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College Admissions Counselor: Factors to Consider and Questions to Ask

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Most high school students attend a school where each counselor has dozens or even hundreds of students they need to help apply to college. Many public school counselors, particularly those whose schools are underfunded, don’t have the capacity to give each student the attention they deserve.

With such a lack of access to college application help, and with so many different aspects of the process to consider, from selecting the right schools to crafting strong essays, many students go without the support they need to ensure their application represents who they are. A college admissions counselor can potentially help in these situations. But getting the right college application help takes being able to pay the potentially high cost or finding low- to no-cost support.

For the latter, we’ll point you to a bunch of free or pay-what-you-can resources throughout this guide.

For the former, we’ll talk you through factors to consider and questions to ask, including things like “Are college admissions consultants worth it?” Actually, let’s start with that:

Are College Admissions Counselors Worth It?

Maybe? To be blunt, it really depends. College admissions consultants can be worth their cost if they provide valuable guidance and support throughout the college application process and if they help you develop greater insight and meaning through the process, and if a counselor can help a student get into schools that will advance a student’s career and future income, the benefits will normally greatly outweigh the costs (Although, of course, this math is tricky and hard to predict because, well, life does life things—and sometimes that business degree at that expensive private university doesn’t sound so great if you decide a few years in you’d rather run a small online hand-made crafts shop. Though that is a business, so… maybe?).

Fortunately, there are no- to low-cost options! We believe strongly in access, and that’s why virtually all our resources are free or pay-what-you-can for students, and why we created our Matchlighters program.

Regardless of whether you decide to hire someone, we’d strongly recommend having another pair of eyes on a college application and essays. A thoughtful parent, teacher, or counselor that knows a student can provide great opportunities to improve an application.

Why Hire a College Admissions Consultant?

People might for lots of reasons, but a few key ones stand out:

  • The application process can seem pretty nebulous, particularly things like how to write a strong personal statement (or what the purpose of one even is), or how to research what colleges fit a student well, or how admission officers read applications.

  • Because of things like rankings (which, to be blunt, we’re generally not fans of), students can feel social pressure to apply to “top” colleges, without understanding what goes into admissions decisions, all while acceptance rates at “highly rejective” (shout-out to Akil Bello for coining the term) colleges continue to shrink.

Each year, the number of applicants to college increases, which we think is a good thing: that means more access to an education for more people.

Source: Statistica

But this also means greater competition in what can be a confusing process. Hiring a college admissions consultant can help you create and submit a successful college admissions application, or in other words, an application that helps you tell a compelling story about yourself. Below, we’ll explain more about how to pick a college admissions consultant that’s right for you, and other important things to consider.

Picking Your College Admissions Counselor

If you want to explore working with one, below are six tips to picking a college admissions consultant:

  1. Determine your needs and goals: Before you begin looking for a college admissions consultant, consider your specific needs and goals. Are you looking for help with writing college essays, do you need help building your college list, or do you need guidance on the entire admissions process? All of the above? Below is a list of the different areas of an application. Knowing what you need will help you narrow down your search and find counselors that specialize in the areas you need the most support.

  2. Do your homework: Once you have an idea of what you're looking for, it’s time to start researching college admissions consultants. Look for consultants who have experience working with students who have similar needs and goals as you do. Try to read reviews and testimonials from previous clients.

  3. Consider communication style: It's important to choose a college admissions consultant whose communication style matches your own. Do you want to meet with them in person, or meet with them remotely? Some consultants may prefer to communicate via email or docs comments, while others may prefer phone or video calls. Make sure you're comfortable with the consultant’s communication style and process before committing to working with them.

  4. Compare pricing: While pricing shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision, it’s important to compare the pricing of different college admissions counselors. Make sure you understand exactly what services you’ll get for the price, and make sure you're comfortable with the consultant’s fees. Some counselors set their rates per hour, some per application, and some as a flat fee package.

  5. Schedule a consultation: Once you’ve found a college admissions consultant that you're interested in working with, schedule a consultation (note that with many consultants, you’ll have to do this before step 4). This is a great opportunity to get to know the consultant, ask questions, and discuss your needs and goals. Consultations are typically free and provide a chance to ask questions that weren’t answered elsewhere.

