by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director

The trend among associations today is to make membership as easy as possible.  When I attend workshops at conferences for association CEOs, the advice is consistent: simplify the application, lessen standards, lower the bar, reduce fees, let people fill in a few bits of contact information and pay online.  Particularly in this economic environment, professional societies and associations from Bangor to San Diego are doing just that.

The Independent Educational Consultants Association decided to do the opposite.  Over the last few years we strengthened both our admission requirements and our ethics policies.  We may be the only association in the nation that reviews every applicant’s marketing materials and Web site, rejecting for membership those we feel reflect values we find unacceptable: preying on parental anxieties or implying consulting is about using tricks and secrets to package a student for admission.

We require scores of campus visits and evidence of working ethically and successfully with students and families.  No one else in our field demands these.  Our membership fees, while unchanged for 28 years, remain higher than anyone else’s.  Our Summer Training Institute, heavy on ethics and best practices, has been described by attendees as being on the receiving end of a fire hose blasting away for four days; there’s that much information we feel must be conveyed.

My association colleagues ask me how we’re doing.  Their assumption is that here in the midst of a recession, as we take a direction opposite of all other groups (and with easier-to-admit standards offered elsewhere) we must be in trouble.  Nationwide MOST organizations are in shrink mode–and that’s with the lowering of admission standards.

The answer: we’re doing just fine, thank you.  The standards make us stronger and more respected.  Colleagues and the media in virtually every article on the profession, point to IECA membership as THE hallmark of a qualified, knowledgeable, ethical consultant.  And the result of these tough standards for admission: our membership is growing more quickly than ever.  Inquiries are up, interest is up, attendance at conferences is up.  Consider next week’s Summer Training Institute: we closed registration when we hit our maximum of 90 attendees (a record) and have a wait list of many more with upwards of 20 inquires coming in during the last few days.

IECA is evidence that when you commit to excellence, ethics, competence, and serving students as first priority, you will attract the right people.

Now I know full well that some look at IECA and our requirements and categorize us as being elitist or unwelcoming.  As anyone knows who joins us, our Outreach Committee and members individually are incredibly welcoming with scores of mentors, group activities, shared tours, regional groups, and more.  Those who complain, I think, confuse high standards—and a commitment to the thousands of families each month who come to us seeking help—with elitism.

If the price for high standards and ethics is a perception of being elitist then it’s a price I’m willing to pay, and based on our growth and acceptance, is clearly the right course.

by Katherine Cohen, IECA (New York)

As you are aware, The New York Times published an article on Sunday, July 19th that took a negative view of our industry and I’m sure most of you are as disappointed as I was in the story’s one-sided approach. As one of the counselors included in the article, I wanted you to know that I spent considerable time with the reporter, Jacques Steinberg, to assure he had a thorough understanding of how we guide individual students toward achieving their own success. Sadly, this view of counseling was not presented in the article. Furthermore, the article included an erroneous assertion that the IvyWise website contains a statement that is not in compliance with IECA’s Principles of Good Practice. On July 28, The New York Times published a correction, stating that the content on the IvyWise website “does not specifically violate any provision of the association’s formal written principles.”

Let there be no doubt that I am proud to be a member of IECA and that I take very seriously my responsibility to uphold the organization’s Principles of Good Practice.

by Marilyn G.S. Emerson, IECA (New York)

I just returned from a tour of ten Nova Scotia universities organized for college counselors by EduNova. I highly recommend this tour to my colleagues.

Twenty one counselors, both educational consultants and high school guidance counselors, from the USA and abroad participated. Five (one quarter) of the twenty-one attendees are IECA members: Valerie Broughton. Susan Edwards, Ann Montgomery, Laurie Nash and me.

We learned that Nova Scotia schools can present an attractive, cost-effective alternative, providing students with a university education for less than $25,000 a year, inclusive of tuition, room and board and other fees. Aid is available to both international and domestic students to offset some of this cost.

