The world of higher education was recently rocked by the scandal where a number of celebrities and rich families were caught bribing and cheating the system so their kids could gain entry into the ‘prestigious’ US universities they were targeting. These parents are being prosecuted in US courts for hiring a scam artist to manipulate standardized test results or to bribe athletic coaches to have their child admitted as a recruited athlete to university when the student did not even play the sport in question. Given the publicity surrounding this recent admission scandal, I hope the following relieves parents’ concerns about working with a private counselor:
- As a long-time independent consultant, I am a member of a number of well-respected professional organizations, such as the IECA and HECA (both US-based), which have stiff requirements for membership. My colleagues and I follow the Principles of Good Practice set by these organizations.
- Since the scandal, inquiries have been up. People interested in an independent educational consultant, are wanting to work with someone who is ethical and someone with in-depth experience and understanding of universities, programs, campuses, and facilities.
- Some ask if a parent has ever asked me to do something unethical? I assure them that when and if that happens, I refuse on the spot.
- Others want to know if I get my students into their top choice schools? I make it clear that that question does not speak to my work. I help my students find the right college or university where they can thrive. They are admitted based on their own hard work—and narrowing down a list of institutions that are a good match for them is the job I do best.
I also spend considerable time with students and families on preparation for senior year, discussing leadership, career exploration, affordability, and finally on brainstorming and editing their essay topics. I base my advising on the knowledge I have gained at conferences, on campus tours, in discussions with colleagues, through the training and professional development I continuously engage in throughout the course of each year.