by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA Over the last decade, from Claremont-McKenna College in California to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, hundreds of independent educational consultants got an important boost in establishing their new practice by attending an IECA Summer Training Institute. In recent years, nearly 100 attendees each summer have participated in the program … Read more »
by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director In some ways the Summer Training Institute lasts far longer than the 4 days attendees spend in Swarthmore, PA. First, in a practical sense, it could takes months just to read everything in their workshop binders. Hundreds of articles, reproduced blogs, resource lists, sample contracts, intake forms, campus visit … Read more »
by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director The final afternoon of the 2010 Summer Training Institute was focused on a 3-hour session that was designed to bring together the information attendees gained throughout the week through the process of creating their own personal business plan. Recognizing that most who enter the field of educational consulting do … Read more »
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association The attendees at the IECA Summer Training Institute found themselves facing a series of ethical conundrums this morning. Drawn from actual cases from IECA’s files, the participants had to look inward to ensure they practice using ethical and professional approaches. One case explored the need to … Read more »
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association Yesterday afternoon the IECA Summer Training Institute turned the process around as the 94 attendees got to hear what life is like for those involved in recruiting and evaluating potential clients in a session titled, Inside the Admissions Office. In the college session, three leaders came … Read more »
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college admissions,college applications,college consulting,College Rankings,ethics,Finding the Right Fit,IECA member consultants,Summer Training Institute | 
2 comments by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association The first full day of the IECA Summer Training Institute has been a whirlwind of activity—and it’s only 11:00 a.m.! This morning Lisa Bleich led a session on becoming an entrepreneur. Since most attendees have backgrounds as guidance counselors, university admission directors, LD advocates, or family … Read more »
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA The very popular and well-respected IECA Summer Training Institute kicks off its 2010 program on the campus of Swarthmore College on Tuesday, July 27. The attendees themselves may demonstrate how the profession of educational consulting has changed over the last several years. They are a racially and culturally diverse group … Read more »
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA I admit to being a person who is rarely satisfied with the way things are. I believe in the need to change and that includes both personal change and actions to ensure that the Independent Educational Consultants Association continues to move forward, developing new approaches, new programs and new … Read more »
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| Economy and Consultants,IECA,IECA Conference,IECA Leadership,IECA member consultants,Learning Disability Consulting,member services,Social Networking Technology,Summer Training Institute | 0 comment by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA On the final day of IECA’s 2009 Summer Training Institute, the participants worked on their personal business plans. It’s an exercise that demonstrates the dual hats consultants wear: advisors to students and families on one hand and small businesspersons on the other. As the exercise began, I reminded the … Read more »
by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA A long and busy day in Swarthmore (is there any other kind during the IECA Summer Institute?) as day three comes to a close. Particularly tiring for me with three presentations and joining all the faculty in moderating a marketing lab with our mentoring groups. I led a lively elective … Read more »