As a parent, you want to do everything possible to help set your child up for a promising future. For many parents, that means helping your child get into a college that will provide them with the academic, social, and life opportunities to grow as an individual and find their passion. But today’s college application process is complicated and can be overwhelming for many. Students often feel anxiety when it comes to applying to colleges, and may not explore every option available, due to fatigue in the process. Hiring a consultant to help simplify the process, keep track of deadlines, and provide support, so that your student applies to all of the colleges they are interested in is beneficial for most high schoolers. However, in an industry where there are many options, and everyone makes big promises, it can be difficult to decide who to hire. Here are six major areas a coach should offer assistance with when it comes to applying for colleges.
A college planning consultant should be certified in aptitude testing and be prepared to help a student identify their areas of interest
Most teenagers don’t know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. The world is full of endless possibilities, and that can be both exciting and frightening. However, college is expensive, and the last thing a parent wants is to dole out tens of thousands of dollars for a degree your child later decides they have no interest in. So, what is a parent to do?
Aptitude testing is a scientifically proven way to help identify your child’s natural talents and inclinations. Aptitude testing also identifies such factors as what type of environment your child will thrive in, how they work best, and considers your child’s personal values and life goals. Aptitudes are more than passing interests; the natural gifts your child possesses in their teens tend to be stable throughout adulthood. When your child chooses an area of interest to study based on the results of aptitude testing– be it science, the arts, business, or mathematics– they are far more likely to stick with their chosen career path, compared to if they randomly choose a major based on a shaky idea of what they might like to do.
That is why, when choosing a college planning consultant, it is important to choose someone who offers aptitude testing. As a consultant who is certified to administer the Highlands Ability Battery (HAB), the gold standard for aptitude testing, I understand the importance of providing a scientifically researched battery that consistently has been shown to provide both valid and reliable results. Aptitude testing does not merely consist of the child filling out a few worksheets. A true test battery will take time to complete, and will result in a comprehensive report that your consultant should take at least an hour to review with your student. The results of aptitude testing should also be a jumping off point; based on the results, your child should be prepared to narrow down what they wish to study in school, and be able to search for schools that will encourage them to pursue their natural talents. If a consultant is not prepared to offer this service, it is a red flag.
A consultant should help a child build their college list and identify schools they may not have otherwise considered
It may slightly alarm parents to know that many high school students choose the college they attend based on factors that have nothing to do with education. Perhaps they apply to a university because it’s where all of their friends are going, or they have always liked the football team. Maybe the campus looks pretty in photographs, or they plan to go where their parents went. Or maybe they want to go to a school that’s close to home.
These are not necessarily bad reasons to choose a college, but they do limit a student’s choices. A college coach can help a student build a list of colleges based on a number of factors that will directly affect their experience; location, campus size, available majors, and the social aspects of the school. A college prep coach can also help them take into account the difference in tuition, and financial aid packages available for each school.
On average, most students apply to between 8-12 schools. As an admissions consultant, I recommend that students apply to a mix of schools that are comfortably in their reach, as well as a couple of safety schools, and a couple of “dream” schools that might be more of a long shot. By encouraging students to apply to a mix of schools, and not just a few schools that they are familiar with, students can expand their options, and may end up falling in love with a school they wouldn’t have otherwise considered. When hiring someone to assist your child, it is important that they help students understand all of their options, and not just help them apply to the schools that they are bringing to the table.
Your student should receive comprehensive assistance with the application process
Applying for colleges is overwhelming; there is no other way to say it. Each school is going to require the student to fill out a separate application. They are going to request the student’s high school transcripts. And then each school will request a slightly different version of requirements that will likely include a college essay, a personal statement, a list of extracurricular activities and hobbies, and perhaps a volunteer list, plus personal recommendations from a mentor. On top of that, some schools may require SAT or ACT scores, while other schools may have test optional policies. Your child may have also taken Advanced Placement tests, and be confused on whether or not they should include those scores in their application.
