Why Colleges Should Thank Private Admissions Counselors

By KATHERINE COHEN

Stanley Kaplan and the Princeton Review have become household names over the last 20 years, and I believe independent college counseling is heading in the same direction.

As admit rates have plummeted at selective colleges in recent years, the college-admissions process has only become more overwhelming for students and parents, particularly those who are approaching the application season for the first time. For many of these families, independent counseling is the answer.

It is becoming more and more common for families to enlist private consultants to help bring clarity to the college-admissions process. The Independent Educational Consultants Association has seen its membership triple since 1996, and expects continued growth in the coming years. There are now approximately 4,000 independent counselors nationwide, according to the group's statistics.