College Application Help: Each Area of College Admission Counseling

Below we cover the basics of picking a college admissions counselor based on eight areas of college applications, including the following:

  1. College essay consultants

  2. College list development

  3. College major selection

  4. Extracurricular activity planning

  5. College interview preparation

  6. 8th-10th grade college planning

  7. Standardized testing recommendations

  8. Paying for college

Note: It will vary to what degree counselors offer or have expertise in each area above. So be sure to get a clear sense of where you feel you need the most support.

College Essay Consultants: What Should I Write My College Essay About?

One of the most important aspects of the college application process that a consultant can help with is crafting a strong personal statement. A great essay can help set you apart from the thousands of other applicants vying for a spot at your dream school (but again, please be wary of just choosing schools based on rankings/prestige).

So how do you go about choosing someone to advise you on crafting a great essay? Here are the main factors to consider when choosing a college essay consultant:

  1. Find someone you can talk to: There are many different college essay consultants out there, so it's important to do your research and find one who is a good fit for you. Working with a college essay counselor is a little bit like having a therapist: you have to tell them about your biggest hopes and dreams, you’ll likely talk about important or difficult experiences in your life, and they provide guidance for big life decisions. You want someone you can trust. Look for someone who has experience working with students who have similar goals and backgrounds as you.

  2. Consider the coach’s approach to the essay: Each consultant may have their own approach to essay writing, so it's important to find one that aligns with your learning style, and from whom you can take feedback well. Some coaches might want to take a highly structured approach, while others may ask you to just explore. (Though our thoughts here are that a good coach balances against a student: helping highly structured students get creative, while helping highly creative students find structure)

  3. Learn about their expertise: This can vary from a teaching background, to professional writing, to the admissions side (to maybe all of the above and more). If a counselor has spent time working as a reader or application reviewer for a university, for example, that can be valuable experience. Keep in mind, though, that reading applications and knowing how to help a student craft a strong application and essays are different skill sets. The best college essay consultants have years of experience helping students write their essays.

College List Development: What Colleges Should I Apply To?

Because creating a college list can be overwhelming or feel a bit maze-like for some students, good counselors work with students collaboratively to better guide the process of developing a list of schools. With so many schools to choose from, it’s important to find the ones that are the best fit for you.

A good counselor will help you answer questions like those below: we’d recommend diving into them (whether you work with a consultant, or on your own). Think of these questions less like an “interview” and more like a journaling exercise. We want you swirling with options for your future, especially if you haven’t given these responses your full attention before. Grab a favorite pen and a notebook, write out your thoughts, and discuss them with a trusted friend/mentor/teacher/guardian.

 

  1. What do you want to study? Why? If you’re not sure what you want to study, what are your primary curiosities, and how do they perhaps intersect with your core values?

  2. Where do you want to study? As in, are there specific states, climates, or geographic areas that strongly appeal to you? Or are options wide open?

  3. What’s your budget for higher education?

  4. What’s important to you in your experience as you achieve your undergraduate degree? Which factors are must-haves and which factors can you negotiate?

  5. Are you looking for a more structured degree (one focused on a specific career or future job) or a less structured degree (open to various majors with more flexibility to find what you’re most passionate about)?

  6. Where do you see yourself five years after graduating from college? And in 10 years?

  7. Have you considered graduate school? Will your undergraduate studies support your graduate level studies?

Spend a good chunk of time exploring these questions, especially in terms of the goals you have set for yourself, and how committed you are to them. We highly recommend you talk through your answers with someone you trust.

College Major Selection: What Should I Major In?

Choosing a college major is a significant decision that can impact your future career path (though sometimes in ways not all students understand). Though we highly recommend that students make their own choices regarding their major, if you’re unsure, a college admissions consultant can help you navigate this process by providing guidance on how different majors and programs at different universities might align with your interests and goals.

A college admissions counselor will likely start by asking you questions about your interests, strengths, and academic performance. Based on your responses, they’ll help you explore potential majors and career paths. They may also suggest taking career or strengths assessments to provide further insight into your strengths and preferences. (This is an important part of CEG’s process, and we highly recommend it.)

Extracurricular Activity Planning: What Should I Do During High School?

Extracurricular activities play a significant role in highly selective college admissions. A college admissions counselor can help you identify meaningful extracurricular activities and develop a plan for deeper participation and exploration. To be clear, we’re wary of pursuing extracurricular activities just because you think they’ll look good to a college—that tends not to work out well.

