Finding a College Counselor: What to look for in a College Admissions Consultant?

Finding A College Counselor

There are many benefits of college counseling in the admissions process. A qualified college admissions consultant or college counselor provides students with valuable guidance in their college journey. Especially for those students seeking acceptance to elite universities, the expertise of a college admissions consultant can help take your application to the next level. However, a college counselor can also guide students toward choosing and applying to a school that’s their perfect fit—regardless of the school’s status. 

Of course, if looking for the professional guidance of a college admissions consultant, you’ll want to be sure that you’re receiving college counseling from a vetted professional, with proven experience to guide you through the admissions process.

In this guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know to find a college admissions consultant or college counselor that meets your needs. Whether you’re dealing with international college admissions or looking to get into an Ivy, there’s a college admissions counselor for you! But, before we get into college admissions counseling, let’s look at some college admissions trends as they play a huge role in the college admissions process.

State of College Admissions

One benefit of using college counseling services is that college counselors understand both the college admissions process and college admissions trends. More specifically, a college admissions counselor will know how to use this knowledge to increase your admissions odds. However, even without receiving college admissions counseling, all students should be aware of current admissions trends as they begin the application process. 

Increases in applications and tuition costs

Forbes notes that the popularity of early applications has increased. This means more students are getting ahead of the college admissions process by applying Restrictive Early Action, Early Decision, and Early Action. For example, NYU noted a 14% increase in early applicants in 2023. 

However, college applications in general are also increasing. The Common Application reported that from 2019-20 to 2022-23 there was a 30% increase in total applications. As such, there are more deferrals as well as students being placed on waitlists. 

College costs and tuition are continuing to increase as well. From 2003-2023, tuition for in-state students increased by 175% and tuition at private universities increased by 134%. This makes it extremely important for students and families to consider their financial capacities when it comes to tuition and college costs. College costs and tuition play a significant role in the college to which students apply. 

College Admissions and AI

Additionally, the college admissions process is adjusting due to rapid changes in technology—namely, ChatGPT. 1 in 5 students admitted to using this tool to complete their schoolwork. Consequently, colleges are also having to deal with AI in applications. Therefore, many are looking for alternatives to the college admissions essay, such as videos or interviews.   

With all of these trends in the admissions process, college admissions are now more competitive than ever. For this reason, many who have the financial means to do so are seeking out professional college admissions counseling. A college advisor will use these trends in conjunction with a student’s personal needs and preferences to find a school that fits.  

Understanding College Counseling Services

College admissions advice from a trusted college counselor can mean the difference between an acceptance and rejection letter. So, why is college counseling so valuable? A college admissions consultant offers students a tailored admissions plan that will help them throughout the entire college journey. They guide in creating a college list, completing essays, keeping students on track, and finding and applying for scholarships or financial aid. 

With admissions being so competitive nowadays, a college advisor can certainly help students gain admission to their dream school. The expertise that a college admissions counselor can provide will streamline a student’s application process. 

Getting Accepted to Your Dream School

Much of the allure of finding a college advisor is maximizing your chances of getting into your dream school. However, even without a college counselor, you can optimize your application to better stand out in the application process. Here are some strategies you should apply (with or without the help of college counseling) to help you submit the best application possible: 

Overall, your application should be balanced and well-rounded. College admissions officers will evaluate applications holistically. Therefore every part of your application plays an important role. Gaining the advice and guidance of a reputable college admissions counseling service can help elevate your application to the next level. In particular, the guidance of a college advisor in vital pieces such as the application narrative and candidate profile. 

How College Consultants can help

While you can find plenty of online resources to help guide you in your college application journey, hiring a college advisor will truly streamline the process. A college counselor provides each student with a personalized strategy to get into their dream school. Additionally, a college admissions advisor can help you create a college list that will meet your personal preferences and needs. Since there is no one-size-fits-all process to the higher education process, a college counselor will get to know you first, understand your goals, and guide you down the best pathway. 

