10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a College Advisor

As with many service industries, the field of educational consulting was developed to meet the needs of families seeking expert advice and guidance through one of the most important pieces of an adolescent's life: the college search and application process.

The increasing complexity of the college admission and financial aid processes has led many families to engage the services of Independent Educational Consultants (IECs). As an often misunderstood industry, it's important that families thoroughly vet any IEC with whom they are considering working. The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) has a comprehensive list of questions every family should ask before engaging the services of an IEC. I am happy to share this list of questions as a resource for families, along with my answers!

1. Do you guarantee admission to a school, one of my top choices, or a certain minimum dollar value in scholarships?

Not at all. I work with students to find the right-­fit schools for them academically, socially and financially. I don’t make guarantees, as all admission decisions ultimately lie in the hands of the respective admission offices. 

2. How do you keep up with new trends, academic changes and evolving campus cultures? How often do you get out and visit college, school, and program campuses and meet with admissions representatives?

I like to keep up with all things happening in education. I belong to various professional associations, attend industry conferences, participate in webinars, and subscribe to several education-­focused newsletters and blogs. In addition, I stay up-­to­-date on what schools are doing by following them on social media and by receiving their counselor newsletters. As for campus visits, I spend approximately 15 weeks per year visiting campuses across the United States

3. Do you belong to any professional associations?

Sure do! Along with the many monthly peer group conversations I participate in, here's a list of the professional associations I belong to: Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC).

4. Do you attend professional conferences or training workshops on a regular basis to

keep up with regional and national trends and changes in the law?

Yes!  I love to learn and stay current on admissions trends, college knowledge and how to best center my practice around student goals. I also frequently take part in the many professional webinars that are offered through my associations. 

5. Do you ever accept any form of compensation from a school, program, or company

in exchange for placement or a referral?

Never, ever. I want to make sure our students find the right place for them and I don't want anything to sway my opinion of a school. Fit isn't universal, so while I may think a school is top-notch, our student needs to as well or it's not making the list.

6. Are all fees involved stated in writing, up front, indicating exactly what services I will

receive for those fees?

Always. While I do offer services on an hourly basis, most of my clients take advantage of the

Comprehensive College Planning Program which covers all facets of the search and application process. Each family has a signed agreement form which details all services to be provided by Pave the Way Consulting, as well as a list of parent/student responsibilities in the process.

7. Will you complete the application for admission, re­write my essays, or fill out the

financial aid forms on my behalf?

That's not my job. These are my students' applications and the schools are evaluating them and their work, not ours. That being said, my role is to help students develop the best materials for submission and to make sure they are completing everything in a correct and timely fashion. While I don't write essays for students, I will absolutely help them brainstorm topics/ideas and provide constructive feedback on all of aspects of their application pieces.

8. How long have you been in business as an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC)?

While I have 20 years experience in secondary and higher education, and 4 years in the high school counseling arena, this year is my first cycle helping students as an IEC. I am over-the-top excited about starting my own business and offering highly customized services to students and families. I am nearing completion of UC Irvine's rigorous certificate  program in Independent Education Consultancy. I have a bachelors in Communication from UC San Diego and a Masters in Education from Sonoma State University. 

9. What was your background prior to going into independent educational consulting?

What was your training and education?

Like many, my career has taken interesting twists and turns... I worked as a newspaper reporter in Southern California for several years after graduating from UCSD. From there, I segued into public relations and fundraising for nonprofit organizations, then as marketing director for an accounting firm.

My interest in the education field was sparked by active involvement in my children's schools. This lead first to substitute teaching and then to a full-time position at Sonoma State University, where I received my masters in education while working in the pre-college division of the university. My masters thesis opened many doors for me, leading most recently to an administrative position at the local community college. When I look back on my career, I most enjoyed my time as a counselor in the high schools, so upon taking an early retirement from the college, I decided to open my own counseling business. Best decision I ever made! 

10. Do you adhere to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by IECA?

100% yes! I adhere to the IECA Principles of Good Practice and provide a copy of it to my client families so they can feel confident in my work as an ethical IEC. I like honest, ethical

people and assume my clients do, too.