admissions journey. Remember, the goal is to find a counselor to help your child present their best self to the colleges that fit them best, so make sure that is at the forefront of your search!

College counselors are there to have your back. Whether your student begins in middle school or needs additional help come the spring of their junior year, college admissions coaches help you every step of the way. Looking for a college admissions coach to help your student through their unique journey? Empowerly can help! 

Our personalized and tailored approach to the college admissions process can help you every step of the way. From personalized counseling to internship support and everything in between, Empowerly’s team of college admissions counselors has supported thousands of students through their unique journeys. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how we can help your student gain admission to their best-fit university and empower them to become the best version of themselves!