How To Find A College Counselor

Are you a student or parent of a student looking for assistance with the college application process with a counselor? If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how to find a college counselor who is a good fit for you or your child. 

It’s no secret that the college application process is tough — every year, the college admissions process becomes more competitive and confusing. So, many families wonder if hiring a college counselor would be a good fit for their student to help navigate the ins and outs of the college admissions process.

College admissions counseling can be helpful to students as early as middle school, particularly when it comes to long-term academic and extracurricular planning. However, most students begin working with students during their high school years, especially during their junior and senior years, as college application preparation begins in earnest. 

So, what does a college counselor do, and how can finding the best-fit college admissions counselor for you help you excel in the college admissions process? We’ll break it all down.

What a College Counselor Actually Does (and What They Don’t)

When most people think of what a college counselor is, they’re thinking of a traditional high school guidance counselor who provides general academic guidance during the first few years of high school and then shifts more to college admissions (and writes a recommendation letter) towards the end of a student’s high school career. However, that’s not the kind of college counselor we’re discussing here, although we work in tandem with guidance counselors for a student’s best chance at success.

Independent college counselors, like our team here at H&C Education, take a more hands-on approach depending on where the student is in their academic journey. For younger students, such as students in middle school and the first two years of high school, we primarily target extracurricular development by working with students to develop passion projects that help them explore their interests and develop a portfolio of accomplishments. We also help them choose activities that support their primary focus and help them narrow down their “student brand,” which will allow them to be more targeted in their eventual college applications. 

We also, of course, offer tailored guidance during the college application process, which includes but is not limited to: essay review and ideation, college list building, interview prep, scholarship application help, navigating the financial aid application process, and more. As an all-Ivy League grad team and experts with years of experience, we are here to answer any and all questions that may arise in the college admissions process. 

So, we’ve covered what a college counselor can contribute to a student’s college application experience — what do college counselors not do? First and foremost, college counselors do not complete a student’s application for them. We do not write the essays, and we can’t actually make students participate in extracurricular activities. We’re here to emphasize a student’s natural abilities and interests, not create a profile that represents what they think the “ideal” applicant looks like.

When Should You Start Looking for a College Counselor?

As mentioned above, students can benefit from working with a counselor at any point in their academic careers, but some benefit more than others from working with a college counselor well before the college admissions process even begins. For instance, students who may need some help with planning their extracurricular profiles might benefit from more long-term planning, especially if they’re aiming for more selective institutions in the college admissions process.

However, for the majority of students, educational consultants come into the picture mid-high school, around 11th and 12th grade, specifically working as a college admissions counselor. That means we’re primarily providing application assistance in whichever way the student and their family prefer, often crafting an application strategy and setting internal deadlines to help keep students on track.

Signs You Might Need a College Counselor

Not sure if you or your child would benefit from college admissions counseling? It’s not a one-size-fits-all process, but some signs indicate that a student would be an ideal candidate for college admissions counseling, including:

• You want to apply to elite schools. If a student is aiming for any school with an acceptance rate under 15-20%, they are facing tough competition that’s getting steeper by the year. At educational consulting firms like H&C, we know what it takes to get into top schools — we’ve done it ourselves. We can help you create a student brand that will help you stand out to admissions officers.
• You aren’t sure what to look for in a school or where to start. College list development is the first step in the college admissions process, and it can feel very overwhelming for students and their families, especially if they don’t receive much help from a school’s counseling office. 
• You want help staying on track to achieve your goals. Our college counseling team helps take the mental load of tracking deadlines, reviewing and editing work, and making sure you don’t miss out on the best opportunities to succeed. We’re there to help you every step of the way and provide expert-level guidance and application support. 

Where to Find a College Counselor

So, you’ve decided you want to work with a college counselor — now, where do you find one? Like any mentorship, it’s important to find college counseling services that align with your specific needs. For instance, if you’re a top STEM student, it’s usually best to find a college admissions counselor who is well-versed in STEM-related opportunities and is even an alum of a top-tier STEM program. That way, they can more accurately advise you on the kind of high school coursework and extracurricular activities a student should be pursuing to set themselves up for success in the college admissions process. And, as you might expect, the same applies to humanities and arts-focused students. 

As with many things nowadays, this search might start with a simple Google search of college admissions counselors in your area, but it can be hard to ascertain which exactly are the best fit for you or your child. Obviously, there are more options when you look online and are willing to meet virtually, but maybe in-person meetings would be preferable. Maybe you’re looking for full-time counselors who can meet with you or your child several times per week, or you’re okay with more infrequent meetings as needed. 

That’s why it’s important to set up a consultation, which is usually free. If you’re interested in working with a college admissions counselor here at H&C Education, we’d love to set up a free consultation with you at your convenience!

What to Look for in a Great College Counselor

While not all college counselors are the same, there are some qualities that you can look for to ascertain whether or not their college counseling services would make valuable contributions to you or your child’s portfolio. Regardless of their specialty, a great college admissions counselor will be able to listen to what your needs are and develop clear admissions strategies and/or a roadmap for a student’s extracurricular activities and development. Ideally, they’ll have lots of previous experience and a proven track record of success, including being a graduate of a top school themselves.

