Why Hire an Independent College Counselor to Help You in Your College Admissions Process?

When dealing with the college admissions process, there are two types of counselors available. There are the independent college counselors, and there are college counselors or advisors. These two types differ in many ways. The first one is paid for by the student, while the latter is employed by the school. The organizations that support independent college counselors are the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA). The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) endorses the college counselors. For graduate school admissions, the association that leads this industry is the Association of International Graduate Admissions (AIGAC). Any college admissions counselor should be a professional member of these organizations.

Independent college counselors, also known as consultants, assist students and their families to handle the graduate or undergraduate college application process. They help with various tasks to ensure that students are on the right track for high school graduation. These tasks are quite comprehensive. They meet groups of students, and usually provide one-on-one counseling. They coordinate college tours, college applications, and college selections to relieve family stress and maximize results. Other tasks of independent college counselors include revealing available avenues for financial aid, and sharing unbiased information on a wide scope of graduate and collegiate programs… So why do you need to hire a private admissions counselor? Here are the major benefits of hiring an independent consultant:

• Helps in determining what types of colleges would be best suited for your requirements
• Guides you to plan college visits and  helps in improving your time management skills
• Reduces stress in both students and parents in finalizing college application process
• Provides unbiased ideas about financial aid, colleges, admissions process, and other related concerns
• Able to tell stories to show your strengths and how you can help to the community
• Helps in  completing the application within a short period of time
• Assists with application essays and personal statements
• Guarantees college and scholarship applications
• Explains college finances, review acceptance, and much more

With all these benefits of an independent counselor, why doesn’t everyone hire one? Choosing a professional independent college counselor can be challenging, but when done correctly, can be an extremely rewarding experience. You have to consider various criteria to guarantee that you will get what you really need. To hire private admissions counselors, your first move is to pick one with excellent rapport. Your preferred independent counselors must possess interest in your goals. They should also have enough time to work with you. Before hiring them, ask them about their office hours and determine if they are willing to make appointments to fit your schedule. They should know the degree program requirements, college policies, prerequisites and content of various courses.  Above all, you need to find out if they have contacts that could help you in getting exposure, scholarships, or internships.

After searching for the best independent college counselors, and choosing one that is right for you, they will start working for you immediately. They are here to help you with any and all of your college application concerns.  Therefore, you can be confident that you will never experience any trouble, and you will easily find answers to your college application issues. So, start searching for the best independent college counselor, and witness how they work for yourself!