Evaluating Independent Education Consultants (IECs)

Your child is in high school, and you are seeking guidance what to study, where to study and how to get there. You could try to sort it out yourself, and/or with help from your school counselor and/or engage an Independent Education Consultant. In this article we will help you decide what is best for you.

What is an IEC and do you need one?

An Independent Education Consultant (IEC) is someone who can advise your child on careers and colleges. Unlike agents, who receive commissions from universities, IECs function independently and can be counted upon for unbiased advice.

Do you need an IEC?

Start by asking the following questions:

What higher education destinations will your child be applying to?

1. The order of application complexity, approximately, is:
2. US highly selective / UK Oxbridge / Medicine abroad
3. Athletic recruitment and Portfolio-based programs like design, music and drama
4. US less selective / Europe university colleges / India new-age universities
5. UK less selective / Canada / Europe / Singapore / Hong Kong
6. Admissions based on national competitive exams or board exam grades
7. This complexity will correlate to the effort needed to understand, plan, and apply.

Does the school have counselors? What support can you expect from them?

1. Most schools still don't have guidance counselors. Those that do have counselor-student ratios ranging from 1:>200 to 1:<50. The level of support should improve with ratio. It is best to speak to the counselors and to recent alumni to understand what support to expect from the school.

How much charge are you and your child willing to take?

1. Even highly selective US applications are not rocket-science. A motivated child with supportive parents willing to spend the time and effort to equip themselves with the requirements, can navigate the application process themselves.

Do you have special circumstances or needs?

1. Families needing significant financial assistance, or for students with learning, physical, or behavioral challenges, specialized assistance can be very helpful in finding the right university.

Researching IECs

Before you approach IECs, it helps to reflect on the following:

1. What is your child's personality and learning style?
2. What do you want your child's college experience to be?
3. What are your values?
4. What are your constraints? Think financial, geographical, social support etc.

With those points in mind, here are some factors to consider when researching IECs

1. Size - IECs range from one-person setups to large establishments with hundreds of employees. Larger isn't necessarily better; while they may have better processes and partnerships for SAT prep, internships, or profile development, the quality of the individual consultant helping you might not be any different from a one-person setup.
2. Cost - Most IECs have a rate card, some quite granular. Understand what is and is NOT included. Many won't include SAT/ACT preparation, Oxbridge and other technical interviews, financial aid application support, visa support etc. Some won't include detailed essay help.
3. Level of Support - Some IECs will cap support at a certain number of applications; others at a certain number of hours. Clarify the mode and frequency of communication and meetings with student and parent.
4. Background - Understand the organization's background and also that of the individual consultant assigned to you. Are they experienced or is this their first rodeo? If the latter, will they be paired up with an experienced consultant? With a large organization, how much access do you have to someone senior?
5. Value System - How do they evaluate the right fit universities for each child? Listen closely to the language they use and see if aligns with how you think. Does their website highlight FIT, but they throw in “Ivy League" in every other sentence? Are they able to understand your unique needs? What are their ethics?
6. Understanding of Local Market - Universities often have admissions officers (AO) dedicated to specific geographies, who understand the local context very well. An AO for India knows how Mumbai differs from Meerut, what 90% in CBSE or State Board means, why 11th grade marks may be much lower than expected board results etc. Local IECs know this, and will guide you more specifically than a foreign IEC. They also have better local networks to help you engage in activities relevant to your local context.
7. How current is their knowledge - Is the IEC a member of reputed organizations like AIIEC, IACAC, or IECA? Do they attend conferences and talk to university AOs? How do they keep themselves abreast of the latest trends?
8. Success Stories – Most established IECs have a good mix of strong placements worldwide. Some questions to ask are - how far back does the data they are showing go? How many universities, on average, do their clients apply to and what is their percentage acceptance rate? What is their yardstick for success? Reflect also on what success in this process would mean for you.

Red Flags

Watch out for these red flags and if you encounter one, RUN!

1. "Guarantees" of admission – No ethical IEC will guarantee admissions. If they do, then this is a Rick Singer type situation and you do not want to be a Times headline for the wrong reasons.
2. "You don't have to do anything" – What you are getting with an IEC is a guide, not a concierge. Anyone who makes it sound like you can sit back and relax while they take care of the entire application has questionable ethics.
3. Inability to answer basic questions about trends, requirements etc.
4. Unwillingness to discuss details behind success stories or student profiles
5. Massive over- or under-pricing relative to the market – While this is not necessarily a red flag, it is good to understand the reasons for this.

Post-Evaluation

1. Talk to others in your circle who used an IEC to understand their experience.
2. Even when working with an IEC, some critical aspects of the application rest in the hands of the school counsellor. Work with them as a team.
3. Treat your IECs with respect - paying someone for their service does not make them your servant.

Lastly, understand that it is your child's journey, not yours. While you will be heavily involved in some aspects of it, please trust your child enough to let them take ownership of their journey including the decision on who should guide them.