Ask many independent educational consultants or college counselors how they got into this industry, and they will say “I helped my kids with college applications and then started helping family friends.” Or they’ll share, “I went to Harvard and started marketing to help other kids get into Harvard.” Both responses scream I am qualified because I helped someone or I got into college- which honestly does not make you qualified to help teens navigate this process.
My answer to how I became a college admissions consultant lies in the fact that I hated college. In high school, I was your stereotypical AP taking, summer interning, driven and school loving kid from the small town of Topsfield, Massachusetts. I had all of the prerequisites for loving my college experience: I loved the art of learning in general, enjoying an array of classes ranging from chemistry to art to European history. I was a strong writer, and was convinced I wanted to be a veterinarian. I applied to small liberal arts schools with strong STEM programs, as I wanted to study biochemistry.
So in August of 2008, my parents helped me pack up our bright red Dodge Durango and embarked on a journey to a small town in Pennsylvania, where I went to college. From semester one, I hated it. Without bashing the school I went to, I’ll share that while the academics were the right fit for me, the community was not. For one, the town itself was quite conservative, which is okay if you are not a naive, liberal, Massachusetts kid who went doorknocking for Obama by herself in this town. Everyone was involved in Greek life, which was not my thing. There was nothing to do on campus or off campus because the closest city was an hour and a half away. I didn’t feel safe in the college community. I became so depressed. I stopped going to class. I even had to take a leave of absence for a semester. My dream of becoming a vet seemed long gone. I felt stuck and alone for four years of my college experience.
I regret not transferring. I wish I could go back in time and talk to teenage Liz as she was deciding on colleges. I wish I would’ve chosen a school that fit me better, like Pomona or Whitman or St. Andrews or UVM. I wish I would have looked past academics and recognized that where you go to college is where you build your foundation as an adult. But I was young and lacked the insight that life experience brings.
I became an independent educational consultant because I wish I had known what to look for in a college. I wish someone had worked with me to build a college list based not solely on academics, but also rooted in community. I wish I would have known more about who I was- to find a college that aligned with authentic me and my values.
As someone who helps families every year build college lists, I take into consideration multiple factors. Location, politics, diversity, environment, student body, class size, majors, retention rates, community… I have a thorough process of getting to know each kid I cross paths with. That is why I am brilliant at my job, not because I have a kid that got into college or because I attended an Ivy, but simply because I know what to look for.
Every year, I have the splendid opportunity to tour dozens of college campuses both in the United States and internationally. I take notes, ask questions, and imagine each of my current roster of kids at each campus. I think about which kind of student would be happiest here.
I am not in this industry for the money. I am not in this for clout. I am in this industry because I get a second chance at college. I keep my practice intentionally small, so I can get to know each student I work with deeply. I get to know their strengths and weaknesses, their hopes and dreams, their routines and stress thresholds. Many of my kids joke with me that I am the therapist they never signed up for. This is my method. Get to know what lights students up, and find the right college fit for them.
College is one of the biggest investments you will ever make with your time and money. Working with an independent educational consultant can be the difference between having a thriving and impactful college experience, and having a horrible one.