Why Most Colleges Encourage Outreach to IECs
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA
Last week I was interviewing a candidate for the new Education Manager position at the IECA National Office. The candidate was a former assistant director of admissions at a university that is well known among independent educational consultants for refusing to speak to, e-mail with, or otherwise acknowledge IECs. When I noted the college’s stance, the woman, who worked at the college almost five years ago, was shocked that they hadn’t yet changed their stand against IECs. In her words, “Well then, they must be the last college in America to recognize the role consultants play in helping kids find their way to a great college for them.”
Well, maybe not the last college, but there is little doubt that in the Venn diagram of colleges, the circle representing those who refuse to actively reach out to IECA members is small and shrinking. By now most have seen the independent research that 26% of graduates heading to four-year colleges indicate they worked with an IEC. We know from our own studies that these students largely attended public schools, and are from suburban middle class families. And while there are some IECs who do write essays and manipulate applications—just as there are school counselors doing the same—ethical, responsible, honest, committed advisors of all stripes would never do this. IECA applicants undergo a scrutiny of their printed materials and Web site to ensure that they operate based on a “good fit” between colleges and students’ academic, social, and community needs. The first mentions I ever read about “good match” as opposed to “getting in” were quoting independent educational consultants.
I was reminded of the strides we have made when one regional consortium reversed its policy this week, to open a number of spaces on campus tours for IECs. That leaves just a handful that refuse to allow IECs to participate, and we’ll be reaching out to them soon to set the record
straight, clear up their misperceptions of who IECA members are, and how they work. We want them to know how they can benefit by working with IECA.
At the same time, we are getting requests in ever-increasing numbers from college admission reps, when they visit communities, to connect with IECA members. Our member services department assists colleges in such outreach, providing contact information for local members and regional groups. We’ve developed a flyer letting colleges know how they can connect with IECA members, including joining the growing list of those who participate at our conferences, post items on our Facebook page, and otherwise share campus information with our members. At the NACAC national conference coming up this fall, I’ll be presenting a session specifically geared to college reps on the changes taking place in independent educational consulting (domestically and abroad) and what they should be doing to assure they don’t lose the connection to the quarter of students working with IECs.
Hopefully by next year we will truly be looking at a reversal by the last college to reach out to IECA members as fellow professionals.
Related posts:
- “Getting Kids Into” Ivy League Colleges: Absolutely NOT the Job of an Independent Educational Consultant
- Colleges: Engage With IECA at NACAC to Diversify Your Campus
- Nearly 100 Presenters will Examine Hot Topics in College Admission, Boarding Schools, Special Purpose Programs & Independent Educational Consulting
- Independent Educational Consulting At the Tipping Point: What Colleges Need to Know as Private College Consulting Explodes
- Early Bird Registration Points to a Unique Networking Opportunity with IECs in Philadelphia
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Tagged: admissions, admissions representatives, campus tours, changes in consulting practices, college applications, college consulting, Finding the Right Fit, IECA members, IECA membership, independent educational consultants
Admissions folks, whether IECs, high school counselors, enrollment management professionals or college recruiters, are teammates working towards a winning season when students are matched with the colleges where they’ll thrive and succeed. Thanks to IECA for reminding us that we’re all pulling towards the same end.
Almost 100% of my students are coming from overseas. These international students have only heard of a handful of very well-known colleges in the United States. Without the guidance of an independent educational consultant, they might never hear the name of a school that could be just right for them – and the college/university might also miss out on getting a really great kid, too. We all win when we work together.