10 Tips for Finding an Independent College Counselor

Finding the right college counselor can be like finding the perfect pair of shoes. Most of the time, you’ll know immediately when you’ve finally found a good fit. And when you do—you feel at ease and ready for adventure! Your perfect match will custom-fit your lifestyle, provide support for your dreams, and help carry you wherever you want to go. 

But how exactly do you find the perfect counselor to help you accomplish all this? 

Once you’ve learned about college counseling and decide to find yourself a counselor, the real work begins. There’s no need to rush into the decision; your future can depend on it. For high schoolers and families who are interested in learning more about the process, let’s review 10 key tips for finding an independent college counselor that will fit your needs.

Hear this: you’re not in this alone. Private college counselors work with high schoolers to organize and streamline the college apps process. As a result, these experts are perfectly positioned to help you navigate the process and submit applications that display your students’ unique strengths best.

However, a college counselor can’t compose your application for you, or guarantee admission to any particular school. If you encounter any counseling services that offer this, beware. Your counselor is here to support your journey, not steer you toward one end.

Another way to explain this relationship is that it’s like hiring a personal fitness trainer to prepare for a marathon. The personal trainer has experience and knowledge about sports anatomy, nutrition, and the human body; on top of all this, they can take into account your own preferences for training. However, they can’t run the race for you! 

Working together in a collaborative way, over time, allows you and your trainer to customize your plan and produce the best, most sustainable results.

Video: Perfect SAT scores, grades not enough for top colleges, says private admissions consultant

Ready to meet your personal superhero? Let’s get started.

As you’re getting started, evaluate your student’s academic starting point. It’s a good idea to check on the most recent high school GPA, grades, and standardized test scores you may have. Compile a list of any meaningful activities they like to do outside of school. Write out any academic strengths and weaknesses you can think of, as well as awards or recognitions earned in the last few years.

All of these individual pieces of information will help a counselor build a stronger picture of who you are as a student and as a person. As you pull this information together, you may even start to notice patterns in your lists—that’s great! Keep track of these trends.

When it comes down to choosing such an important mentor, you deserve to know their credentials. This information includes how many years they’ve worked as a counselor, and their students’ success rate. When you begin the process to find an independent college counselor, pay close attention to what kind of statistics and evidence are presented to you.

Are the counselors accredited by a respectable organization like IECA, NACAC, or WACAC? Can the counselor share some of their past college acceptance results? Who will your family be working with on a regular basis? How much experience does the counselor have? All of these questions matter. Comparing these results can help narrow down your potential candidates.

Video: How to Select a Private College Counselor

Independent college counselors offer a variety of services, including but not limited to: 

• Academic course selection and/or academic tutoring
• Extracurricular activity support
• Summer program applications
• College list research
• Test preparation
• Student resume review
• Essay reviews and edits
• Mock interviews and interview advice
• Scholarship and financial aid planning
• Internship preparation and support
• And more!

Depending on your student’s individual needs and ultimate goals, some counselors will offer better help than others. Be sure to ask your counselor which services are offered and available to your teen.

There will be hundreds of decisions to make ahead of you. From what major you study, to which school you attend, to what kind of housing you apply for—there are choices galore. While it can be intimidating, try to look on the bright side: you can choose everything!

For now, try brainstorming what your criteria for deciding between schools will be. This can include factors such as location and climate (surprisingly important) to academic program selection, student life, financial aid offers, and more. 

Video: Building Your College List & Deciding Where to Apply to College // ACE THE APP

You don’t have to commit to everything right now, but start thinking about what’s out there. Consider which of these factors matter the most to you. This is the first step to beginning to filter your options.

College counselors work with students on a variety of platforms, depending on what fits your schedule and lifestyle best. Some families prefer to work with a local counselor so they can schedule in-person counseling sessions. Others prefer the convenience of virtual sessions, and take advantage of the resources available in 2024!

Virtual sessions have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Digitally-savvy teens often benefit from the ease of digital tools, like this Empowerly student who describes how regular online sessions helped her stay organized and avoid procrastination in her senior year.

Still unsure? Check out this list of pros and cons to online and local counseling services.

The best time to get started with a college counselor is as soon as possible—and that’s not a glib remark. 

When time is on your side, you have a longer runway to make more of a difference on your overall competitiveness. For instance, elevating your extracurricular activities, applying for more internships, drafting better essays, and adding new summer experiences. With all four years, you can even work on an academic plan through senior year. The sooner you start, the better. 

However, it’s not too late if you’re already a few years down the line. Juniors and incoming seniors can still shape a strong college application in their final semesters. Being aware of your timeline means that you won’t miss the chance to build a meaningful counseling relationship.

For students and families with a clear understanding of their goals: if you have a few top schools in mind, find college counselors with admissions experience there! 

Odds are, experienced, comprehensive counseling teams will feature former admissions officers at top schools. You may also be able to find counselors who have had previous students accepted at your preferred institutions in recent years.

It’s true, college counseling is a serious investment in your future—and worthwhile services don’t come cheap. Professional counselors, particularly those with impressive resumes, can charge anywhere from a few hundred dollars per hour to hundreds of thousands per academic year. 

Going into the process, expect to pay for the value you receive. The hard work that happens behind the scenes to help students gain admission to college deserves to be compensated, but as a family, you also don’t want to pay more than is fair. If you are clear and realistic about your budget, both you and your counselor will feel better respected.

Before signing up to work with a particular counselor, it’s always a good idea to find out who you’ll be working with. Most counselors will meet with you for an initial consultation session so you can discuss your plans and decide if it’s a good fit. These introductory sessions are particularly helpful to discover whether your teen will work well with your counselor’s personality. 

Don’t be afraid to call and ask questions, or schedule an appointment to talk with the counseling team. Ultimately, a good counselor also wants the best for your student, and is willing to help set your nerves at ease.

There’s simply no better way to learn about how a counselor works than to talk with their clients! If you have a community of fellow parents, see if anyone else has worked with a college counselor they recommend. 

When researching, ask whether the counselors you are considering can connect you with a family who has worked with them in the past. Hearing from a firsthand perspective might provide the last piece of the puzzle you need to move forward. 

In the end, you’re already farther along than before you read this article! By starting to read and research, you’re taking steps to ensure your best future. While you’re here, don’t be shy to schedule a call to talk over your college application plan with a team member at Empowerly. Our enrollment team is here to help formulate the best strategy for your family.

The most important piece of advice to take away is, don’t hesitate too long. When the advantage of time is on your side, you can make larger and more meaningful strides toward your dreams. You never know; finding that perfect fit counselor can even bring out your unique style, too.