5 Reasons to Hire a College Counselor
Introduction
Do you want to apply to college but feel overwhelmed by the process?
Do you need help putting together a strong college application that will set you apart from other applicants?
If so, you might want to consider hiring a college counselor to guide you and make the college application process more manageable! With their expertise and experience, they can help you create a strong application, build a balanced college list, give you feedback on essays, and help you stay on track - all of which can increase your chances of being admitted to your dream school!
What is a college counselor?
A college counselor is a professional who helps students navigate the complex and often stressful process of applying to college. They provide guidance, support, and expertise in all aspects of the application process. A college counselor will work with you to determine which schools are the best fit for your academic interests, goals, and budget.
There are many reasons to hire a college counselor to guide you through the college application process. Let's look at the TOP 5 reasons why you should consider hiring a college counselor.
Reduce Your Stress
College counselors have in-depth knowledge and expertise about the college application process, making them an invaluable resource for anyone looking to apply to college.
Each college counselor will have their own approach to the college application process, so it is important for you to find the right fit for you. Some counselors will work with students comprehensively, meaning they guide them through every step of the process, including college list building, essay development, application completion, deadline management, and much more. Individualized packages, which focus on specific aspects of the college application process, are available from some counselors. Students can also work with a counselor on an hourly basis.
No matter what type of counseling you are looking for, college counselors offer a wide range of tools and resources to help you succeed throughout the college application process. They can answer your questions about colleges, majors, applications, essays, and much more. They will explain the application process and help you secure the necessary documents to apply to college, including standardized test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, etc. They will assist you in managing the college application timeline and your actual application deadlines, which may be one of the most stressful aspects of this process.
While many students worry about the college application process, working with a college counselor can help to reduce your stress and anxiety. With their expertise and guidance, you can feel confident that you are on track to applying to colleges that are the right fit for you. If you want to take the guesswork and stress out of the college application process, consider working with a college counselor - it could be the best decision you make for your future.
2. Be Prepared to Apply
Creating the foundation to apply to college is a complicated process for many students. Some schools admit students using a holistic review, rather than just academic factors. This type of review creates a less predictable admission scenario and drives students to pursue courses and activities simply to pad their application.
You should be strategic when selecting courses and activities rather than simply take every AP/IB available to you and join every club offered. Quality over quantity will allow you to pursue your passions and perform optimally in your classes. You should create a 4-Year Course Plan to plan your high school coursework and balance your rigor across all four years of high school. You can also review all of the AP Courses(1) or IB Courses(2) offered to preview the course material before you decide to take a course.
Once you find activities you truly enjoy, you should engage them more deeply and pursue leadership opportunities. Finding activities can be a challenge, but there are many places you can look. You can join clubs at your high school, participate in service in your community, get a part-time job, engage your faith-based community, or participate in arts or athletics. You can find great Summer Programs(3) to help you explore careers, majors, service opportunities and so much more. What you choose to do with your free time is completely up to you.
College counselors can help you navigate these difficult choices and provide an outside perspective. They can also highlight potential implications related to applying to specific colleges or majors.
3. Build Your College List
College counselors can help you find and research the schools that best fit your interests, abilities, and goals to make an informed decision about where to apply. They will use a variety of tools, assessments, and questionnaires to help you establish your college criteria. Once you have a general idea of what you are looking for in a college, they can help you find schools that fit your criteria.
The goal is to apply to a balanced college list to ensure the highest possibility of being admitted. A college counselor will help you understand the difference between a likely school, a target school, a reach school, and a wild card school.
College counselors are familiar with many different colleges and universities. They spend hundreds of hours interacting with colleges to learn about majors, programs, financial aid, and campus culture. To get firsthand knowledge of campus life and the admissions process, many college counselors travel extensively(4). Consequently, they can provide important insights and recommendations to help you build your college list.
4. Get Application Feedback & Support
College counselors can help you create a strong college application. They know what colleges are looking for and can help you highlight your best qualities and experiences when putting together your application, increasing your chances of being accepted by the colleges of your choice. Each part of your college application has a specific job to do, and it must do it well. Most college applications are read for 8-12 minutes (or less) before receiving an admission decision.
"As an admissions evaluator at Brown, we really had to keep up a rigorous reading pace with the regular decision applicant pool. We were expected to read five applications per hour, which equates to 12 minutes per application. In those 12 minutes, I reviewed the application, standardized test scores, the transcript, the personal statement, and multiple supplemental essays — all while taking notes and making a decision on the admissibility of the applicant."
— Erica Curtis, former admissions evaluator at Brown University(5)
College counselors will walk you through each step of your application - your profile sections, activity list, honors/awards, essays/short answer questions, and additional information sections. College counselors can give you valuable feedback on essays, recommendations, and other components of your college applications. They will assist you in crafting a strong application that is an authentic representation of who you are, giving you the greatest chance of being accepted.
5. Find the Right School for You
The concept of fit as it applies to finding the right school for you is very important. There are 3 distinct aspects of fit:
Academic Fit: Find a school where you can be academically successful. It is important to identify schools where the curriculum and teaching methods match your learning style. In addition, it is important to make sure that the schools you are considering offer the majors and coursework that you are interested in. Consider the academic profile of the most recent admitted class and compare it to your academic profile.
Social Fit: Find a school where you will be happy. It is important to find a school with a campus culture that matches your personality and preferences.
Financial Fit: Select a school that you can afford. It is important to consider the cost of attendance as well as the availability of financial aid when making your decision. College is an investment, but you need to be aware of the return on investment that you can expect.
A college counselor can help you compare your schools to determine which is the best fit for you.
BONUS: How to find a college counselor
To find a college counselor in your area, you can consult the following directories for educational consultants:
If a college counselor is a member of a professional organization, they will adhere to a code of ethics and Principles of Good Practice(6).
Sources:
“AP Course and Exam Pages.” AP Central, 25 Sept. 2020, https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses.
Iborganization. “DP Curriculum.” International Baccalaureate®, https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/.
“Guide to Summer Programs 2022.” TeenLife, https://www.teenlife.com/for/guide-summer-programs/?program-type=summer.
Sklarow, Mark H. “Why Do IECA Members Travel so Much?” Independent Education Consultants Association, 22 Jan. 2019, https://www.iecaonline.com/quick-links/parents-students/what-is-an-independent-educational-consultant/why-do-ieca-members-travel-so-much/.
Butterly, Joel. “7 Admissions Officers Share the Things They Never Tell Applicants.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 7 Feb. 2018, https://www.businessinsider.com/7-things-college-admissions-officers-wish-every-applicant-knew-2018-2.
“Principles of Good Practice.” Independent Education Consultants Association, 25 Jan. 2022, https://www.iecaonline.com/quick-links/about/principles-of-good-practice/.