What do the numbers 457 and 38 have to do with college advising?

This week I read a post on the US News and World Report blog. There's some great advice about how students can make the most of the time they get to spend talking with their school counselors about their college search and applications. The Boy Scout motto: BE PREPARED comes to mind.

The goal of every school counselor I know is to help every student as much as they can. With an average student load of 457 to 1, according the the National Center for Educational Statistics, a research study conducted by a University of California professor estimates that on average counselors have 38 minutes per student per year to advise on college related matters.

I suspect this causes frustrations for parents, students and for the counselors themselves. The president of NACAC, Mr. Miller provides specific advice on how students can make the most of those precious minutes. He suggests that students talk to their counselors about their own specific personal characteristics and preferences and let the counselor help them narrow down their list. Absolutely. There's not just one right college for each student. There are a set of colleges where a student would likely thrive and succeed. Also, rather than picking a college and then trying to contort oneself into fitting into the mold, it's much better to find the college that fits you naturally.

We've found that students often need help identifying their preferences and specific personal characteristics that then can be matched to an appropriate set of colleges. Teens aren't often knowledgeable about topics like their learning styles. They might be able to articulate why they like a certain teacher or course and then with assistance, they can draw some conclusions about themselves and then what colleges might work for someone with their strengths. Also, teens aren't often too knowledgeable about the world of colleges. They maybe know something about a few colleges near their homes, and of course, probably know now that Bulter University is in Indianapolis, but getting to the nitty-gritty of college characteristics takes time and exploration.

Considering the 457/38 figures, the US News blogger suggests that students and their families could benefit from some outside help. Of course, we agree. It's important for families to vet private counselors their considering hiring to work with their children. We suggest the IECA guidelines as questions to ask prospective private counselors.

Independent College Counselors

Our business is helping students and their families through the maze of college admissions. We love our work.

There have been several recent web based articles about the relationships between families and independent college counselors. In this blog, I'll talk about why we believe families benefit from working with private admissions counselors and then highlight two additional pieces, one on how to find a consultant, and the other on how to evaluate the quality of a consultant. Lastly, I'll provide a link to the IECA list of suggested questions to ask a college consultant before you retain their services.

The success rate of college students in the United States shocks many people. The fact that 25% of all freshmen fail to return to the college where they enthusiastically enrolled as freshmen causes problems for students, families and for colleges. Top educational consultants eliminate the gap between what students expect at college, and what college is really like, therefore maximizing their success. Instead of just identifying colleges where a student can "get in", a good consultant finds colleges from which a student is likely to graduate.

Colleges differ from one another in many ways. Students and parents need factual information about those differences. The facts may not coincide with their assumptions. Finding colleges where students can thrive and succeed is key to student success and to a consultant's success.

A college education is a major financial investment. Few families make large financial investments without guidance from qualified, ethical professionals. Top educational consultants have experience, commitment to professional development, and membership in organizations that pride themselves on vetting top-notch, ethical professionals: IECA, HECA and AICEP.

The higher education correspondent at MPR recently provided guidance to families on how to go about locating an independent college counselor. Read what Alex Friedrich suggests.

Lynn O'Shaughnessy spoke with three prominent college consultants, members of IECA and HECA, recently and had this to say about how to select a college counselor.

Here's the list of questions IECA suggests you ask prospective consultants.