Welcome! One of the most common questions we receive is whether a college admissions counselor is worth the cost.
To be as candid as possible, the answer is: it depends on your situation.
Not all college admissions counselors are the same, and not all potential applicants are in the same situation.
First, let’s start with defining what a college admissions counselor is.
What is a college admissions counselor?
At its core, a college admissions counselor is an individual that works with students to attend higher ed. They can be known as an admissions consultant, career prep, or a variety of other names. Usually, a counselor will work with a student to attend a 4 year college.
Here is where there is a big shift -
Some college admissions counselors work to explain the college process and provide guidance on the general process - they are what we call process-focused counselors
Some college admissions counselors work to get students into either a specific college or certain type of college - these are outcome-focused counselors
Some college admissions counselors work with specific types of students (e.g., athletes) to navigate the process as a specific type of applicant - these are what we called specialist counselors
Obviously many counselors will do all three, but understanding what you need will decide the right type of counselor for you.
For example, if you know you want to go to Harvard and want someone to help you have the best chance, you would look for a college counselor who focuses on Ivy-League and Ivy-Like acceptance, rather than someone who can just guide you through the college admissions process.
When is a counselor worth it?
Generally speaking, the more specific your goal, the more likely it is that a counselor is worth it.
In general, if you need information about what the college application process looks like, we would recommend you:
Google - a lot of information is free and easily available online
Look for guides (often free or cheap) online - many (including us) have guides that are available that are significantly cheaper than paying someone online and will answer a lot of the basic questions that you have
Utilize your school guidance counselors - they can often help with broad questions and even get you started if you have a fairly common college plan (ex. applying to the local state school)
Once you have exhausted these three resources, you should be able to generate a broad view of what the college application and selection process looks like.
If you find you still have questions, now is the time to reach out to a counselor. Many will offer initial free consultations to figure out what you need and then offer a plan that works best for you.
If you know that you have a specific goal though, these generic resources will likely not work for you. For example, the process of getting accepted to Johns Hopkins Medical School is a lot more strenuous and nuanced than trying to go to the University of South Carolina.
In those situations, you will strongly want to consider working with a counselor. The sooner you do, the better off you will be.
The most critical mistake parents make in applying to college? Starting the process too late. A lot can be overcome if you start early, but the later you start, the more difficult it will be to get anything.
What not to expect from a admissions counselor
If you are expecting an admissions counselor to guarantee admission into a given college, don’t.
No one, no matter who they are, can guarantee you access to a top college. Remember, college admissions is a game of probabilities, not guarantees.
Instead, focus on what your admissions counselor’s credentials are. If you are an athlete going after an athletic scholarship, make sure you work with an admissions counselor who has gone through that process. It will give you confidence that you are not “learning as you go.”
As always, feel free to reach out with questions.