The New Rules of the Admissions Game
Six big changes on the road to yes.
Excerpt from article in Newsweek Education , September 12, 2010 by
New Reality Six: Consider a Consultant
This all sounds like a lot to digest, and it is. That’s why the college-consulting industry is booming. According to a recent study by Lipman Hearne, a marketing and communications firm, 26 percent of high-achieving students (defined as those with scores above 1150 on the 1600-scale SAT or an ACT composite score of 25 or higher) now hire a private consultant in their college-application process. Membership in the Independent Educational Consultants Association has been growing at 20 percent annually, according to the group’s director, Mark Sklarow. “The current economy has meant that school districts are increasing caseloads for school-based counselors,” Sklarow says. “We’ve heard from so many families who say the school counselor not only doesn’t know their child but there’s just not enough time for them to help.” Since the field is unregulated, be wary. Interview multiple candidates for the job. Most important, remember that the only one whose qualifications really matter in college admissions is you. “Consultants could be useful for helping the less-prepared student find a better fit for school and get them through the application process,” says Amon. “But we admit students based on their merit alone.”
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