THE VALUE OF AN INDEPENDENT EDUCATIONAL AND COLLEGE CONSULTANT
As a parent and licensed school counselor, I know that the college admission process sometimes may seem overwhelming to students and their families, because gaining admittance to the right post-secondary institution is dependent upon a series of countless important decisions which students make from the very beginning to the very end of high school. Through my educational consultant business, I offer students and parents the guidance, resources, and network of professional connections which I have developed and expanded throughout a long career in education and counseling spanning two and a half decades, in order to help students determine suitable post-secondary institutions and map the pathways necessary for realizing their aspirations.
According to the American School Counseling Association, the student to school counselor ratio should be 250:1 (1). Whether even this is true or not is contentious, for some could argue that a ratio of 250:1 still could be too large for a school counselor to help each and every student sufficiently in determining a plan for post-secondary education. But findings show that the ratio in some places is even higher. For example, a nationwide study conducted in 2010-2011 reveals that the national average is 471:1, nearly doubled the suggested ratio (1). In Connecticut in that same year the average was determined to be 510:1 (2); and in California the student to school counselor ratio peaked to 1016:1 supposedly due to a dire shortage of school counselors caused by budget cuts and the lack of a state mandates for student-to-counselor ratios (3). If we accept that high school guidance counselors can provide adequate assistance to their students only if the size of their case load is less than or equal to the prefixed ratio endorsed by the ASCA, then it follows that the average school counselor is trying to meet the needs of an excessively high number of students and therefore cannot provide them adequate assistance. The mere fact that the average student to school counselor ratio far surpasses the recommended one suggests that many school counselors do not have enough time to get to know all their students well or help them plan properly for the future.
However, from professional experience, I know that guiding a student in the college admission process requires much more individualized attention and support than the average overburdened school counselors have the time to provide. By choosing to assist much less than half the amount of students of the average school counselor, an independent education consultant, like I myself, can get to know the student’s profile and interests and provide the necessary amount of time and guidance for helping the student to find and apply to the right institutions. Furthermore, school counselors tend not to provide assistance in the college admission process until the student at least has reached junior year of high school. However, initiating the process at that time is often too late, because being accepted by certain colleges and study in certain fields often entail certain specialized academic and extracurricular preparation and performance from the very beginning of high school. For this reason, high school freshmen and sophomores in particular would benefit from consulting a independent educational consultant because an IEC could help students plan for success throughout the earlier stages of high school, when meetings with the school counselor for college readiness either are infrequent or do not ever occur, and prepare in anticipation of the time when they will need to apply to post-secondary institutions.
Therefore, when others ask for what purpose my private college and educational consultation practice could serve in light of the fact that students already have school counselors, I would respond that I could offer much more of the attention and guidance which students and parents need in order to deal with the college admission process than the average school counselor, who according to aforementioned statistical evidence is so overloaded with students that it is almost always impossible for him or her to help each student adequately. Moreover, unlike some school counselors, who tend to meet only with students, IEC's can reserve enough time not only for meeting with students but also with the students’ parents or guardians, which I, as a parent myself, believe is important because selecting a college is a decision which almost always requires a parent’s or guardian’s active participation, emotional support, and/or financial backing.
As an IEC, I stand out because I make the college admission process very transparent for both students and parents, keeping both parties equally well-informed and confident in every step of the decision-making process. Without enough time for discussion with their school counselors about requisites or available opportunities, the average student tends to apply to institutions being either misinformed or unaware. When this happens, there could be many types of consequences. The post-secondary institution might not accommodate the student’s abilities, needs, or desires. Money, time, and effort could be sacrificed in vain. The student could feel unhappy or unfulfilled and thus transfer to another school or drop-out from post-secondary education altogether. It is crucial for the student to find the right college from the start in order to avoid enduring the consequences of faulty decision-making later. Ideally, if a student finds the right school, then he or she will feel content with his or her original decision to attend that school and thrive there intellectually, socially, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. As the Collegeologist, I pledge to strive in order to make this ideal a reality for all students and their parents who seek my help.
