The Associated Press released a
poll a couple of years ago as they sought to get feedback from high school graduates about the help and support provided to them by their school-based counselors as they began exploring colleges, trade schools, or work. A majority in that poll said that their school wasn’t good at helping them choose a field of study, aiding them in finding the right college or vocational school, or assisting them with ways to pay for
continuing education. All the more frustrating was that the vast majority came to the process excited about the idea of college, but felt unprepared to go about the search and application process.
The fact is most high school counselors are among the most over-worked and under-appreciated members of the school community is not surprising. These professionals continue to struggle with caseloads two to three times the suggested average, sometimes working as many as 10-12 hours per day for a few months each year. They are rarely afforded the opportunity to attend professional training, even as the issues they struggle with become more complex. Many high school counselors are also responsible for not only academic advising, discipline, and crisis intervention,but also
college planning, in addition to the required paperwork for the school boards, lunchroom or bus duties, and what schools end up with is a staff that has been stretched much too thin with little professional support. In California, there is roughly one counselor for every 810 students. That number is smaller, but still high in large cities like Los Angeles.
Even as those with the “luxury” of handling college advising often have responsibility for 300 – 500 students, the students who don't speak up get lost in the cracks. No one should ever wonder why the profession of
independent educational consulting has been taking off with students and their families. Even though the fees can appear costly, when you see the amount of hours that are invested on each student and the cost of a 4 year college educations ranges from $ 150,000 - $ 275,000 for a four year education.
Students deserve better than what cash-strapped schools can provide, and they should have hours of face time with a counselor. Students should be guided in how to explore careers and majors; and be able to think through what they desire in a school. Students should understand their own learning style and how this plays into school choice, and to have someone they can e-mail, call, text, or meet with to examine questions about interviews,
financial aid, campus visits, and more.
A well trained College Admissions Consultant can give a family the expertise
of the inns and outs of the college admissions process and serves as a buffer
of the stress between stressed out students and parents. As Jeffrey
Brenzel, the Former Dean of Admissions at Yale University said . . . . . “
College Admissions Consultants can often help students gain admissions to
highly selective colleges and universities ". It is something students and families should keep in the back of their mind.
As Jeffrey
Brenzel, Former Dean of Admissions of Yale University said before he left the school..
Before the Fair...
