As the college admissions process becomes ever more complicated and stressful–and expensive–more and more families are asking the question, “Do I need a college counselor?” While not every family needs personalized guidance through the college admissions maze, many do. To determine whether you need a professional college counselor, consider these seven factors.
Do I need a college counselor?
FIND THE RIGHT FIT
With over 3,000 colleges and universities in the US, how do you know which is the best match for you? With our first-hand knowledge of colleges and access to the admission profession, a good college counselor can provide in-depth, personalized advice that no guidebook or website can. A good educational consultant will take the time to get to know you, and then will cn identify several colleges that will allow you to thrive throughout your college years.
INVEST EDUCATIONAL DOLLARS WISELY
Aside from a home, a college education is the biggest investment that most families will ever make. And yet most would never think of selling their home without the advice of a professional real estate agent. When you consider that the cost of a private 4-year college (tuition, fees, room, and board) ranges from $120,000 to nearly $400,000, hiring a professional to help you make a sound investment makes good sense.
PLAY THE ADMISSION GAME LIKE A PRO
Colleges and universities compete for students. And then they deny admission to apparently strong applicants. They market their educational services the way companies sell toothpaste. Then they manipulate the game in a way that favors their national rankings–and not individual students. With expertise in the field, an experienced college counselor can shed light on what can be a very opaque and confusing process. At the same time, good counselors maintain a sharp focus on student needs and aspirations.
GET IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME
On average, the percentage of students who enroll in a college who actually graduate from that same college is over 50%. This means that many, many transfer to other schools after having made the wrong choice. Worse, some students will drop out entirely. By guiding you toward colleges that are the best fit for your academic interests, extracurricular pursuits, and personality, a good college counselor a much better chance of matriculating and graduating from a school that suits all your needs from start to finish.
MAINTAIN DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
The college admissions process can be stressful for everyone involved. Much seems to ride on the decision. And the tasks seem endless: choosing appropriate courses, registering and studying for standardized tests, researching colleges, completing applications, writing essays, filling out financial aid forms…the list goes on and on. With all the tension in the air, some families yearn for a way to remove the stress and reestablish equilibrium. An excellent college counselor won’t let the process get you down; in fact, they’ll help you enjoy the discoveries along the way.
SAVE MONEY
Sometimes in order to save money you need to invest in the right services. This is why people hire accountants, lawyers, and financial planners: their expertise and experience can actually save multiples of the fees paid for these services. Similarly, educational consultants can help you set a budget and stick to it. While the price of higher education keeps going up, that doesn’t mean that there are not excellent strategies that you and your family can employ to save on the overall cost of college. Invest time, energy, and money up front, and you could save tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars on education.
ALLEVIATE STRESS
Let’s face it. The college admissions rat race has us all in a tizzy. The process seems so competitive, so opaque, so uncontrollable, so random. Parents get caught up in the exaggerated fear that if their kids do not achieve a certain outcome, they will be doomed to a life as a barista. Students internalize the pressure and develop low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. A good college counselor cannot eliminate the external pressures bearing down on families and students these days. But the counselor can help empower families to focus on the things that are within their control and to let go of the things that are not. A good counselor does not elevate the stress, but instead reduces it by providing solid information, reassurance, and a zen-like presence that all will turn out well in the end.
Where do I go if I need a college counselor?
The counselors at Great College Advice have both the experience and expertise to help you optimize the outcome. While they can neither eliminate uncertainty nor rewrite the rules of the college admissions game, they can empower students and families with the information and perspective necessary to help them prepare, select, and apply to colleges that will provide them with the educational opportunities they want and deserve.
We started in business in 2007 with the vision that high school students and their families deserve clear insight into the complicated world of college admission. Our process has been developed by educators to provide students with the information and tools they need to take full control of their own educational and professional futures. While we cannot control a process that is controlled by the colleges themselves, we can optimize outcomes for students and focus on their intellectual, emotional, and social well-being.
As a national practice, we have worked with students in all 50 states and nearly 50 different countries. Each year, over 95% of our students are accepted to one of their top three choices. Many of our students are accepted to the Top 25 universities each year, and 99% of our students are accepted to schools that lie within the top 10% of American institutions of higher education.
We invite you to review some of our testimonials to understand that we deliver a process that is healthy, happy, and rewarding.
Great College Advice can keep you focused on what is truly important
Further, we are happy to share our core values. These five lodestars guide us in our work with students and their families.
INTEGRITY The Great College Advice team demystifies the often ambiguous college preparation, selection, and application process and delivers our guidance with thoughtfulness, honesty, and professionalism.
PERSONALIZATION Great College Advice provides counseling tailored to each student and family. We share our advice in a positive way that encourages students to embrace their educational futures with optimism and an open mind.
EXPERTISE The Great College Advice team shares our knowledge, expertise, and constant curiosity to empower students to maximize their educational opportunities.
LEARNING Our process encourages students to learn more about their academic interests, their professional possibilities, themselves as human beings, and the world around them. We strive to inspire them to expand their horizons and their love of learning.
TRANSFORMATION We guide our students through a transformational experience. We help them articulate their needs, desires, and aspirations so as to pursue them in college and beyond.
Still wondering if you need a college counselor?
If you want to explore professional college counseling and want to discuss how Great College Advice can make the process more successful and less stressful, reach out to us for a free consultation. We look forward to getting acquainted.
