<p>Where exactly do you find a college admissions counselor? Price is not an issue, but my parents and I don't want to be scammed of the money if the counselor doesn't really help. I'm an unhooked applicant with the standard credentials necessary to stand a chance at HYPS level schools. I need a counselor to help my app stand out and help guide my essays.</p>
<p>How does the process work? Do the consultants meet face to face with the clients? Or is it over the phone? I kinda prefer someone face to face.</p>
<p>I googled some possibilities and got stuff like the "Ivy Coach" and "Ivy Select". Not sure if those are legitimate. Can anyone affirm their helpfulness?</p>
<p>Or can anyone recommend any agency or counselor they found helpful? I'm in Dallas, TX btw.
If not, can anyone explain just how I would go about looking for a counselor?</p>
<p>Get recs from friends, we knew results when we chose ours from kids the year before! Most of the top ones don’t meet their clients, they work via the net and phones. It’s a controversial topic here, but we wish we’d know to do this for our first two who fit your description.</p>
<p>There’s a big price range, IMO you don’t need to pay the big money to get an excellent one.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply. See, I’ve actually been asking around quite a bit and asking my parents to ask their co-workers. No one here seems to have used any admissions counselors and, as such, I’m completely clueless on who is legitimate and who is just scamming for the money.</p>
<p>If you don’t mind my asking, who (or what company) was the consultant for your kids, hmom5? I understand if there is any reason you wish to withhold the information.</p>
<p>Maybe you could call the Guidance Counselor at the most elite high school in Dallas and ask if they have the name of someone they work with.</p>
<p>Until you find someone, check out a book called “The New Rules of College Admissions” by Stephen Kramer and Michael London. ($15) I got it at Barnes and Noble and really found the application, essay, and recommedation section. (basically the 2nd half of the book)</p>
<p>Study,
You are smart to be cautious. Educational consultants are not licensed in any state and so you need to do a little work to find someone who is trained, knowledgeable, ethical and competent. TWO organizations have significant standards that limit who can join and so represent to you that their members have leaped significant hurdles. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) is primarily an organization representing school-based counselor, but about 200 educational consultants are members. The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) is the national organization that serves the professional of private educational counselors exclusively, accepting fewer than 40% of those who seek to join. It has about 800 members internationally.</p>
<p>I will also throw out my caution here. Both NACAC and IECA are the closest thing to a governing body for these folks and really are helping to bring more structure to the industry but at this point they by no means can serve as an endorsement of quality. All promises and guarantees should be viewed with a very skeptical eye. A recent NYT article suggested some families pay $200 per hour (up to $40,000 per candidate) for these services. In my mind there is very little insight they can provide that you could not find on these boards or through a little research. Ensure you understand exactly what you are looking for and have that dsicussion with the “expert” (and references) before consumating a deal.</p>
<p>I agree with the 2 posters above, except I will say that having someone work with you on your essay can be very helpful. My D used one of her hs english teachers to critique and coach her on her essay, which was great. College counselors, unless they are EXTREMELY savvy, are basically babysitters for the college process, who will make sure all of your apps, letters of rec, transcripts etc are submitted on time. If you know where you want to apply you really don’t need a counselor. And I would also agree that there are a lot of people out there hanging up a shingle that says “college counselor” because they helped their kids apply and thought they were good at it. BE CAREFUL!</p>