questions to ask potential private college counselors in deciding whether to hire them

[Anonymous]

We are considering hiring a private college counselor but are not sure at this point. We are reaching out to have an initial conversation with a few and then we will make a decision.

If you have worked with one, what would you recommend asking a potential counselor when you are assessing whether to hire him/her? I'm wondering about things I would not think to ask because we have not been through this process before. I will ask about their experience, how they got into this line of work, what services they offer, and pricing.

[Anonymous]

I would ask if they provide essay guide tailored to each top school. Learnt about it yesterday on dcum.

[Anonymous]

I think it's important for you to share what you're looking for in a counselor and ask if they would be a fit. Some parents are focused on prestige, others more on fit. Where do you fall? Every high schooler is different in terms of their personality and their ambition. What is your kid like?

[Anonymous]

Make sure you tell them exactly what you want help with: building a balanced college list (or do you have one?), essay help? Just the common app essay or all supplementals/UC/MIT etc?, Activity List and Hinors editing?

How will they help position your kid? Will the help with a narrative or Soundbite?

Will they keep your kid on track?

Help with applications strategy? Rea/ea/ed/rd

How many hours/colleges are included?

What is deferred or rejected from REA/ED school? Will they review app or will they be done by Dec 1? When will they be done? Get a date so there’s no confusion.

Will they help with FAFSA/CSS or recommend colleges for merit if kid qualifies?

How about LOCI?

Where have their previous students been admitted? Same tier as your kid wants?

What kind of education do they have? There are the UC courses that are great. Some people do a summer institute that is just not enough.

Are they members of IECA or HECA? These give a support network for questions your IEC might not be able to answer.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

You could ask about the essay help — how exactly does that work? You obviously do not want them editing!

How will they help brainstorm essays??

What software do they use to track everything, if any?

Are they just someone you are outsourcing to or are they experts in say Ivy League or STEM or music app?

[Anonymous]

How involved do you want to be and how involved do they want you to be?

Some IECs do not want any parental involvement which is a red flag to me! I mean you don’t want a helicopter parent but if someone says their kid is capable of better writing, I’d want them to take that seriously.

[Anonymous]

Do you really want someone who uses values to form the basis for essays? It’s really hard. That’s what one IEC I know used and the essays were just so bad. YMMV

[Anonymous]

So if they have any other clients from your school. You want to make sure you are not working against yourself.

[Anonymous]

Did they just go poof and decide they could do this after a child of theirs got into college?

[Anonymous]

Thank you. These replies are helpful. I will ask about essays and I like the idea of describing what we are looking for and asking for their response.

We are looking for someone who can help DC find the right fit based on ability and personality. We are not doing this to get DC into the most elite school possible.

DC has good grades and decent test scores, but is not a genius, and is a shy kid who won't have a lot of big leadership roles or a ton of extracurricular activities.

I am interested in finding someone who can (1) advise DC on what kinds of things to do in the immediate future to enhance the high school record and (2) advise on what schools to consider / visit based on a realistic assessment of what schools are actually within reach and where DC could thrive.

We will not be able to pay full tuition at a private school so advice on financial aid would be wonderful, although I don't know if these counselors do that (?).

[Anonymous]

To OP: If you are not shooting the shots for T30, in most cases, a private counselor is not necessary. It's easy money for them and a big waste for you. Parents can do some homework themselves. After T30, essays and ECs are less important though I am not saying they are not important.

[Anonymous]

You are smart to ask these questions. Be very selective and beware of “salesman” counselors. I like the older women who have been doing this for decades. They tend to be good listeners and are more willing to do the work. Avoid the ones who talk about themselves the whole time. I’ve been through this rodeo a few times. Make sure your counselor knows your child’s school well - that’s important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering hiring a private college counselor but are not sure at this point. We are reaching out to have an initial conversation with a few and then we will make a decision.

If you have worked with one, what would you recommend asking a potential counselor when you are assessing whether to hire him/her? I'm wondering about things I would not think to ask because we have not been through this process before. I will ask about their experience, how they got into this line of work, what services they offer, and pricing.

If I pay you $10,000, how you guarantee my kids gets accepted to HYPSM? 🙂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you. These replies are helpful. I will ask about essays and I like the idea of describing what we are looking for and asking for their response.

We are looking for someone who can help DC find the right fit based on ability and personality. We are not doing this to get DC into the most elite school possible.

DC has good grades and decent test scores, but is not a genius, and is a shy kid who won't have a lot of big leadership roles or a ton of extracurricular activities.

I am interested in finding someone who can (1) advise DC on what kinds of things to do in the immediate future to enhance the high school record and (2) advise on what schools to consider / visit based on a realistic assessment of what schools are actually within reach and where DC could thrive.

We will not be able to pay full tuition at a private school so advice on financial aid would be wonderful, although I don't know if these counselors do that (?).

Yes some IECs give advice on aid. Need based and merit based.

For starters you could ask ChatGPT or perplexity to give you a list of schools for you kid given his stats and major.

Also ideas for improving ECs immediately.

Just do not enter any identifying information and do not enter essays!

[Anonymous]

Pros of older IECs - they know a lot. Cons - they do not know as much as they think they know.

A newer IEC will bend over backwards to support your kid but they need that education and some experience (even pro bono work) to charge money.

My friend’s son has an IEC. Kid is aiming for Ivies for a stem major. The IEC had not told him to take highest math. Kudos to the IEC for building a business after attending this summer institute (1 or 3 weeks) but anyone can hang a shingle and say they are an IEC. Just be careful.