The best college admissions consultants will get you excited about finding and attending your dream school. Especially since finding the right fit can be a challenge when students feel overwhelmed by the whole process. A college admissions advisor will help with planning and organization to keep students on track. And, most importantly, a college counselor can give you the best tips to make your application stand out. 

Admissions expertise

A college admissions advisor has expert insight into the admissions process. A college counselor will often have gone through the rigorous application process themselves. In fact, many of the best college admissions consultants have attended the top universities in the nation. Some of the best college admissions consultants have also held positions in admissions offices at elite universities.  For example, CollegeAdvisor has 300+ Admissions Experts and former Admissions Officers from top colleges like Yale University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, and many more. Therefore, these are some of the most valuable people you can connect to when seeking out college admissions counseling. 

What is College Counseling?

College counseling services have been placed in the spotlight in recent years—namely due to a Hollywood scandal. Essentially, they were accused of dodging the normal admissions process. This placed a negative light on college counseling services. Since the ethics of hiring college counseling services has been placed into question, if seeking them out, you’ll want to make sure they are trusted professionals. Of course, this is not what college admissions counseling is all about. The best college admissions consultants will simply help students highlight the best parts of themselves and guide them with expert college admissions advice. 

Benefits of college counseling

College counseling services can have a high price tag. However, it is because of the benefit that their college admissions advice offers hopeful applicants—especially those looking to get into the best universities in the nation. A college counselor can help students with everything from creating the best college list for them to crafting a competitive application. In particular, a college admissions consultant can be especially beneficial when it comes to the more tedious aspects of the admission process, such as filing your FAFSA or looking at financial aid options. Additionally, a college counselor can also help those interested in international college admissions navigate the process.  

However, the greatest benefit of college admissions counseling services is the level of expertise and personalized attention they offer their clients. Of course, that’s not to say that a college admissions counselor can move mountains. While college admissions counseling can help your application stand out, a college admissions counselor can’t guarantee admissions. And, they certainly can’t fill out the application for you!

What Do College Counselors Do?

A college admissions counselor offers a broad range of services through virtual or in-person meetings. College counseling services include:

In addition, they also help with more niché areas such as international college admissions and school-specific college admissions essays.

What to expect from college counseling

The frequency with which you meet with your college admissions consultant will vary based on your agreement and at what point of the admissions process you’re at. However, the check-ins you can expect will be based on your tailored admissions strategy and plan. The best college admissions consultant will keep you on track throughout the application process. They may even serve as a writing coach to help get you to the best versions of your college essays possible. 

An integral part of the role of a college counselor is understanding your interests and goals—or helping you understand them. Your future goals and current preferences play an important part in finding the best school for you. The best college admissions consultant will learn more about you so they can give you the best services.

Want to learn more? We’ll get into the specific services that a college counselor can offer in the following sections. 

College Search & Selection

One of the first steps of the process that your college admissions counselor will help with is finding schools that fit your needs. For starters, this can mean exploring your preference between a small school or a large public university. Your college counselor will look at your academic and extracurricular achievements, interests, preferences, needs, and future goals. By combining a myriad of factors, these professionals will provide college counseling that steers you toward schools that will be the best fit for you. 

A college counselor not only helps students search for schools that fit their needs. They also help provide them with a well-balanced college list. College admissions counseling can also help students make informed decisions on which school to select in the end. They’ll guide you in deciphering which financial package and admissions would be best for your long-term goals. Of course, ultimately, your college admissions consultant serves as a knowledgeable guide. The final decision of where to go to school is yours. 

College Application Timeline Support

Another important aspect that a college advisor can help with is keeping students on track to complete their applications on time. A college admissions consultant will help students in managing their various application deadlines, as well as understand the requirements at each school. 

A college counselor can also help students decide which application deadline is best for them. They provide strategic planning for Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision deadlines. They may even help you seek out schools with rolling admissions if they think that’s best! A college admissions counselor will also offer advice on comparing financial aid options and packages after admission.  

College Essay Advice

Writing college essays is often the most stressful part of the college application process. So, it makes sense that one of the most frequently used services offered by college admissions consultants is essay editing.

