3 Things to Look for When Considering a College Admissions Consultant

College admissions is a complex and overwhelming process for both students and parents. For some, hiring a college admissions consultant can help ease that process.

Christopher Rim, CEO of Command Education and contributor at Forbes, recently highlighted three things students and parents should consider when hiring a top college consultant.

LOOK AT CREDENTIALS

College admissions consultants vary in their backgrounds and expertise. Each brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and strategies to the table, tailored to guide students through the intricate and competitive college admissions process.

Rim says students and parents should pay close attention to a consultant’s background to ensure that they can provide the right expertise.

“The admissions landscape has changed dramatically over the last five years, meaning that a consultant who served on an admissions committee a decade ago will likely not possess special insights about what Ivy League and other top schools are looking for now,” Rim says.

TRANSPARENCY IN COST

Hiring a college admissions consultant isn’t cheap. On average, a college advisor can charge anywhere from $150 to $200 per hour. Package pricing varies even more with some students spending between $3,000 and $10,000.

“Consultants bill in a variety of ways—some are hourly, others charge by the number of schools to which a student wishes to apply, and others offer unlimited, flat-fee packages,” Rim says. “Parents should go into consultations with a sense of their student’s needs and goals and pose detailed questions about the costs of additional or non-included services that may be required.”

FOCUS ON PROCESS

Perhaps the most important consideration, Rim says, is a college admissions consultant’s methodology, or process. Parents should ideally look for one who can tailor their approach to the student’s unique background.

“A cookie-cutter approach doesn’t work in the competitive landscape of college admissions,” Rim says. “Each student has unique strengths, interests, and aspirations, and a top-notch consultant will take the time to understand these individual qualities and craft a tailored strategy that highlights the student’s best attributes. This includes selecting a mix of courses, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and summer programs that align with the student’s goals. They also help students identify and develop their passions, which serves to differentiate students in the eyes of admissions committees.”

Sources: Forbes, BeMo Academic Consulting