COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANTS ARE IN MORE IN DEMAND THAN SCHOOL COUNSELORS

As I sit in my office today thinking about the coming school year and what it will hold; questioning how many students will come knocking on the door ---  will they start early as we suggest or wait till it is time to start filling out the applications.  My thoughts are soon wisked away at the discovery of this article "College Consultants: Worth the Price Tag?"

by Kathryn Tuggle,  Published on  April 12, 2012 for FOX Business.

 I was shocked to see the headline--- I began to question----"Am  I worth the price tag?"      So I began to read this article and to my surprise it was sort of a validation to my work as a consultant.  It started off by mentioning that consultants range from $250.00 upwards toward $40,000 in price---   and parents will pay that sum that is priced on top of what parents pay for the SAT/ACT prep, Tutors, Private School Tuition, etc.   I had heard from several of the professional institutions I belong to that college consulting would be one day as big if not bigger than SAT prep---Now I was curious because the article was making some very good points.  

Just earlier in the day, I had received an "URGENT" email  from a student who had not focused as well as he should of in his last semester of High School.  He was writing to inquire as to what  I could help him fix the "Revoked Offer of Admissions" at Johns Hopkins University.... one thing that no high school senior wants to face, but it does happen.  Others are calling because the award of financial aid is not enough and they needed help, or there is an acceptance but no funds to start. In all cases they there is nothing I can do because they are all  TOO late.  Students and their families just do not realize how important the preparation is these days.

While the college admissions process is never easy on any one, families have to become aware that while a consultant will cost them an initial sum of  money, at the end of the day, a strong and skilled consultant will  probably will save the family thousands of dollars in mistakes than the cost paid to the consultant and all the other resources suggest along the way.

As the college admissions process for 2013 nears, there is the moment of truth that both students as well as their parents have to face--  a moment when the new reality of what it really takes to get into a college.  The average cost of just getting into college today is about $10,000.  If you don't prepare correctly, you could face thousands more in costs that could be avoided or worse, learn that your errors will forfeit the degree.

Today's guidance counselors have so many other issues to deal with within the schools, in addition to  a tremendous amount of students -- sometimes as many as 500 in one year, that there is just not enough of them to go around.  These people are well trained, and as a rule I am totally impressed by their work and efforts.  Due to their work loads,  they are so overworked not to mention exhausted, that they are constantly searching to find new and innovative ways to handle the volume of students who come to them with questions.  They just don't have the time required to spend with each student, much less answer the questions of anxious parents, and for that reason parents need to help their families find outside help.

As students being to become more fearful and stressed out due to budget cuts at some universities or the numbers of applicants verses the number of available spots  and the real or perceived pressure of parents who are already more anxious over the process,  relationships are being damaged.  More families are turning to professional consultants to help their children not only get into their top picks by providing help with everything from standardized testing to best practices for interviews, but help them navigate the process, keep on track, shine before admissions committees and keep the stress levels low and manageable within the family.

The article that was  published by FOX we would like to share it with you.  If you think you are interested in college counseling and consulting services,  you may contact us at counselor@thecollegeadmissionsconsultant.com or visit our website at www.thecollegeadmissionsconsultant.com  We offer a FREE 1/2 hour consultation, and willing to work with students across the country.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/04/12/college-consultants-worth-price-tag/