A college counselor will help students craft compelling essays. A large part of this process includes helping them choose essay topics for personal statements and supplemental essays. Students will also want to look at free college essay examples on their own. However, the valuable advice of a college counselor will help students much more than simply skimming free college essay examples. 

Focusing and polishing your essays

The best college admissions consultants will also help you stay on track with your candidate profile and application narrative. Namely, the college admissions consultant is entrusted with making sure that you craft a well-rounded and cohesive application that will stand out to admissions officers. If your essay doesn’t support your overall narrative, they’ll help you revise your essay until you have one that does.

College admissions counseling services will provide students with essay reviews and feedback. This specific, individual feedback does a lot more for you than simply reading free college essay examples. Of course, it is not your college counselor’s job to write your essays for you. But, they will be able to give you the feedback you need to get your essays to their best version possible. While you may use spellcheck and Grammarly to help you with minor mechanical errors, these tools don’t compare to the personalized feedback and attention that a college admissions consultant will provide.  

Identifying College Scholarships & Financial Aid Support

Assisting in searching for scholarships is another way that a college admissions consultant can help their clients. How to pay for college is a large concern for many families. Therefore, you’ll want to do all you can to lessen the financial burden.

For one thing, you can search for a myriad of different merit scholarships. There are plenty of scholarships out there, but it can feel overwhelming to find them. This is where the knowledge of a college counselor can really help you get ahead. Additionally, certain colleges will have better financial aid packages or more scholarship opportunities than others. While you can certainly do your own research, a college counselor will streamline the process.

Students will also need to fill out the FAFSA by the deadline in order to apply for federal financial aid. This year’s FAFSA deadline is June 30, 2024. This application can feel overwhelming, but college counseling will help answer any question you might have. You’ll also want to fill out the CSS Profile. This is an online application used by some schools to award scholarships and non-federal aid. It opens on October 1, but deadlines will vary by school.

Free CollegeAdvisor Resources

The best way to learn more about what a college admissions consultant or college counselor has to offer is by checking out their free resources. For instance, here at CollegeAdvisor, we have an extensive library of free resources. You might be familiar with our articles and guides since you’re reading one right now! In addition to this article, we offer a myriad of information that can help you get into your dream school–and it’s all free and available online.

In fact, we have webinars, guides, and articles that dissect every possible part of the college process. Our webinars cover topics such as building a strong extracurricular resume, navigating financial aid and scholarships, and understanding the new test-optional landscape. These webinars are led by experts, often former admissions officers at top colleges. Additionally, they often feature our college admissions consultants, who speak to their own experiences with college admissions.

College application guides

Many of our guides feature free college essay examples, which can help you learn how to craft the best essay. Indeed, we offer A LOT of college essay advice. From essay topics to writing tips to college essay examples from many Ivy League schools, we have ample resources to aid you in writing your best essays. 

Beyond providing free college essay examples, these guides can walk you through every step of the college process. Struggling to build your college list? We’ll help you brainstorm potential schools and offer tips on deciding which ones to apply to. Still don’t know what kind of schools you’re looking for? Our guides on the best small colleges and the best public universities can help you narrow it down. Worried about getting into your dream school? Check out our guides on Ivy League acceptance rates, college deadlines, and how to finance your college experience. And if you’re coming in late, don’t worry—we’ve got a guide on colleges with rolling admissions to get you accepted to a school you love.

Advice you can trust

Most importantly, all CollegeAdvisor content is written by senior college admissions consultants and college counselors who’ve been through the process. They’re experts in the field. These kinds of free tools (webinars, articles, and guides) are a great start to planning your college journey.

While they’re certainly not a substitute for personalized college counseling, they can serve as an excellent supplement. Regardless of if you choose to work with a formal college counselor, they’re certainly valuable resources. In any case, be sure to take advantage of the many free resources available online to help you during the application process.

How Much Does A College Counselor Cost?

