How to Choose a College Admissions Counselor

Parents and students search for a college admissions counselor every year. While some students opt to do it all by themselves, many families and students decide that hiring an independent college admissions consultant is the best way forward.

The idea behind seeking college application counseling is to gain supplemental support the students aren’t necessarily able to receive  from their high school counselors. In-school guidance counselors often must split their time between several hundred students each year. A college application counselor, on the other hand, is able to help your student  pick the right college and guide them  on how to fill out an application in a way that increases thechances of gaining  admission to top universities—something that high school counselors typically don’t have the bandwidth to help with to the level that a student needs. 

Partnering with the right college admissions counseling service will give you access to proper guidance and will help your student put their best foot forward when it comes to applying to the college of their dreams. A college admissions counselor will not only guide your students on what courses to study but also advise on how to secure scholarships and financial aid, tools that will help make the process easier for you and your family. 

Therefore, if you are a parent wondering why college admissions counseling is essential and how to choose a college admissions counselor, this article is for you. 

There is a misconception that college application counseling is only for those who can afford the price tag of expensive college counselors. This is not the case anymore; rather, partnering with a college admissions counselor has become much more affordable and accessible to students and families all over. .  If you are a parent with a wish for  your child to gain  admission to their dream college, our college admissions consultants at Empowerly are here to help you find resources to fit your needs. . 

The services of a college application counselor are beneficial for all students, especially for those who aren’t sure how to position their interests on their college applications and/or possess a strategy to achieve the best chances of admission for a university. . Additionally, college admissions counseling can even help you identify lesser-known colleges that offer strong programs in the major your child wishes to pursue, allowing for your student to have the best chances at a college that will suit their goals and interests. 

Additionally, a college application counseling service also offers valuable support to students with learning disabilities. The college admissions consultant will ensure that your child has enough time to prepare and score high SAT and ACT scores; plan and work accordingly to academic/extracurricular goals; have the support they need to excell within their high school studies; and set themsslves up for success come time to apply to college. 

Choosing the college to attend is a critical decision in a student's life. Therefore, if you are a student or parent of high schooler, you must be due diligent in your approach when hiring a college admissions counseling service. Consequently, it is best to learn what qualities to look for in a college admissions consultant and questions to ask the college application counseling service provider to reap the most benefit for your personal situation and gain the best expertise for your college admissions journey. 

Here are some critical aspects for you to remember when it comes to selecting the right college admissions counselor.

It is very important that you get to know your college admission counselor. For instance, you must know the working style of the college application counselor who will be helping you or your student.,tTry to find out if the counselor works solo or if they have a team offering a college application counseling service.

In the case that you will work with a team, then learn about the role of each team member and who will be your main contact in case you have any questions or concerns to discuss. We at Empowerly provide comprehensive support for you and your family with team members ranging in expertise and specialty, so you can rest assured that your student will be taken care of and will have the best chances of success when applying to colleges.

As your family chooses a  college admissions consultant, you’ll need someone readily available in person or virtually to meet with your student to provide the best guidance. Be sure to communicate with a college admissions counselor about your needs (ie how much time you are expecting for support)  as well as their ability to communicate diligently and effectively throughout your time working together. 

This can be a real help as  applying for college admission can be really overwhelming. Having a college admissions counselor who understands your student’s needs and can communicate efficiently to support you best will provide  peace of mind and confidence with access to expert advice regularly. 

Remember, finding the right college is critical as it can shape your academic and professional future. Therefore, you must ensure that the college application counselor you work with is dedicated to finding you a college that offers the best program in the major you wish to study. 

The admission counselor you are considering must show interest in sitting down with your student and going through their  academic and extracurricular profile. Having  an expert counselor to  take the necessary  time to review your student’s  academic journey will allow for realistic recommendations on improving your student’s personal profile, and set them up for the best chances to receive admission to the best university for their higher educational journey. 

A well-reputed college application counseling service should be transparent about its services and prices. If the college admissions counseling service or consultant does not offer information, you can request it. 

A good independent college application counselor must offer the following services. 

