The Student Boom Helps College Admissions Consulting

Demographics don't lie. The Echo boom generation who grew up on boy bands and Britney Spears are entering college. The Baby Boom generation has changed society so too will the Echo kids with high expectations of a great career.

College admissions consultants help students target the best schools for their abilities and aspirations, review test scores, and provide application advice. Consultation charges range from $100 to $500 for an initial talk to a 3-hour college consultation.

College admissions consulting is not just for kids. With the adoption of a life-long learning mind-set by the adult population, college admissions is an important issue for professional and graduate programs. Further opportunities exist in the specialized area such as MBA admission consulting or medical school consulting.

Driving Force: Student-to-counselor ratio for all levels of public schools is at 485:1; the NACAC recommended ratio is 100:1. Add to the mix an all-time record college student population of 15 million, intense competition, and admission office budget cuts resulting in a hot market.

Risks: Acting in the best interest of the client and the college is a delicate balancing act for college admission consultants. With over 300 members, The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) provides ethical guidance for consultants. IECA stresses "avoid actions which may give the appearance of an attempt to influence an admission placement."