Comments on: IECA Members Comment on Consulting and the New York Times Article http://www.iecaonline.com/blog/2009/07/21/ieca-members-comment-on-consulting-and-the-new-york-times/ News from Independent Educational Consultants Association Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:45:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tam Warner Minton http://www.iecaonline.com/blog/2009/07/21/ieca-members-comment-on-consulting-and-the-new-york-times/#comment-68 Tam Warner Minton Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:16:18 +0000 http://www.iecaonline.com/blog/2009/07/21/ieca-members-comment-on-consulting-and-the-new-york-times/#comment-68 There are many reasons families use college consultants, but I believe the most important one is finding a college that truly fits the individual student. The vast majority of college consultants do not "package" or "sell" students to the ivy league. As a sociology professor I always explained to my students that it is the unusual and sensational that makes the news. In true form, we usually hear about the college consultant that charges tens of thousands of dollars to "package" a student for the ivy league. This type of college consultant is certainly NOT the norm. Most educational consultants are very interested in each and every student, and truly seek to find the right fit colleges for the student's needs. We volunteer our time with students who cannot afford our services, and hours researching and visiting colleges and campuses. I wish that papers like the New York Times would report on these hardworking and caring college consultants instead of on the handful who cater to the very rich and their desire to see their children in the Ivies. The value of a college consultant lies in the ability and knowledge to recommend colleges that "fit" the individual student. Students who matriculate to schools that are a "fit" generally stay at that college and graduate in 4-5 years. Students who choose colleges for the wrong reason are at risk for dropping out, transferring (which puts off graduation), and having a poorer college experience. Graduation and intellectual growth are the goals of a great education! Regards, Tam Warner Minton, M.S. There are many reasons families use college consultants, but I believe the
most important one is finding a college that truly fits the individual
student. The vast majority of college consultants do not “package” or
“sell” students to the ivy league.

As a sociology professor I always explained to my students that it is the
unusual and sensational that makes the news. In true form, we usually hear
about the college consultant that charges tens of thousands of dollars to
“package” a student for the ivy league. This type of college consultant is
certainly NOT the norm. Most educational consultants are very interested in each and every student, and truly seek to find the right fit colleges for the student’s needs. We volunteer our time with students who cannot afford our services, and hours researching and visiting colleges and campuses. I wish that papers like the New York Times would report on these hardworking and caring college consultants instead of on the handful who cater to the very rich and their desire to see their children in the
Ivies.

The value of a college consultant lies in the ability and knowledge to recommend colleges that “fit” the individual student. Students who matriculate to schools that are a “fit” generally stay at that college and graduate in 4-5 years. Students who choose colleges for the wrong reason are at risk for dropping out, transferring (which puts off graduation), and having a poorer college experience. Graduation and intellectual growth are the goals of a great education!

Regards,

Tam Warner Minton, M.S.

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