• Search for a college that best suits you.
• Provide you with a finalized and well-researched college list.
• Conduct strategy sessions to help you with sending your SAT/ACT scores, planning out  your senior year courses, extra-curricular activities, and recommendation letters to help increase your  chances of admission to your dream school. 
• Guidance and support for early action and early decision college applications. 
• Application and essay review - you can seek the help of college admissions counseling services to get an independent score for your talent and skills. 
• A college application counselor will also advise you on securing financial aid and FAFSA. 
• The college admissions counseling service provider will also help you prepare for an interview and follow up with the college about the decision on your application. 

Gaining support on the financial aid process is often an overlooked step to having the most informed knowledge on your finding the right university(s) to apply for. While gaining admission to a particular university is key, the real challenge that may arise down the line is how students and their families can be able to pay for   a particular university given the ever-rising costs of studies. Therefore, you must choose a college application counseling service that can help design a financial aid strategy for your needs. A learned college admissions consultant will help you find the right resources to help fund your studies during your time at college and will help you make the most informed decisions on which universities may be the most cost-effective for you. 

You are about to hire a college application counselor to help you make one of the most important decisions of your life. Therefore, it is perfectly alright to ask them as many questions as you like. Some of the questions you may start with include: 

• Background of the College Admissions Counselor

The credential and previous working experience of the college application counselor you chose to work with are crucial. Many private college admissions consultants have a history of working in college admission offices. Therefore, they are well aware of the selection process and criteria and what the college admission committee considers when it comes to selecting the right applicants and can provide the best assistance when comes down to planning out academic paths to take or what extracurriculars can improve your personal profile. 

It would be best if you always looked for a college application counselor with a degree in Higher Education and Counseling. If hiring an independent college application consultant, check for the following memberships. 

• IECA – Independent Educational Consultant Association
• NACAC – National Association for College Admission Counseling

Additionally, if a person offers independent college application counseling services, you can also look for certification from other accredited counseling programs.

• Asking for Referrals and Track Record

No matter how much college application consultant brags about their success, it would help if you always asked for referrals. The best way to find out about the performance of the college application consultant is to speak directly with the parents and students the consultant has served in the past as it will showcase real results and how their knowledge has made an impact on students’ lives. 

You can also check the admission counselor’s website and social media pages and see what their former clients have to say about the services rendered. By the end of your review, you will know if it is really worth hiring the college application consultant in question and if they have the expertise that will help you best. 

Apart from knowing the background and reading the reviews, you must also ask the college application consultant the following questions. 

• Will you please tell us your background? And what is your area of expertise? 
• How many students have you previously helped get into college? 
• Do you have any proof of your track record? 
• Does your organization accept commission or compensation of any kind from a particular college in return for successful student placement? 
• Can you help a student fill out the application form or write an essay for admission? 

While you may ask all these questions, the answer to the last two questions you get from the college application consultant should be a “No.”  Moreover, if a company is offering you any guarantee or promises to bring you an acceptance letter, it is best to stay away from such organizations. 

No reputable college admissions counseling service or consultant will be able to get a student into a specific school. Such claims are a clear sign of illegal tactics, dishonesty, and unfair means and are extremely looked down upon within the university community (and will likely leave you unable to apply to a university at all). We at Empowerly have a range of expert individuals who have real experience helping students like yours gain admission to universities they care about. So, while we may not be able to guarantee admission to any particular university, we are here to help you put your best foot forward to have the best chances of admission to your dream school.

If you are a parent or a student considering hiring a college admissions counselor, the above-mentioned information is a great place to help guide your search.  Working with Empowerly will not only give you access to impeccable college application counseling but also measure your chances of success and we can help find the right college counseling professional to suit your particular needs and goals. 

Take a quiz with Empowerly and learn about your best skills and strong suits that you can highlight in your college application. The Empowerly Score is only available to students in the Empowerly Portal -- it's a separate form and result process that gives you a numerical score. Speak to us today to learn more about how you can get your score and see where your own strengths lie as well as where you may need more support! Empowerly also allows you to connect with a panel of expert college admission counselors to review essays and offer advice on college admissions. Schedule your free consultation with Empowerly today and get on track to improving your chances for admission  to your dream university.