FAQs About Hiring College Admission Counselors
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Question: Why use an Independent Education Consultant?
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Answer: There are over 4,000 postsecondary institutions and the college application process is complex. Just as it can be helpful to use a realtor to buy a house or an investment advisor to help you manage an investment portfolio, it can help to have an Independent Educational Consultant guide a family in the process of applying to postsecondary institutions. Education is an important investment, not just in terms of the financial cost, but also in terms of the cost of four years of time and the potential payoff in employment. One of the services Educ8Fit Consulting offers is a tailored list of colleges for a given student based on the interests of the student and family and the likelihood of admission. The lists are organized to make it easy to compare the different attributes of the schools on the list.
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Question: We want to work on a list of colleges, but my child hasn’t thought at all about potential careers or preferred learning environments. Can we get help with that?
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Answer: Yes, I use tools to identify careers that might be of interest, one of which is the You Science career assessment. There are also tools I use to determine preferred learning environments. Then I use those results to identify schools that would meet the student’s needs.
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Question: How might an Independent Educational Consultant save me money in the long run?
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Answer: An Independent Educational Consultant can help reveal choices that are cost-effective and meet the needs that a family is seeking when evaluating schools. An Independent Education Consultant can also provide a process that evaluates the fit of a wide range of schools and then narrows the scope to minimize travel costs and the costs of applying to schools. An Independent Education Consultant can also reveal options available to students and their families that can increase the odds of being admitted to cost-effective schools, which may have highly competitive admissions. An Independent Education Consultant can also help families determine strategies that increase the likelihood of obtaining both merit scholarships and grants, which are not necessarily dependent on financial need.
In the case of one of the testimonials, a reticent student was convinced of the importance of contacting an estranged parent to be able to qualify for in-State tuition, saving the family $100,000. Please see https://www.educ8fit/testimonials.
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Question: How might an Independent Education Consultant increase the odds of being admitted to a given postsecondary institution?
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Answer: An Independent Education Consultant can reveal options available to students and their families that can increase the odds of being admitted to the schools. To fully benefit from that, it is important to start the process early in high school. In addition, an Independent Educational Consultant can help guide a student in the application process to reveal the most advantageous ways to apply to schools and to help the student present himself or herself in a positive light.
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Question: How might an Independent Educational Consultant reduce stress?
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Answer: There are strategies for applying that change the conversation from "am I going to college" to "what college am I going to." There are also test-scheduling strategies that help reduce test-related stress. In addition, an Independent Educational Consultant can help keep things organized for a family and set a schedule so that things are not done just before the deadline.
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Question: I find information about student financial assistance to be very confusing. I can’t imagine trying to compare financial aid packages across schools. Can I get any help with that?
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Answer: Yes, there are tools I use to get at the heart of what the different schools will cost your family and to compare them on an apples-to-apples basis. Please see https://www.educ8fit/paying-for-college.
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Question: We are socially distancing now because of COVID-19, and are likely to move shortly. Is it still possible to work with Educ8Fit?
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Answer: Yes, I can meet using vehicles such as Zoom or FaceTime. In addition, I am Covid vaccinated and double boosted, in the event it is important to meet in person.
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Question: I want to ensure that there is good communication between myself, my child, and a college admission counselor. Can I get that with an Independent Educational Consultant?
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Answer: Yes. I include parents and students in key meetings. I encourage parents to do most of the speaking during Zoom calls about paying for college. I involve parents in reviewing the college list. I work almost entirely with the student on essays, to help ensure that the essay reflects the authentic voice of the student. Selective colleges repeatedly indicate that they want the essay to reflect the authentic voice of applicants.
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Question: How do the roles of the Independent Educational Consultant and the student differ?
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Answer: The Independent Educational Consultant serves as the expert on the college admission process. The student serves as the expert on the student.