A consultant should be able to help your student manage all due dates, ensure that all applications are fully complete, that each application is free from spelling and grammar errors, and that all attached information is formatted appropriately. They should also help make the process manageable and give the student smaller goals and deadlines to hit, instead of trying to tackle everything all at once. If a professional takes a more ‘hands off’ approach, then they are doing the student a disservice.
Consultants should provide ongoing assistance to students who are writing college admission essays
There is probably no portion of the college application process that causes more anxiety and procrastination like the dreaded essay. Students feel pressure to write something profound that will help them stand out amongst their peers, and prove that they will be an asset to the university’s community. That’s a pretty tall order for a sixteen-year-old.
In my business, I help students with each phase of the essay writing process. We discuss potential topics that they can write on, and talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each topic idea. I help them brainstorm openings and closings. And I help them work through several rounds of edits, not just for typos, but to ensure that their essay shines and is as engaging as it possibly can be.
The college essay is one of the only opportunities a student has to stand out as an individual and let college admissions officers know who they are as a person. Your college coach must give them the support necessary, not only just to finish on time, but to ensure that the final essay not only fits the school that it is being submitted to, but is in the best shape it can possibly be.
A professional should help parents navigate the financial aid process
As parents, we don’t want our children’s dreams to be limited. But college is expensive, and taking out loans is a big decision that should not be taken lightly. As a former financial aid officer, I am more familiar than most with how a family can navigate both applying for financial aid and understanding the financial aid packages offered by universities.
With the changing rules connected with government aid, it is a more confusing time than ever to be paying for college. Your professional should be able to help you navigate applying for FAFSA, and help answer your questions regarding how much can be borrowed, how the interest rates work, and how much you will have to pay monthly when the time comes to pay it back. Your coach should also help you understand how much each school’s tuition is, on top of other expenses such as room, board, administration fees, books and other expenses, etc. Before your child makes a final decision on attending a university, there should be a clear understanding of how much money four years will cost.
Once your consultant has helped you calculate how much any given school will cost to attend, and have established how much you may be eligible to borrow, they will then help you calculate any financial grants and scholarships you may be eligible for. These grants and scholarships may include money available through FAFSA, as well as the school in question. If the financial packages being offered to your child is still not enough, your coach may help your child brainstorm potential scholarships and additional private money that they may be eligible for.
Applying for financial aid, and understanding financial aid packages is one of the most important parts of a college coach’s job. The dates to apply by are strict; it is important that FAFSA has been completed prior to your child submitting applications. Otherwise a family may miss out on financial opportunities. Any serious consultant will make sure that these dates are met so that your child will have options when it comes to paying for their dream school. If one does not address financial aid issues, a parent may wish to second guess if that is the coach for them.
Admissions consultants should offer their services as a comprehensive package, rather than forcing parents to choose ala carte services
I have discussed the five most important aspects of what a college admissions consultant should offer. Each of these services are important steps in the college application process, and each step sets the next step up for success. As an experienced consultant, I am proud that I offer a comprehensive package for my services, because I understand that skipping a step is a surefire way to weaken the final college application. I consider it a red flag when other coaches do not offer end-to-end packages, because most students need to go through the entire process. Coaches who “only” offer aptitude testing without assisting with the rest of the application process, or who “only” provide essay assistance without ensuring the rest of the application is filled out appropriately, are setting students up to fail. While I certainly don’t require parents to purchase the entire package, I think it is negligent not to offer a comprehensive service. I would advise parents to be wary of college prep coaches who “specialize” in a certain area, but leave students on their own when it comes to support through the entire process.
Applying for college is a time of immense pressure; not only are there deadlines to track, essays to write, and forms to fill out, it forces a teenager to contemplate what they want out of their future. The process can be paralyzing, but with the correct support it doesn’t have to be. The process can, instead, be inspiring and full of hope and optimism. The right college prep coach can help your student have a positive experience and assist them in having several options to choose from.
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