CollegePlannerPro Blog

Does the idea of talking to your families about how they are going to pay for college scare you or intrigue you?

One of the biggest misconceptions about independent college counselors is that their work is all about getting students into the most prestigious colleges and universities. Indeed, many students and parents approach the admissions process as a game where getting into highly ranked, brand name schools qualifies as winning, regardless of whether that school is a good fit.   

As independent educational consultants, it's important to continually strive for improvement in order to provide the best possible services to your clients. One way to do this is by setting new year's resolutions for your small business. It's not always easy to stick to these resolutions, especially as the year goes on and other priorities start to take over. Here are a few tips for seeing through your IEC practice new year's resolutions in 2023.

Choosing where to go to college is one of the biggest decisions students and their families will make. While many factors are at play–from tuition to school size and location–certainly one of the most important is the academic reputation of the schools and programs that correspond with a student’s interests. 

Many of the most prestigious universities have become so through their emphasis on research, which is considered the pinnacle of academic achievement. Large research universities often make important new discoveries and invent technologies that affect our lives. As a result, they attract the most distinguished professors and enjoy exceptional resources. And while they may emphasize faculty publishing and PhD programs, many also offer outstanding opportunities for undergraduate students. 

CollegePlannerPro is dedicated to providing business tools and resources for independent consultants at every stage of their business. When looking to add team members to a solo practice, IECs often question when and where to begin. 

We conducted a survey of independent college consultants who work with others, whether it be a part-time assistant or a team of 20 consultants. The goal of this survey is to shed light on the current state of the industry and best practices for growing IEC teams. We had nearly 100 responses to our survey and published our results in the following infographic. 

At the high school level, STEM goes far beyond Advanced Placement classes, and the latest techie devices. Teachers, counselors, and IECs have numerous tools at their disposal to inspire teens to explore coding, game design, robotics, engineering, and more. The question is: where to start?

In this guide, we’ll walk through seven ways to get high school students excited about the many applications of STEM in a way that’s authentic to their interests and future goals. Whether they’re just dipping their toe in the water or set on landing a career in software engineering, data science, or one of the other top STEM careers, there’s something for everyone in the wide world of STEM!

The CollegePlannerPro team was joined by four IECs for a transparent conversation regarding the pricing of college consulting services. During the insightful conversation, our panelists shared their experiences and opinions and attendees chimed in with questions and commentary. The CollegePlannerPro team shared relevant data from the results of our IEC pricing survey. For a more detailed analysis of the survey results, please download the guide below. 

It could be said that one of the most debated topics in the world of independent educational consultants is how to be compensated for one’s work: hourly or comprehensively. In my practice, Garrett Educational Consulting, I offer comprehensive packages and over the years have been able to tweak my process to make this model work best for me and my practice. A comprehensive model helps me account for the time, effort, and expense associated with gaining and maintaining the knowledge necessary to best serve my clients.

"Educators often forget that they have a right to be compensated for their expertise and should not be made to feel badly about that."

In all the years that I have taught and mentored both new consultants and school-based counselors, the one issue that has not changed is their perception that we are somehow not allowed to value our own time or experience. This is probably a result of education having been a primarily female occupation for so many years. We are taught that we must be nurturers and that what we do is more ministry than work. Hogwash!! What we must do is value ourselves and what we offer to others. It all comes down to boundaries.

Insights from the Harvard Admissions Lawsuit

The pandemic has completely changed the college admission landscape. As colleges have gone test-optional, there has been a rise in the importance of strong personal narratives and activities that show evidence of academic creativity and independent scholarship. As educators are looking to help students navigate the ever-changing admissions landscape, it is important to base recommendations on real insights into the admission processes at selective colleges and universities.