When it comes to education in the U.S., there’s good news and bad news.
The good news is that there are more students going to college than ever before.
The bad news is that this increased competition means it’s getting harder to get into top colleges.
Every year, we see headlines like “Elite Colleges Announce Record Low Admission Rates” and “Admissions Rates at Record Low Across Ivy League, Stanford, MIT.” Year over year, applications to top-ranked colleges are up—but the number of spots available in the freshman class are not, which is why admission rates at these schools are so low.
If you’re hoping to go to a selective college, you already know that getting in won’t be easy—that’s where having a really great college counselor comes in handy.
An independent college admissions counselor can supplement the support you receive at school, offering in-depth personalized guidance throughout every step of the college admissions process. Choosing the right college admissions counselor can be tricky—how do you know who to pick?
The right college admissions counselor will check all the boxes.
Accessibility
You shouldn’t have to worry about whether you can reach your counselor at any point during the college admissions process. Make sure your college admissions counselor is accessible and prompt in responding to questions.
A Range of Services
The college admissions process includes a lot of moving parts, and the best college admissions counselors can support you in a lot of different areas, including:
- Researching and choosing colleges to apply to
- Application strategy, such as whether and where to apply early
- Application and essay review and support
- Building a strong academic and extracurricular profile
- Financial aid advice
- College decisions
Personal Guidance
You are a unique individual with unique wants, needs, and goals—this should be reflected in your college choices. A counselor who steers students only to the Ivy League or only to a flagship university does those students a disservice—look for a college counselor who will help you find your best-fit college. Learn more about finding your best-fit college here.
Expertise
Your college counselor needs to be knowledgeable about the college admissions process and a range of colleges, from the elite Ivies to the world of liberal arts colleges to the state university system. Look for counselors with a proven track record on success—how many of their past students earned admission at their dream schools?—and with training or certifications demonstrating their knowledge. You shouldn’t have any doubts about your college counselor’s expertise.