Dorine Russo, M.S. M.A, The Collegeologist
According to the American School Counseling Association, the student to school counselor ratio should be 250:1 (1). Whether even this is true or not is contentious, for some could argue that a ratio of 250:1 still could be too large for a school counselor to help each and every student sufficiently in determining a plan for post-secondary education. But findings show that the ratio in some places is even higher. For example, a nationwide study conducted in 2010-2011 reveals that the national average is 471:1, nearly doubled the suggested ratio (1). In Connecticut in that same year the average was determined to be 510:1 (2); and in California the student to school counselor ratio peaked to 1016:1 supposedly due to a dire shortage of school counselors caused by budget cuts and the lack of a state mandates for student-to-counselor ratios (3). If we accept that high school guidance counselors can provide adequate assistance to their students only if the size of their case load is less than or equal to the prefixed ratio endorsed by the ASCA, then it follows that the average school counselor is trying to meet the needs of an excessively high number of students and therefore cannot provide them adequate assistance. The mere fact that the average student to school counselor ratio far surpasses the recommended one suggests that many school counselors do not have enough time to get to know all their students well or help them plan properly for the future.
However, from professional experience, I know that guiding a student in the college admission process requires much more individualized attention and support than the average overburdened school counselors have the time to provide. By choosing to assist much less than half the amount of students of the average school counselor, an independent education consultant, like I myself, can get to know the student’s profile and interests and provide the necessary amount of time and guidance for helping the student to find and apply to the right institutions. Furthermore, school counselors tend not to provide assistance in the college admission process until the student at least has reached junior year of high school. However, initiating the process at that time is often too late, because being accepted by certain colleges and study in certain fields often entail certain specialized academic and extracurricular preparation and performance from the very beginning of high school. For this reason, high school freshmen and sophomores in particular would benefit from consulting a independent educational consultant because an IEC could help students plan for success throughout the earlier stages of high school, when meetings with the school counselor for college readiness either are infrequent or do not ever occur, and prepare in anticipation of the time when they will need to apply to post-secondary institutions.
Therefore, when others ask for what purpose my private college and educational consultation practice could serve in light of the fact that students already have school counselors, I would respond that I could offer much more of the attention and guidance which students and parents need in order to deal with the college admission process than the average school counselor, who according to aforementioned statistical evidence is so overloaded with students that it is almost always impossible for him or her to help each student adequately. Moreover, unlike some school counselors, who tend to meet only with students, IEC's can reserve enough time not only for meeting with students but also with the students’ parents or guardians, which I, as a parent myself, believe is important because selecting a college is a decision which almost always requires a parent’s or guardian’s active participation, emotional support, and/or financial backing.
As an IEC, I stand out because I make the college admission process very transparent for both students and parents, keeping both parties equally well-informed and confident in every step of the decision-making process. Without enough time for discussion with their school counselors about requisites or available opportunities, the average student tends to apply to institutions being either misinformed or unaware. When this happens, there could be many types of consequences. The post-secondary institution might not accommodate the student’s abilities, needs, or desires. Money, time, and effort could be sacrificed in vain. The student could feel unhappy or unfulfilled and thus transfer to another school or drop-out from post-secondary education altogether. It is crucial for the student to find the right college from the start in order to avoid enduring the consequences of faulty decision-making later. Ideally, if a student finds the right school, then he or she will feel content with his or her original decision to attend that school and thrive there intellectually, socially, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. As the Collegeologist, I pledge to strive in order to make this ideal a reality for all students and their parents who seek my help.
Dorine Russo, M.S. M.A, The Collegeologist
Works cited
1. "Careers/Roles - American School Counselor Association." Careers/Roles - American School Counselor Association. American School Counselor Association, n.d. Web. 31 May 2013. <http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=133>.
2. Student-to-School-Counselor Ratio 2010-2011. American School Counselor Association, n.d. Web. 31 May 2013. <http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/Ratios10-11.pdf>.
3. Bidwell, Allie. "Lack of Funds Leave School Counselors Struggling to Find Balance." US News & World Report, 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/16/lack-of-funds-leave-school-counselors-struggling-to-find-balance>.
2. Student-to-School-Counselor Ratio 2010-2011. American School Counselor Association, n.d. Web. 31 May 2013. <http://www.schoolcounselor.org/files/Ratios10-11.pdf>.
3. Bidwell, Allie. "Lack of Funds Leave School Counselors Struggling to Find Balance." US News & World Report, 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/16/lack-of-funds-leave-school-counselors-struggling-to-find-balance>.