Here are some tidbits from the tour:
Acadia University – offers an accelerated three-year business program and has a program to keep parents involved.
Cape Breton University – offers experiential learning and also has a campus in Cairo.
Dalhousie University – offers the opportunity to combine areas of study in novel ways that make sense to the student and has had 86 Rhodes Scholars.
University of King’s College –offers a great books foundation year and is the oldest English speaking college in Canada.
Mount Saint Vincent University – offers a major in public relations and has a University Bridge Program for students who need to strengthen their English.
Nova Scotia Agricultural College – offers a program in environmental horticulture and has a 13 million dollar poultry research facility.
Nova Scotia College of Art (NSCAD) – offers a minor in fashion and has a gallery for student work.
Saint Mary’s University – offers an AACSB accredited business school and their students come from 90 different countries.
St. Francis Xavier University – offers an aquatic resource program and houses the Coady Leadership Development Institute.
Universite Sainte Anne –offers students the opportunity to learn in French and has a summer immersion program.

by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director

Clear Channel Communications, one of the nation’s largest radio station owners with more than 1200 stations across the country, is partnering with College Week Live to heavily promote a virtual New England College Fair on October 15. IECA has joined this partnership  to inform its members and their families about the fair and will provide free one-to-one online assistance to students and parents throughout the day.

The event will allow students and parents from inside and outside New England to learn about and interact with admission representatives from colleges and universities around New England. We expect many state agencies to support and promote the program as well.

IECA members from New England are invited to volunteer to answer questions about college admissions, the application process, financial aid, learning disabilities, athletic recruitment, and more. In addition to such volunteers, IECA is looking for those who can assist in preparing a frequently asked questions (and answers) list. Such an approach is a response to the similar questions which came up throughout last spring’s national College Week Live two-day event which involved more than 50 IECA members as volunteers in the online counseling center.

IECA members who wish to participate as volunteers should let me know. Students and families who want more information about the event (as well as upcoming national and regional events) should visit www.CollegeWeekLive.com.

by Emily Snyder, IECA (Virginia)

In direct response to the media coverage that has helped raise awareness of who we are and what we do, last week, our esteemed colleague, Steve Antonoff, posted a “Call to Action.”

True to form, Steve very eloquently spoke about the need for all of us to stay the course and continue to advocate on behalf of our profession in the manner that those who know us have come to expect — and equally important respect.

In my opinion, never before has it been more important for those who are willing to heed his words. I plan to do so in what I believe is the spirit of Steve’s intent — through reasonable debate of the issues with an approach that is thoughtful, mindful of others’ opinions and arguments, encourages responsible discussion, and demonstrates the level of professionalism for which IECA consultants are known. I hope others of you will do the same.

by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director

With the increased attention brought to the profession over the past week, many more parents are examining the benefits of working with an educational consultant to aid in their child’s school or college planning and application. At the same time, it is more important than ever to make sure that the person being hired is knowledgeable, competent, well-informed, ethical, and student-focused. IECA has laid out the top dozen question to ask an educational consultant before hiring, as well as a dozen signs that someone you are talking to may not have what it takes. These lists are available on the IECA Web site.

While this list will be of valuable assistance to consumers, parents can rest assured that working with a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association is their assurance that all of these 12 conditions are met, as those seeking membership are fully vetted.

by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director

With so much written, spoken and blogged about in recent days regarding news coverage of the profession, many educational consultants wonder if there will ever be a news story that simply explains to parents what it is consultants can do for students and families.

A new story posted late yesterday on Bankrate.com does just that–don’t miss it!

The article quotes Alan Haas (CT), Rosalind Marie (AL), Charlotte Klaar (MD), Judy Muir (TX) and me. Let’s pass this link on to others and help this article go viral!!

by Emily Snyder, IECA (Virginia)

Today’s edition of Inside Higher Ed includes a partisan yet objective assessment of both the appreciation for and concerns with the Congressional bill to restructure student aid programs.

It may be somewhat of a long read for anyone not interested in the “how did this come about” politicking that goes on behind the passing of legislation, but it does cover the basics and explain the issues that are generating the most amount of concern.

Even for college consultants who don’t include financial aid counseling and advice as part of the services they offer, this article still provides a sense of the complexity of the issues and will help everyone better understand who will be most impacted and what all students in search of—and most importantly in need of—funding for college will be up against as more families than ever compete for an increasingly smaller pool of available federal and state money.