College counselors’ prices can vary widely—but don’t worry, most college admissions consultants aren’t charging $120,000 a year. However, in recent years many are seeing the true value of college counseling. In fact, some companies are even offering independent college counseling as a benefit for their employees. 

But, there’s certainly no denying that college counseling isn’t necessarily “cheap”. According to the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the average price for college counselors is around $140/hour.  However, college admissions consultants generally charge in three ways: hourly, per college admissions cycle, or through a package. 

Unpacking college counseling costs

College counselors who charge by the hour may charge you for things like meetings or time spent researching or editing college admissions essays. Essentially, you will be charged for any services that they provide as part of their college counseling offering. The total cost will be based on the total number of hours your college counselor spends working on you/your application.

Some college counselors may ask for a lump sum for the whole college admission cycle or a school year. For these college admissions consultants, you can purchase all of their services at once without having to worry about keeping track of the hourly pay. Of course, this will require a larger up-front cost. 

Other college counseling companies have their students and families purchase packages. These packages contain services like a certain number of hours dedicated to college admissions essay editing, meetings, and so on. With packages, you know exactly what you’re getting from your college admissions consultant, and how much you’re paying for each aspect of the college counseling process.

Paying for college counseling services

Some larger college counselor companies also provide scholarships or financial aid for students who aren’t in the position to pay for a college admissions consultant. For example, CollegeAdvisor has the Scholars Program, which provides free college counseling for lower-income and first-generation students. 

Regardless of how you pay for college admissions counseling, think of the payment as an investment in your future. Compared to the cost of college, hiring a college counselor is a relatively low price that can highly pay off in the future. 

Your college experience can have a big effect on your life. Consider the potential financial gain of graduating with an advanced degree, and even the emotional bonds and life experience that you gain by attending a college where you can thrive. An investment in college counseling is a way to reduce anxiety around the college process and make sure that you end up at a school that’s the best fit for you. 

How Do I Choose A College Admissions Counselor?

So, you know you want to work with a college admissions consultant, but what features should you be looking for? Similar to your ideal school, your ideal counselor should be a good fit. You’ll want to connect with someone who can not only help you achieve your educational goals but also with whom you feel comfortable having by your side for this important journey.

Qualities to look for in a college counselor

One of the biggest things you should look for in a college counselor is whether they can make the college process less stressful. No matter how good they are, college counselors can’t guarantee admission. However, they can make sure that you feel more prepared to take on your college applications and are confident in your application.

College counselors should also know what they’re talking about. College admissions consultants will be helping you in every step of the college admissions process. Refining your college list, creating an admissions strategy, helping brainstorm and edit your college admissions essays, and navigating financial aid. You want someone who is an expert in all of these categories. 

Finding college counselors

One way to find a trustworthy college counselor is to go through a large, established company like CollegeAdvisor which is powered by U.S. News & World Report. Though some college counselors work alone, there are large companies that hire many different college advisors. By working with a company that’s specifically designed to train college admissions consultants, you take less of a risk on your college counselor. 

You can also check if your college counselor is accredited with the National Association for College Admission Counseling. NACAC does a background check when assessing advisors’ qualifications and can provide families with reassurance that their college advisor is the real deal.

Often, college counselors and college admissions consultants are graduates from top schools. This is a good sign, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that your counselor will be a good tutor or know how to translate their experience into actionable feedback. Look for a college counselor who, in addition to personal admissions success, has some experience with tutoring, college admissions essay editing, or college admissions counseling.

Exploring College Counseling Reviews & Ratings

It can seem difficult to tell whether a college admissions consultant has the right credentials to help you get into your dream school. Another way to learn more about potential college counselors is to read reviews.

One review site you can use when fielding potential college admissions consultants is TrustPilot. TrustPilot is a general review site for companies in many different sectors, including educational consultants. If you search for a college counseling company, you can find its client reviews. 

Additionally, TrustPilot allows you to see reviews of individual college counselors. For example, on CollegeAdvisor’s TrustPilot, many college admissions consultants are referenced by name. CollegeAdvisor also has an article with reviews and spotlights on different students’ success stories. 

