WORKING WITH AN INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

Applying to college has become increasingly complex and competitive. Students not only have to build impressive transcripts and resumes, but they also have to create college lists, prepare for the SAT/ACT, apply for financial aid, and navigate admissions requirements. Phew! That’s a lot for anyone to manage. Fortunately, there are people who can help. Independent Educational Consultants (IECs) can reduce stress on you and your family by guiding you through the college admissions process. Keep reading to learn more about IECs, including insight from Philadelphia area IEC Laura Muzzi Brennan of College Composed, a bi-coastal practice with Liz Price in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Reasons to Hire an IEC

There are lots of good reasons to work with an IEC, and not everyone’s reasons are going to be the same. People often hire an IEC to get help beyond what a school counselor can provide. Brennan views school counselors as “partners” and explains that while they are “super important because they are the ones writing your letter of recommendation and making the whole process go smoothly in terms of transcripts,” they “often have large caseloads and responsibilities far beyond college applications.” This is especially true for students at large public schools. Private school students are more likely to have a dedicated college admissions counselor or have a school counselor with a smaller caseload. If you’re not as fortunate, or if you fit one of the descriptions below, you might consider hiring an IEC. 

• The Neurodiverse Student: Students who have learning differences who may need particular kinds of support in college. 

• The Selective School Student: High achieving students who have to go beyond great grades and scores to offer something truly special to a highly selective college.

• The Special Talent Student: Anyone from a top athlete to an accomplished artist will need help with things like navigating recruiting and preparing portfolios.

• The Average Student: For students who are “not quite mature” or “just haven’t found their interest” yet, “helping them find a school they get jazzed about and connect with can be life changing,” says Brennan.

• The Peacemaker Student: From Brennan’s experience, often “parents hire us because they don’t want to be the person saying, ‘You’ve got a deadline!’” 

• The Wise Investor Student: Even though hiring an IEC is an extra expense, Brennan believes “it might save you time and money in the end.” No one wants to be left with a bill for a college education that didn’t deliver because it wasn’t a good fit.

• The International Student: An IEC can help these students navigate the college admission process, since their school counselors may not be as acquainted with the higher education system in the United States.
• The Home-based Student: IECs can support homeschooled and virtual students who not only have different college requirements to meet, but they also rarely benefit from having a school counselor. 

There are a variety of IECs to match this variety of students. To pick the right IEC for you, research the kinds of services provided, costs, and reviews before narrowing your options and making a final decision.

What is the process of working with an IEC?

The consulting process begins after you’ve lined up the right IEC for your needs. Although the timeline varies based on who you choose as your IEC, the College Composed process features these key stages:

• Freshman and Sophomore Years: College Composed does not “start freshman year except for a meeting or two if someone requests it.” Students can reserve a spot for junior year and get advice about classes to take or summer programs to do, but generally during this time Brennan believes students “should have a chance to experience high school, adjust to high school, and find their interests.” 
• Junior Year: At College Composed, this is when the “bulk of self-discovery and college research” occurs, starting with filling out surveys in fall and winter. By the spring, College Composed takes “everything we know about the student and what their preferences are to come up with a certain number of schools to research.” They will walk students through how to conduct their research and, based on the results, the list will be revised and refined. “It’s really an interactive process that’s always changing based on the student’s responses,” says Brennan.
• Summer Before Senior Year. Students who work with College Composed get “the main essay done (and supplemental essays if time allows) and much of the Common App filled out.” 
• Beginning of Senior Year. College Composed wants their clients to apply as soon as possible to meet early action and rolling admissions deadlines, so finishing up any “supplemental essays that go to each school” and submitting applications will be the focus.

Brennan recommends getting started with an IEC at College Composed before spring of junior year. Wait too long and you will “be rushing the college research process” and “running the risk” that “the person you might want to work with will be filled up.”

Timing isn’t everything, however. Students who choose College Composed need to be invested in the process and “they have to do the work,” because, as Brennan explains, “This is not somebody giving you an assignment. It’s you taking ownership.” Meanwhile, parents are not only “free to call any time,” they are also urged to have “an open mind and a real focus on what is going to fit the student.” The process itself, according to Brennan, involves texts back and forth, meetings (online or in person), and “detailed wrap up notes addressed to the student and the parents” after each meeting. Companies like College Composed also offer “parent and student education about issues like ‘What early decision really means’ or ‘What is demonstrated interest, and why does it matter to you?’” In short, the student, their parent(s), and the IEC all have to collaborate and communicate to get the best results.

Final Thoughts

Earning acceptance to college is a big achievement not only for students, but also for everyone who helped them along the way. For some, that includes tutors and consultants who complement the support that parents, teachers, and school counselors traditionally provide. With the help of test prep tutoring, students can improve their scores so they can impress admissions officers, while independent educational consultants can help students identify and apply to colleges that fit their academic, social, and financial strengths and needs. For Brennan, it’s essential to help students stay focused on one thing: “the joy and privilege of going to college, of picking a life for yourself and deciding who you want to be.”

At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, our Client Service Directors Joelle Faucette and Michelle Giagnacovo can be reached at 215-886-9188.