For Independent Educational Consultants, Reputation is Earned Daily
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA
While every school-based counselor and admission director needs to operate ethically, the need is significantly more critical for independent educational consultants (IECs). For them, a reputation for honest and ethical work must be earned day after day to ensure a good working relationship among colleagues, admission reps, and families. Recently NACAC printed my Ethical Guideposts for Independent Educational Consultants; here is my abridged list:
1. Take care in marketing what you’ll do and what you can ‘deliver.’ It’s always better to under-promise and over-deliver.
2. Be careful when naming your business or advertising to avoid the word “Ivy” or other phrases that may imply a promise of admission to a highly competitive school.
3. Relieve family anxiety; do not contribute to it. Reassure families from day one that there are great schools, colleges, and programs for everyone.
4. Refer out when a case requires expertise beyond your wheelhouse.
5. The application process is all about a student putting his or her own best effort forward—do not overly control the process and never write or even heavily edit a student’s essay.
6. Avoid even the hint of a conflict of interest. Never work with a client applying to a school you advise or assist.
7. Accept no fees, payments, or kickbacks in exchange for a placement. IECA members proudly refrain from such payments, which distinguish us from the questionable practices of “agents.”
8. A critical part of your job is to teach the student lessons about hard work and taking ownership of the process.
9. Do not lobby admission officers on behalf of a paying client. Calls to a school should be to clarify information or speak to the good match for the student so the school can decide admission.
10. Remember that while the parents may be the customers, the student is the client. Always act in the student’s best interest.
Related posts:
- Heading to NACAC: 5 Things That Independent Educational Consultants Need to Share with College Admission Representatives
- Start From Here: Respect Independent Educational Consultants (IECs)
- Independent Educational Consulting At the Tipping Point: What Colleges Need to Know as Private College Consulting Explodes
- Information Dump: The Summer Training Experience for Upcoming Independent Educational Consultants
- “Getting Kids Into” Ivy League Colleges: Absolutely NOT the Job of an Independent Educational Consultant
Mark: Superb, succinct, swell article. It should be distributed far and wide, within and without the educational establishment for all to see. This is yet another step forward in establishing the IECA as the standard bearer for ethics and leader in reinforcing high order professional practice. Well done.
Mark,
Another great blog. I love this list, and it’s one to which all IECs should abide; those of us who don’t specialize in colleges can easily adapt a few of these to work in our world.
My mantra is this; be confident but not cocky, remember everyone (IEC, parent and student) brings an important voice to the process, and there is a school or program for every one.
I spoke to a group of 40 parents last weekend. They all had 8th graders, but invited me to come because their middle school was already starting to stress the kids out with college talk! I reiterated point #3 and they all left breathing a little bit easier.
Mark,
You have once again hit the nail on the head. Responsible behavior is not optional or occasional. All IECA members have a clear idea about what is or is not acceptable and responsible, or they have a host of people to consult if they are in doubt. Reputations must be earned over time, and are so easily destroyed in the instant of a poor decision.
Susan