What a wonderful sharing of ideas and thoughts over the past several days. Many members of IECA posted comments on New York Times’ “The Choice” blog as well as the IECA blog, and many more sent me comments directly. I loved that the comments were uniformly well-thought, serious, professional with a clear message: IECA Member educational consultants do what they do because they believe in empowering students to be successful, they believe in the power of a good “match” and they know their IECA membership is meaningful.

These views contrasted with some of the petty and hateful comments heard by some outside of our community and even by a few non-IECA consultants. But today I’d like to celebrate the wonderful remarks I read by reprinting a few of those here from among our own membership.

From Suzanne Miller (Associate Member, NY)
The vast majority of us charge modest fees for valid, sincere services. We must go through a strict screening process prior to admission to [IECA]. We spend a significant amount of time traveling around the country learning about the various colleges and universities so we may help our families create realistic lists of college choices. I educate my families that admission to college is not a prize to be won, but a match to be made. My goal is not to secure admission to the “best” schools for my students, but to guide them through the process, with the ultimate goal of finding a good fit academically, socially, and financially.

From, Emily Snyder (Professional Member, VA)
Most consultants work hard to balance providing cost effective services for an affordable fee which will, at the end of the day, allow them to pay their expenses and still make a living. Each consultant is responsible for his/her own fees associated with training, professional development, memberships in organizations, and travel to visit colleges and universities across the Country, and in some cases internationally. Couple that with the operational costs associated with owning one’s own business, which in some cases includes providing health care coverage. Additionally, do what is necessary to to maintain the standards of excellence that IECA members pride themselves on while simultaneously providing the level of high quality services that the families we work with expect, many of us find ourselves in the position of limiting the number of students we can take on each year.

From Ann Rossbach (Associate Member, NJ)
I am both proud and grateful to be associated with IECA, an organization that upholds stringent standards for independent counselors. My colleagues are educated and devoted professionals who offer guidance to families and meaningful forms of support to students. Many of us undertake pro bono work in schools and communities where college guidance may not always be accessible For one, I am devoted to the concept that access to continued and higher education is a rite, and my vocation as a counselor to all types of students speaks to that.

From Bill Dingledine (Professional Member, SC)
I agree with Mark. I spoke with Jacques as well just prior to the article being published and his attitude was that IECA represented the right approach and that many people would be calling Mark to find out more about the Association its members. Jacques explained to me that he wanted people to realize that there were qualified professionals and then there were charlatans — as he said, “buyer beware” but do your research. I believe that the brevity of the article did not allow enough time/room to present that aspect in balance with the space used to discuss some of the questionable aspects and people of the profession. This attention gives us more opportunity to talk about what really matters and highlights our organization and the qualified professionals who practice ethically.

From Nancy Griesemer (Associate Member, VA)
So why does this generate such anger and earn so many inches of New York Times real estate? I don’t think it’s really about the money or the regulation of the industry. Otherwise, we’d be reading about other pieces of the college admissions pie like test prep services or highly-marketed publications that rank colleges. What I’m reading is more of an indictment of the entire college admissions process. Where is the fairness? Why do some folks have an edge and others don’t? And on a more personal level: Why didn’t I get into my top-pick school? Why didn’t my child have more offers of admission? And, why did my neighbor’s kid get in when everyone knows he’s such a little rat? Because the process has taken over from the goal, which should be to find “fit” and not “prestige” through a professional and humane system of college advising. And, this is what I do at a rate commensurate with that of a good academic tutor.

Why do I have a business? In the rush to cut budgets, an increasing number of high school students are getting lost in huge guidance caseloads. A substantial percent of my clients have never met with a guidance counselor on a one-to-one basis and have no idea how to go about assessing colleges or college opportunities. Does this mean they should pull themselves up by the bootstraps and persevere in the face of adversity? It appears that way from the commenting parents crowing about their personal triumphs or those of their children (it’s amazing how parents internalize the accomplishments of their children in this business). I believe that if you need help whether in calculus, coiff3ur, interior design, or investment, it’s acceptable to seek it out. And yes, some folks can afford more than others. Does that mean they’ve gained unfair edge? Not necessarily. I may be a bargain, but I’m really pretty good at working with unmotivated, confused kids who need a little boost when it comes to thinking about colleges.

