Experience

With many practicing consultants across the country, it's a good idea to ask some questions prior to signing on with someone, as not all consultants have the same level of experience or qualifications. In addition to a good personality fit, you want to ensure that the consultant you are selecting has relevant experience. An established college consultant ideally should have over 5 years of experience working directly in the field.

Kiersten guided our sons through the myriad of options, helping them both narrow it down to a short list of schools that met their needs and matched each of their unique personalities. She then worked closely with each of them to produce acceptance winning applications to most of the schools. Ryan is now enjoying his final year of college at Stanford and is considering Law School as a next step. Michael is starting his first year at Pepperdine and could not be more excited about how perfectly the school matches him. Thank you Kiersten for your guidance, insight, and commitment to our sons. Terry

Professional Affiliations

A college consultant should have membership to at least one professional organization that holds members accountable to higher standards. Founded in 1976, the nation's oldest organization of consultants, Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), requires that all members have at least three years of related admission or guidance experience, visit at least 100 college campuses, work with at least 75 clients, obtain a Master's degree in a related field (or comparable experience), and sign a yearly ethics contract. In addition, IECA conducts reference checks on all applying for membership. The organization has approximately 300 members world-wide. Without a doubt, IECA has set the bar high for professional standards and is an industry leader.

Get Acquainted

A personality fit is also important because your child will be spending a lot of time with the consultant for up to a year or more. A brief introductory meeting with the consultant prior to signing a contract is always a good idea. This would be a time to ask questions about the consultant's experience, working style, and expectations of the student and parents.

References

If you would like further information, never hesitate to request references from current and previous clients.