Instead, a good college admissions counselor will likely start by asking you questions about your values, interests, and hobbies. What makes you feel curious or engaged or excited? What builds your sense of belonging? Based on your responses, they’ll suggest extracurricular activities that align with your interests and help develop your strengths. They may also provide guidance on how to balance your extracurricular activities with your academic workload. (At least, we think they should.)

Working with a college admissions counselor on extracurricular activity planning can be incredibly valuable. They can help you identify activities that will make you a strong candidate for college admissions and develop a plan for participating in them.

College Interview Preparation: How do I Prepare for College Interviews?

College interviews are an important part of the college admissions process for some schools (and may become even more so due to AI). A college admissions counselor can help you prepare for these interviews and feel confident in your ability to make a strong impression.

A college admissions counselor will generally start by reviewing common interview questions and providing guidance on how to answer them effectively. They may also conduct mock interviews with you to help you practice your responses and provide feedback on your performance.

8th-10th Grade College Planning: How Can I Prepare for College Early?

We’re wary of putting too much emphasis on college during junior high and early high school—doing so can be unhealthy and unhelpful if not done well and carefully. But depending on your goals, it can be important to start planning early for college (for example, if you think you want to apply to BS/MD programs). A college admissions counselor can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the early high school years to help you prepare for a successful college application process.

Standardized testing recommendations: Do I need to test? And if so…

Standardized testing has shifted a lot in the last decade—from what tests are available, to whether colleges want to see (or will even accept) test scores in the first place.

We have a crash course to standardized testing here that should answer a lot of your questions (like what’s the difference between test optional vs test blind, or which test should you take, etc.), but a counselor can walk you through how to approach testing given your particular circumstances and goals.

Paying for college

With the amount of student debt in America, figuring out how to pay for college so that a student isn’t saddled with debt after graduation is increasingly important to our minds. We’ve got a huge, in-depth guide on paying for college here. As with testing, a counselor can talk you through details related to your specific circumstances.

Note that this isn’t something every admissions consultant will offer—there are often specialized counselors who focus only (or primarily) on financial aid advice.

How Much Does College Advising Cost?

College admissions consultants' costs can vary greatly depending on the level of counseling (and usually the experience of the counselor). On average, many college admissions consultants in the public market charge between $150 to $500 per hour, and some may charge a flat fee for their services. However, some high-end college admissions counselors in the public market can charge up to $3,000 - $8,000 per application or $40,000 for their full package of services, including application assistance, essay review, and interview coaching. Essay review can range from $200 - $1,000 per essay from a college admissions counselor in the public market.

The high cost of college admissions counseling services (and the barriers those costs can create) is why College Essay Guy provides a range of cost options from pay-what-you-can online courses to paid one-on-one counseling, and tons of free resources.

How to Find College Consultants Near Me

Here are some tips for finding a college consultant near you:

  1. Ask Around for Referrals: There’s no better way to get to know how good a counselor’s services are than talking to someone who has hired them before. We’d strongly recommend checking with people you trust whenever possible before picking a college admissions consultant (with the understanding that whether you can do so is heavily dependent on whether anyone you know has worked with them before).

  2. Check with Professional Associations: There are a number of professional associations for college admissions counselors, such as the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) or the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). These associations have directories of members that you can search by location or area of expertise.

  3. Consider Online Counseling: Many (and probably close to all) college admissions counselors offer online counseling services. This can be a convenient option if you're not able to find a local counselor or find someone you’d like to work with who doesn’t happen to live near you. Again, be sure to research the counselor's credentials and experience before committing to working with them.

A Final Thought

Above, we mentioned how important we think it is for you to find a counselor whose approach and values match yours.

In particular, we’re wary of a process that is purely end-focused—we think that the college application process is an amazing opportunity for a student to spend more time learning about who they are (and who they want to become), what they value, and how they want to live their lives.

If you’re looking for more free resources, check out our college application hub.

Thanks, take care, and best of luck with your journey.

 

Andrew Simpson has worked as an educator, consultant, and curriculum writer for the past 15 years, and earned degrees from Stanford in Political Science and Drama. He feels most at home on mountain tops and in oceans.

Top Values:  Insight/Growth | Truth | Integrity