An article appeared on the Unigo Web site yesterday that purports to explain the role of the educational consultant in the college search. Instead it fosters a damaging, incorrect image that speaks more to the ethical lapse and ego-centric views of the consultant cited. By using this one consultant as an example (not an IECA member), the article claims that consultants “package” students to make them “attractive to admission officers” and “provide insider information.” This one consultant charges up to $42,000, and claims a 100% success rate in students getting into top schools. Simply put consultants do NOT get students into colleges. Students do that through years of effort and hard work, and by seeking admission to schools appropriate to their skills and needs. When a consultant claims to have used secret knowledge and contacts in the process, they destroy a student’s confidence by suggesting it was their (the consultant’s) influence that was the key to admission and not a student’s own accomplishments. Consultants such as this who make ridiculous claims of getting every student they see into a competitive college are deceiving the public and taking advantage of anxious families. The only guarantee is that there are no guarantees. Only by refusing to work with average students and focusing on the absolute top students can a consultant make such a claim, meaning they only take students destined to the top and then steal the credit for the students’ efforts.

I am deeply offended—and we should all be—whenever a consultant’s public statements revolve around “getting in.” Success, I argue cannot be judged based on who get invited to join the freshman class but rather by where students grow and thrive academically and socially and reach graduation day. Education is not about “getting in,” it’s about “succeeding” and that requires the real effort of ethical consultants to work with a student and family to find the best matches, where a student’s interest and skills match the college’s offerings, and its community reflects a great place for growth.
 If families want to use a consultant that is ethical, well-educated, highly experienced and knowledgeable, and who seeks to empower not harm the student, they should look to the Independent Educational Consultants Association. IECA thoroughly screens and reviews every applicant, which includes examining marketing materials and reviewing references. Only 15% of college consultants in the nation are accepted as IECA members, and when you read the Unigo article it’s clear why the consultant referenced is not a member.

Posted by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director

Related posts:

1. Educational Consultants and the NY Times Article
2. National Survey Suggests Students Gain Little Help from High School Counselors in College Search
3. New National, Independent Study: 27% of High-Achieving HS Seniors Hired an Educational Consultant
4. Transitioning from a School or College to Independent Educational Consulting
5. Students Use of Rankings in the College Search Process: Less or More Than We Thought?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 at 12:14 pm and is filed under educational consulting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.