If you’re looking for college counseling services from a company, it’s important to understand the company’s approach and specialties. Some companies specialize in test prep; others are exclusively on essay development and reviewing college essays. Then, there are companies, such as H&C Education, that take a more customized approach to every case. Instead of using the same admission strategies with every student, a college admissions counselor will customize their approach, helping students at every step of the process. This is especially good for students who aren’t necessarily aiming for top schools and need more hands-on assistance building a college list and assessing which opportunities are a good fit for them. 

Here at H&C, we specialize in developing a student’s leadership skills, which admissions officers highly value. To that end, we offer a unique experience through our capstone project, also known as the H&C Incubator, which allows students to think like an entrepreneur and create their own passion project. We know that stellar grades and test scores are no longer sufficient to get into top schools, so we created a program that helps give our students an extra advantage in the college admissions process. Previous students have begun their own businesses, spearheaded impactful community service projects, created their own successful blogs and YouTube channels, and much more. Every capstone project is different and completely fitted for a student’s specific interests and abilities, and it is entirely led by the student themselves — we are just there to offer the support and guidance they need to get it off the ground.

While not all college counselors are the same, there are some qualities that you can look for to ascertain whether or not their college counseling services would make valuable contributions to you or your child’s portfolio. Regardless of their specialty, a great college admissions counselor will be able to listen to what your needs are and develop clear admissions strategies and/or a roadmap for a student’s extracurricular activities and development. Ideally, they’ll have lots of previous experience and a proven track record of success, including being a graduate of a top school themselves. You’ll also want someone who is up to date on admissions trends, maybe even counselors who were former admissions officers themselves.

If you’re looking for college counseling services, you’re going to want to find someone with admissions experience as a student themselves and then on the other end as a college admissions counselor. You’ll want a counselor who is able to determine a student’s best-fit school — not just the school with a recognizable name brand, but a place where a student can actually flourish. Here at H&C Education, our college counseling services have helped 98% of students get accepted to one of their best-fit schools, and we have a combined 50+ years of experience amongst our admissions specialists, which includes former admissions officers at Ivy League schools. That’s the kind of track record you’ll want to see when looking for college admission professionals.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a College Counselor

Curious about the specific questions you should ask before officially committing to college counseling services? We’ve got you — here are some more in-depth questions you can ask your potential counselor about their college counseling strategy, the college admissions process in general, and more.

• Given my/my child’s specific goals, what are the ideal steps we can take to get there? While this isn’t particularly about counseling, the answer to this question can give you some insight into how the counselor would approach this specific case and the benefit they’d offer in the process.
• How do you measure a student’s progress? This is a good question if the student in question isn’t going through the college admissions process quite yet but is looking for help with long-term extracurricular and academic progress. 
• What happens if me/my student gets deferred or waitlisted in the college admissions process? It’s not uncommon for students to get deferred or waitlisted in the college admissions process, but there are steps they can take to ensure their best chance at success when decisions come out. If you’re curious about these steps, check out our blog post on the topic.
• What is the meeting cadence, and how often will we all (i.e. the student’s family and the counselor) check in about progress? This is something the counselor will probably cover, but if not, this is a good idea to check in about the practical schedule, how the counselor prefers to handle offline contact, and more.
• Do you take a more personalized approach to college counseling, or is it more of a one-size-fits-all approach? Every college counselor is different, and some college counseling services offer a more tried and true formula as opposed to more hands-on, flexible work. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing and can be a better fit for some students. However, students who are less clear on their goals and desired outcomes in the college admissions process will probably be better suited for a more customized application strategy. 

Red Flags to Watch Out For

When searching for a college counselor, knowing what red flags to watch out for is just as critical as knowing the right questions to ask. Here are several warning signs that should signal caution in your counselor search:

• Guarantees of Admission: Be wary of any counselor who promises admission to specific colleges or guarantees scholarship offers. The college admissions process is highly competitive and unpredictable. No legitimate counselor can assure admission to any particular institution.
• Lack of Credentials: Check the counselor’s qualifications and experience. A reputable college counselor should have a background in education, counseling, or a related field. They might also be part of professional organizations like the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) or the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
• High-Pressure Sales Tactics: If a counselor pressures you to sign a contract immediately or insists on a quick decision, it’s a red flag. A trustworthy counselor will allow you time and space to decide if their services are the right fit for you.
• Unclear Pricing Structure: Be cautious if the counselor’s pricing is not transparent or if they have hidden fees. Make sure you fully understand the cost of their services upfront to avoid unexpected charges.

What College Counseling Typically Costs

Higher education is already expensive as is, and college counseling services add another expense in the process. So, before you commit to hiring any counselor, make sure that it aligns with your educational goals and budget long-term.

Oftentimes, you will find counselors who charge hourly rates starting at $100 per hour and ranging based on levels of experience and what each package includes. You can often buy blocks of time i.e., 10 hours or 20 hours, depending on what kind of guidance you’re looking for. Your potential counselor will likely provide a recommendation based on their time spent with other students. If you’re trying to minimize college counseling costs, you could ask about a sliding scale option or group sessions.

Whatever your budget may look like, a great college counselor will work with you to create a plan that uses the time purchased most efficiently.

Conclusion

College counselors can make a significant difference in a student’s academic and extracurricular trajectory, both before and during the college application process. If it’s something you’re considering for you or your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out — we’d love to meet with you in a free consultation!