Alternatively, don’t underestimate word-of-mouth reviews! Ask friends, family, and acquaintances whether they worked with a college admissions consultant who they were impressed by. These types of recommendations can be especially helpful if your friend has similar goals to yours, like majoring in a specific subject or wanting to get into a certain school. 

How to read reviews

Even if a company has a lot of good reviews, it’s still good to read them with a critical eye. Again, what’s most important is that your college admissions consultant can make the process less stressful and help you prepare the best possible application.

Ultimately, you need to think about your personal goals: what do you want out of a college counselor? In what areas do you need support? A five-star review doesn’t necessarily mean that the college advisor will be the right one for you. Once you’ve done your research, you’re ready for the next step in your search for a college counselor–a meeting!

Questions To Ask A College Admissions Counselor

Now that you’ve tracked down potential college advisors, you’ll likely want to ask them some questions. An introductory meeting is a great opportunity for you to learn more about a potential college counselor. Once you’ve had a conversation, both of you can then decide if you are a good fit for one another.

Communicating your needs and goals

First, make sure that your college advisor understands your personal needs and goals. This means you must define your goals and be able to communicate them to your college admissions consultant. Every student is different, and you want to make sure that you and your college admissions consultant are on the same page about what you want to gain from this process.

You can also look for a college admissions counselor who has special training in your areas of interest. For example, some college admissions consultants may be experienced in working with first-generation students, athletes, STEM majors, or students interested in international college admissions. College counseling is only useful if it serves your needs. So it’s important to know what those needs are and ask your counselor about them in your first meeting. 

Aligning on strategy

It’s also important to know the college admissions consultant’s strategy. They likely have a certain approach that they have used with students in the past, and it’s good to learn more about what that approach is. They will also have a success rate: how many of their students have gained admission to one of their top choice schools?

Some college admissions counselors will work with students who want to get into Ivies. But that doesn’t mean that they’re better than counselors whose students get into other schools. Whatever your dream school is, that’s the one that your college advisor should be focused on.

Choosing the right College Counselor for You!

Finding the best person for your college counseling experience is paramount. You’ll want to look for a college admissions counselor who you get along with and feel comfortable around. More than that, you want someone experienced who has expertise in the areas that you’re interested in.

You also want to make sure that you and your counselor are aligned in achieving your goals. That requires being on the same page about the expectations of college advising. Talk about what success looks like to you and make sure your counselor feels confident they can help you reach your goals. That way, you can effectively work together to reach them.

In the next section, we’ll cover specific steps to help you select the best college consultant for you. 

Five Steps to Selecting the Best College Consultant

5 Steps to Selecting the Best College Consultant

We’ve looked at various aspects of finding a college counselor so far. Now, we want to leave you with five tips to guide you in selecting your best college consultant. 

1. Determine Your Needs and Goals

Your college admissions counseling will be most successful if you can communicate your goals with your college admissions advisor. Take a look at your academic profile and your GPA, and think about what you want out of a college experience. Do you want college admissions counseling to help you get into an Ivy League school, or do you have your heart set on your flagship state school? Are you seeking out college counseling because you’re nervous about writing essays, or are you confident in essay writing but have no idea where you want to go to school? 

When you start college counseling, it’s okay not to know everything—that’s what the experts are here for! But, as much as you can, take inventory of what you’re looking for out of college admissions counseling.

Additionally, identify the areas where you want the most help. One of the best parts of college admission counseling is that you have someone in your corner who can offer guidance and support on all parts of the college admissions process. Are you overwhelmed by figuring out where you want to go to school, or struggling to navigate the scholarship process? Do you have no idea how to present yourself? Are you worried that you haven’t done the right extracurriculars? 

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone—many students come to college counseling with these anxieties. Once you’ve thought about what you’re looking for out of college admissions counseling and where you might need some guidance, you can start researching who you want to work with.

2. Research and Compile a List of Consultants

The next step to finding the right person to work with on your college counseling journey is to do your research. Go online and look for different reviews and resources to find recommended college admissions counseling companies. 