From Christie Woodfin (Professional Member, GA)
There are multiple tragedies between the lines of this article:
+The greed of some independent, uncredentialed and unethical counselors
+The assumption of parents that their children must matriculate at a prestigious school in order to succeed in life
+The anxiety that is aroused in students who, in accord with their parents’ assumptions, equate their own self-worth with their college acceptances
+The loss of enjoyment in the moment for high school students who view their teenage years only as the time to prepare of their transcript
+The inability to appreciate that different students flourish in different environments. The job of the independent consultant should be to help each client identify the kind of college setting where he or she will thrive, to point her to the specific institutions that are most appropriate for her interests and level of academic engagement, and to lower the anxiety around the process.

If a consultant is promising to get a student into a certain type of university without regard to the needs of the adolescent, the family should grab their wallets and run in the other direction.

From Marilyn Emerson (Professional Member, NY)
As the Membership Chairperson of IECA, as well as a CEP (Certified Educational Planner), I can say with certainty that the students and families that the vast majority of our members work with are NOT the over- indulgent narcissists referred to by some writers.

Most often, client families are simply seeking advice and assistance in making the best choice for their child. Sometimes they are families with special needs or in special situations that require time and attention in excess of what most busy school guidance counselors are able to provide. Common examples include single parents, children with chronic diseases and students with learning differences. For these and many families, selection of a college that is right for the child, a college that not only the student can get into, but where he can succeed academically and socially, can present special challenges.

From Betsy Woolf (Professional Member, NY)
I spend hours and hours talking to students and parents, clarifying and explaining what to many has become a mysterious journey. I think about each individual student and what is best for him or her; I answer a parent’s phone call at 9:30 at night, troubleshoot a frantic call from a student who has hit the button sending an application prematurely, reassure a student that his SAT score doesn’t mean he cannot get into college, brainstorm ideas with the student who says, “I’m just an average teen – there’s nothing for me to write about” (yes, there is); and on and on.

On top of that I spend a lot of time visiting colleges, reading journals, attending conferences, doing research. It’s not frivolous work, but rather, a big job and a big responsibility that I take very seriously. College counseling is a service that I am proud to offer, and probably one of the most gratifying things I have done in my professional lifetime. Guiding a student through a process of self-discovery and helping him or her find a college that satisfies his or her needs – academically, socially and emotionally – truly makes me proud.

From Farron Peatross (Professional Member, LA)
Quite frankly, very few of my southern client’s parents hire me with the intent of helping their child with admission to an ivy league school. Most parents are interested in their child attending a school that is a good match for them academically and socially. They are unsure about aspects of the college search process and appreciate the security of knowing that they and their child are following the admission requirements and deadlines. Additionally, they have my quick response to their questions and concerns, as opposed to finding an answer through the public school system or in college guides, as well as, my knowledge of many different schools in all areas of our country.

My fee for my services barely cover my business and travel expenses to the hundreds of colleges that I have toured over the years as a requirement for my career and re certification as a Certified Educational Planner. As with most of my colleagues, who are reputable and caring professionals, our best compensation is the appreciation of our clients.

by Becky Grappo, IECA (Oman)

OACAC, the overseas version of NACAC, just concluded its annual conference at Chapman University yesterday. It was a huge success with excellent breakout sessions and networking opportunities. My presentation on Transitions 101 produced a lot of conversation and dialogue, which made me very pleased. My goal was to have the audience ponder the question after the session, and it seems like that goal was met!

There were over 200 colleges there, too. While there was no way that I could meet and talk to all their representatives, I did find out about many more schools and programs than I was previously aware of. And as always, I had my students in mind and was also looking for schools and programs that would fit their needs. I have some new ideas that I can’t wait to share with them!

What makes this conference unique is that it focuses on the kids who attend international schools. That includes Americans living abroad as well as international students. It was nice to be with a group of people where the majority of the college side participants not only know Oman and Dubai, where I live and work, but have been there!

One highlight of the conference was the dinner aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Many participants wore the national dress of the country in which they live and work. It was a parade of nations, to be sure! (My dress from Oman got lost somewhere either in the mail or the move, I’m not sure which!)

Overall, it was a very positive experience and I look forward to participating again next year.