Do You Need a Private College Counselor?

By Phillip Walters

Many college applicants feel that life would be made simpler, or admissions officers would look on them more favorably, if they engaged the services of a private counselor. You may have seen success stories on TV about these apparent wonder workers, but wait! As long as you do your research and ask those around you when you need help, you're capable of handling this all on your own!

Of course, perhaps a private counselor could be of benefit to you if you're really feeling stuck and don't know where to start in your college search, or if there's a specific aspect of College life which you feel you need help with and you don't want to ask parents or teachers. However, if you want to save yourself a lot of money, try doing it yourself!

Expect to pay anything between hundreds of dollars to several thousand if you do employ a professional. For your money, you can expect assistance with:

• Finding the colleges which suit your personal profile


• Putting together an impressive admissions package


• Editing your personal statement for maximum effect


• Practicing for college interviews


• Organization of your paperwork and meeting cut-off dates

Don't forget, you already have plenty of other people whose help you can rely on for your college search. You can do plenty of research using resources supplied by your high school, local library, or online. Whether you call in the pros or go it alone, here are a few resources you'll want to be sure to tap along the way:

Your High School Guidance Counselor: Your counselor is a great source of information about colleges and the admissions process. Give yourself a chance to build up a rapport with your guidance counselor well before you want to start your college application - the better they know your personal strengths and preferences, the more well equipped they will be to recommend colleges and courses.

Online Resources: Many of the questions you may have about the process of college admissions can be answered online. Of course, the Internet should also be one of your first stops in researching colleges, student scholarship opportunities and financial aid. A good place to start is on Cappex.com, a free resource that matches students with colleges. You'll also find the free site for students at http://www.ed.gov/students/ a reliable source of college search info, and you should obviously pay a visit to college websites.

Family, Friends and Teachers: When it comes to completing the daunting range of tasks required to enter college, the real pros are your nearest and dearest - those family members, friends and teachers who understand the real you and who can be trusted to give a truthful insight into what's in your best interests! Don't be afraid to ask for help with choosing which college to visit, checking over your application, or even for a great letter of recommendation!

I want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to go to college. This means getting in, finding the right college fit and paying for school. I love to share what I've learned and I hope you can find some useful information useful in your college search.