Why Hire an IEC?

In the best of circumstances, the process of exploring, researching, and applying to college can be a daunting task. By the time most students begin thinking about the college application process, they are already so overwhelmed by school work, extracurricular activities, and jobs that they simply lack the time and energy to dig deeply into the college search process. 

As such, most students turn to their high school college counselors for guidance through the college selection and application process. Unfortunately, however, many high school counselors have caseloads in the hundreds and are not only working as “college” counselors, but also as mental health and general guidance counselors as well. Consequently, many high school counselors have very little time remaining to guide individual students through the process of evaluating their aptitudes and interests, investigating a wide variety of college options, or navigating the byzantine application process.

That is where an Independent Education Consultant fits in. An IEC’s focus is solely on the college research, application and selection process, allowing them to spend time year-round visiting college campuses, speaking with admissions representatives, and attending college admissions conferences to grow and expand their knowledge base. IEC’s are able to develop an unrivaled breadth of knowledge surrounding various schools and programs, admissions practices and policies, financial aid packages and opportunities, and campus life and atmospherics across a wide variety of colleges and universities. This first-hand knowledge enables an IEC to help their students cast a wider net and investigate schools they may never otherwise have considered in order to find the best college fit.

Through one-on-one meetings with students, an IEC can help a student and their family focus on their unique situation. Whether they desire a great engineering program, the best football fans, a debt-free graduation, or all of the above, an IEC has the knowledge and experience to guide students in the right direction. 

Another benefit of an IEC is to help alleviate some of the familial tension that inevitably surrounds the college application and selection process. An IEC can mediate the priorities and interests of the parents and the student and act as a neutral party when differences of opinion arise. With their knowledge and experience, an IEC can help streamline the college application process and make the entire ordeal easier to tackle and more enjoyable for the entire family.