Just a few weeks ago, we published an article highlighting a few ethical issues related to college admissions. Little did we know that in a matter of days, we would all witness an incredible display of how some people crossed huge ethical boundaries, getting their kids into top schools outside of the typical admission process.
This short video is about how you can be assured that the person you choose to work with your child through his/her college search and application process is ethical, and qualified to give you the help you seek.
First, we recommend asking these two questions:
To which professional organizations do you belong?
I mention several professional organizations for those of us who assist students in their college admission process in the video to the right. Being involved in these organizations gives us the opportunity to share information with others who do what we do, to stay on top of fast-moving trends in college admissions, and to interact with college admission officers – the people who actually make admission decisions.
How many colleges have you visited in the past 2-3 years?
This is an important question, because it’s impossible to guide students and families if you don’t spend a lot of time learning about the options. There are 2,200 four-year colleges in the U.S.! Most families come to us knowing the names of “reach” schools. Part of our job is to help them become comfortable with the plethora of choices they really have. A good college counselor is a champion college tourer – that’s why we have literally hundreds of college writeups on this website. California colleges are here; out-of-state colleges are here.
IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association, recommends that you ask these 12 questions before hiring an independent educational consultant, and US News & World Report published this article, entitled “What to Look For When Hiring A College Consultant.”
Everyone on the Magellan team is a member of multiple professional organizations, and we all spend lots of time visiting dozens of colleges every year. We confidently guide our students through the process with integrity. You can learn more about our services here, and if you think your child needs some guidance through his/her college search and application process, please feel free to get in touch.