However, your search shouldn’t just be online—talk to your friends about college admissions counselors or college advisors that they’ve worked with. To find the best college admissions consultants, you want to get as many recommendations as possible. But, keep in mind that the best college admissions consultants for you depend on your goals. If you’re looking for an expert in international college admissions or in working with D1 athletes, you may need to do a little more digging. 

When you’re reading college admissions counseling reviews, see if you can figure out what kind of students the college admissions counselors worked with before. Try to work with someone who has a strong track record with students similar to you. This process will be easier if you go through a large college admissions counseling company since they will have many different counselors available that they can offer you. 

3. Evaluate Their Credentials and Experience

To find the right college admissions counselor, it’s crucial to evaluate their credentials and experience. There are many people who offer college admissions counseling, so college counseling services can vary widely. 

First, check the college admissions advisor’s educational background. They should have at least a bachelor’s degree and some may have other degrees in teaching or relevant fields. Next, look at whether the college admissions advisor has any professional certifications. This may include membership in the Independent Educational Consultants Association or the National Association for College Admission Counseling. 

You should also look at how many years they have been providing college counseling services. The best college admissions consultants don’t need to have been working as a college counselor for ten years, but you’ll probably want someone who has done this before—especially if you’re hiring someone independently. If you go through a company, you can place more confidence in the company’s track record, even if your individual counselor is newer to the profession. 

The best college admissions consultants also won’t be coy about their success stories. Does the counselor you’re looking at have reviews or testimonials? Do they have any case studies on their website that demonstrate effectiveness? Can you speak to anyone who has worked with this counselor before? It’s important to do as much research on the backend so that you know that the college counseling services you’re paying for are right for you. 

4. Schedule Consultations and Ask the Right Questions

Once you’ve found some potential college advisors, schedule consultations. Often, these consultations are free, but even if there’s a small fee it might be worth it. In these consultations, communicate your goals for the college admissions process. 

You want to get a feel for their approach. Anyone can give college admissions advice: you’re looking for a defined strategy for how this counselor plans to approach the college process. You should ask specific questions about their services, especially areas that may be unique to you. 

For example, have they worked in international college admissions? Or have they ever gotten students into music conservatory programs? It’s important to know as much about their background as possible, and how your counselor’s experience aligns with your goals.

Don’t forget to ask questions about their availability. If they work another job in addition to college counseling, they may only be able to meet at night or on weekends. They may also be working with other students. Be sure that your schedules align before moving forward with a counselor. 

5. Consider Compatibility and Communication Style

Finally, as you’re doing your introductory call, reflect on your comfort level with the consultant. Did you two have a good rapport? Did you enjoy talking with them and like the way they framed the college process? The last thing you want to feel is uncomfortable and unsupported, so don’t rush into an agreement with a college counselor if you have any misgivings about how well your personalities mesh. 

It can also be good to take note of their responsiveness: did they send an email right after your meeting summarizing what you talked about? How quick were they to respond initially and to schedule the meeting? You don’t want to have to pester your advisor or track them down—the last thing you want is an advisor who adds more stress to your college process.

Finding A College Counselor – Final Thoughts

The college application process can be incredibly daunting, and many students don’t know where to start. You can read college admissions advice on the internet, go over countless free college essay examples, and ask your friends and family for tips. However, it can be incredibly valuable to use college counseling services and work with someone whose whole job is supporting you through the process. 

Though some people worry about the ethics of using college counseling services, there’s no denying that having a college advisor in your corner can be a huge relief. Whether you’re struggling to navigate international college admissions or trying to figure out how to get into your dream school, college counselors can provide expert college admissions advice, emotional support, and reassurance, and maximize your chances of admission. 

Whether you’re set on working with a college counselor or you’re still on the fence, CollegeAdvisor can help. You can set up an introductory call to learn more about CollegeAdvisor’s expert counselors and exclusive offerings. Sign up now to take the next steps toward your educational journey!

This article was written by Sarah Kaminski and advisor, Rachel Kahn. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.