Whether you are very familiar with Educational Consultancy or just learning about the field, if you have a child approaching decisions about applying to college, you might want to decide if you want to work with an IEC sooner rather than later.
College campus visits are an important part of the college search process. While students and families will want to perform focused visits prior to choosing a college, Independent Educational Consultants visit many* campuses every year to help build their college knowledge, which results in an economizing of clients' time and expense.
“With their extensive knowledge of schools and colleges, independent consultants can broaden the potential choices, and provide vital help in weighing factors such as cost, location and curriculum. With an IEC, your student has the opportunity to explore a wider variety of options and discuss possibilities in a meaningful way." - IECA
Rationale
You may not be familiar with what Independent Educational Consultants (IEC) do, why you might want to work with one, or even heard the title itself. What may be even more surprising is that IECs have been a force in helping families with finding good-fit schools and colleges for decades. If this is news to you, historically it might have a lot to do with your zip code, but rest assured you are in good company and the practice is rapidly growing and evolving.
The college search and admissions process—and all that go with it, such as financing—is an immense undertaking and easily overwhelming for many high school students and their families. The tools available and information presented are more sophisticated and plentiful than ever, but the choices offered, and decisions required have also ratcheted up with the times, and the net effect can be bewildering.
College-specializing Educational Consultants have extensive knowledge of colleges and universities, the parts and processes of admissions application, and the scheduling approach needed for efficacy and success. According to the Independent Educational Consultants Association: “With their extensive knowledge of schools and colleges, independent consultants can broaden the potential choices, and provide vital help in weighing factors such as cost, location and curriculum. With an IEC, your student has the opportunity to explore a wider variety of options and discuss possibilities in a meaningful way."
Ideally, high school guidance counselors along with family members could provide all that is needed in these areas for perspective college students, as has been the past practice for most of us. The reality today is that working families have limited time to devote to the college admissions process, and the average high school guidance counselor, while an important part of the process, has a caseload in the hundreds. And with the cost of a college education higher than ever and ever rising, the investment should not be left to chance.
Benefits
Working with an IEC offers the following advantages:
Economizes Your Time
Because your IEC is a well-versed and knowledgeable professional, the time student and parents devote to the college search and application process will be focused and productive.
Maximizes Your Money
Applications (typically) cost money. Tests, test prep, essay writing assistance, … all cost money. Time is money. Working with an IEC a cost itself but can keep many other expenses in line. For example, college campus visits typically entail travel which involves logistics and expenditures that can be curtailed with proper planning and focus.
Mitigates Stress and Anxiety
Students and families face a host of options, uncertainty, opinions, deadlines, competition, expectations and more. The educational consultant offers unique guidance as well as encouragement though the process.
First and foremost, the IEC is an advocate for the student. As a coach in the process the professional also offers a measure mediation for parents and students, providing a more enjoyable family experience.
Helps Secure Student’s Future
A college education has become the standard platform for career success in today’s society. Recent polling shows that 26% of high-achieving high school seniors hire an IEC in their college search/application process. A deep and current understanding of what matters toward a successful college experience is more crucial than ever.
Offers a Critical (Wise) Investment Opportunity
College Educational Consultants are knowledgeable about the financial aid process and have an understanding the realities of financing college. Your IEC may be well-versed at clarifying the real costs of a college education and the many determinants of the costs.
There are a wide range of IEC offerings available and more than ever, consultants are finding ways to work with families.
*For IECA members, the average number of campus visits per year is 24.
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