Mistakes To Avoid When Meeting With A College Consultant

A college consultant can give you an advantage and change how you approach the college admissions process. A consultant can help with everything from helping you get into a prestigious university to finding financial aid and scholarships. As you prepare for your first meeting with a college consultant, avoid making these common mistakes.

Don't Wait Until Your Senior Year

The sooner you contact a college consultant, the better they may be able to help you. If a college consultant first meets with a student when they are a freshman in high school, they can maximize their effectiveness. By guiding students on the right things to do throughout high school to optimize their later college success, they are in the best position to make a huge difference. However, they can be helpful at any step in the process.

Don't Pin All Your Hopes on One University

A college consultant can help you get into the college of your dreams by offering practical advice and smart steps to take. However, if you go to the meeting with a demand to get into Harvard University but don't have the academic background to support admission, there is only so much that can be done. Aim high and go into the meeting with your top choices for colleges, but also know that the daily choices you make will have an impact on how much the consultant can do.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask Lots of Questions

College consulting is both an art and a science. It's not something that is the same for any two students. Everyone's experience with a consultant will be unique since everyone's needs and specific collegiate goals will vary. So, your college consultant will be very experienced with fielding questions.

Don't hold back. Prepare a list of questions that you want answered and ask them all during the consultation. It's best to ask your questions during the meeting rather than emailing the consultant later with lots of questions.

Don't Miss Out on All Your Consultant Has to Offer

A college consultant does much more than help you get into college. Don't limit yourself. You can ask a college consultant to help you decide which major would be the best fit for you. If you have certain skills that don't show up on your academic record, be sure to tell your consultant all about them. Scholarships may be available for certain skills, and you may miss out if you don't let your consultant know about your range of abilities.

Finally, go into the meeting with a willingness to share what you want to get from your university experience. Keep in mind that the college consultant is on your side. They are there to help you make the most of college. The consultant aims to put you on a trajectory for success in your academic career.

To learn more, contact a college consultant.