12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Independent Educational Consultant
The Independent Educational Consultants Association compiled a list of 12 questions to ask before hiring an Independent Educational Consultant. We have answered the questions from IECA below:
1. Do you guarantee admission to a school, one of my top choices, or a certain minimum dollar value in scholarships?
We do not guarantee admission to a school. We help to select the best school choice. There are other considerations such as scholarship money when appropriate but that is usually a secondary concern not a primary concern and one that is discussed after all acceptances have been received.
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?
We visit schools and programs approximately one third of our time. In addition to campus visits, we attend conferences with administrators, admissions staff and other keep personnel at the schools and programs. We will also use our extensive network of other professionals to get their impressions of current "happenings" if we have not visited in a certain period of time or sometimes even if we had.
3. Do you attend professional associations?
We are members of a variety of professional associations including the IECA. As a provision of membership, it is imperative that we attend meetings. In addition to those provisions, we have other professional requirements for continuing education and oftentimes use attendance at association functions for this purpose.
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?
We average attendance at a professional conference at least every other month. Due to our extensive travel schedule, we do not always attend each conference every time it is offered, but we do vary the conferences that we attend to maximize the information that we receive in order to stay current.
5. Do you ever accept any form of compensation from a school, program, or company in exchange for placement or a referral?
We do not accept any compensation from a school, program or company.
6. Are all fees involved stated in writing, up front, indicating exactly what services I will receive for those fees?
We provide a contract to our clients either prior to the first meeting or at the time of the first meeting. We oftentimes discuss fee and the services provided for that fee on the phone during an initial intake.
7. Will you complete the application for admission, re-write my essays, or fill out the financial aid forms on my behalf?
We do not complete applications, re-write essays or fill out financial aid forms. However, we do make phone calls to admissions offices on behalf of the client when appropriate. This usually involves making sure that there is availability prior to having the student/family fill out the forms.
8. How long have you been in business as an independent educational consultant (IEC)?
We have been in business since 1998.
9. What was your background prior to going into independent educational consulting? What was your training and education?
We have varied backgrounds and training in nursing, education and administration.
10. Will you use personal connections to get me in to one of my top choices?
We will connect with admissions officers or others at schools to share a student's background but will not use personal connections for admissions purposes. Our goal is to make the best match for our students not simply to get them into a particular school.
11. What specialized training do you have (LD, gifted, athletics, arts, etc.)?
We are specialists in learning differences, therapeutic issues and twice exceptional students. We are well-versed in the arts and athletics and have placed many students in schools that highlighted and augmented their skills in this area.
12. Do you adhere to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by IECA?
We are active members of the IECA and adhere to their ethical guidelines.
We do not guarantee admission to a school. We help to select the best school choice. There are other considerations such as scholarship money when appropriate but that is usually a secondary concern not a primary concern and one that is discussed after all acceptances have been received.
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?
We visit schools and programs approximately one third of our time. In addition to campus visits, we attend conferences with administrators, admissions staff and other keep personnel at the schools and programs. We will also use our extensive network of other professionals to get their impressions of current "happenings" if we have not visited in a certain period of time or sometimes even if we had.
3. Do you attend professional associations?
We are members of a variety of professional associations including the IECA. As a provision of membership, it is imperative that we attend meetings. In addition to those provisions, we have other professional requirements for continuing education and oftentimes use attendance at association functions for this purpose.
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?
We average attendance at a professional conference at least every other month. Due to our extensive travel schedule, we do not always attend each conference every time it is offered, but we do vary the conferences that we attend to maximize the information that we receive in order to stay current.
5. Do you ever accept any form of compensation from a school, program, or company in exchange for placement or a referral?
We do not accept any compensation from a school, program or company.
6. Are all fees involved stated in writing, up front, indicating exactly what services I will receive for those fees?
We provide a contract to our clients either prior to the first meeting or at the time of the first meeting. We oftentimes discuss fee and the services provided for that fee on the phone during an initial intake.
7. Will you complete the application for admission, re-write my essays, or fill out the financial aid forms on my behalf?
We do not complete applications, re-write essays or fill out financial aid forms. However, we do make phone calls to admissions offices on behalf of the client when appropriate. This usually involves making sure that there is availability prior to having the student/family fill out the forms.
8. How long have you been in business as an independent educational consultant (IEC)?
We have been in business since 1998.
9. What was your background prior to going into independent educational consulting? What was your training and education?
We have varied backgrounds and training in nursing, education and administration.
10. Will you use personal connections to get me in to one of my top choices?
We will connect with admissions officers or others at schools to share a student's background but will not use personal connections for admissions purposes. Our goal is to make the best match for our students not simply to get them into a particular school.
11. What specialized training do you have (LD, gifted, athletics, arts, etc.)?
We are specialists in learning differences, therapeutic issues and twice exceptional students. We are well-versed in the arts and athletics and have placed many students in schools that highlighted and augmented their skills in this area.
12. Do you adhere to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by IECA?
We are active members of the IECA and adhere to their ethical guidelines.
Life Compass Partners does not receive compensation from schools or programs.
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