What is the difference between an Agent and a Counselor?
Often confused with being an agent, I find myself having to explain the differences to both families and universities. I am NOT an agent and have no interest in being paid by the colleges my students attend.
The fundamental difference is that agents are paid commission by the universities they ‘partner’ with. They are paid based on the number of students that enroll in those colleges. Agents will help students select colleges and complete their applications but only to those schools which they are paid by. Often, families work with agents for a much shorter time and begin working with them closer to application season.
As a counselor, I am paid by the families to help their student find the best match schools and guide them on their journey of preparing themselves and their applications for those schools. I am deeply invested in getting to know the student and helping them find schools which truly fit who they are and what they want. The service is much more comprehensive and personalized. My recommendations are non-biased and fully based on each individual student.
There are certainly some great agents out there, but it is important to keep in mind that when using their services, you are limited to the schools they work with. They have personal interest in sending students to certain schools whether or not they are great fits. There are so many amazing schools out there that you may be missing out on!
As a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association, I am proud to follow their Ethics and Standards for working with students and their families.
Featured in Ask Grand Carol's latest blog post
Learn more about how I can help your family in Ask Grandcarol's latest blog post. We had a wonderful discussion about my work with students and the benefits of hiring a college consultant.