Archive for the ‘Independent Educational Consultant’ Category

Many families worry about how to pay for college, and therefore the default position is for the aspiring student to apply to the local state university where the tuition has traditionally been much more reasonable. But the news coming out of the Golden State of California is downright distressing. Earlier this week Governor Jerry Brown announced a budget cut of 16% for these institutions of higher learning. California’s state university system, long the envy of the nation and the world, is in serious financial trouble.

The Chronicle of Higher Education lays out what these numbers mean – including a new selectivity rate for “Cal State” (University) at Long Beach that makes it as selective as some of the most selective institutions in the United States. I was shocked to learn that last year they had 62,000 applicants for only 6,250 slots. That’s a selectivity rate of less than 10%!!! The problem is there are too many local kids and not enough places for them at the same time the system itself is shrinking.

The Life Sciences Building at UC Berkeley

Furthermore, what does this mean for the future of California’s, as well as the nation’s, economy? Bloomberg News headlines read “College Cuts Imperil Dream That Fueled Silicon Valley“. This paragraph really summarizes how critically important this is:

“Now, as governments in China and India boost funding for expansion of their universities, Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed 16 percent cut in the higher-education budget jeopardizes the flow of talent that powers Google Inc., Apple Inc. and the rest of California’s knowledge-based economy. The elite University of California system may no longer be able to guarantee admission to the top 12.5 percent of the state’s high-school seniors. Annual tuition for residents, which was less than $4,500 a decade ago, is scheduled to rise to at least $11,124 in the next school year.”

Other states are also feeling the effect of budget cuts, including state universities in New York and Florida. And even those students lucky enough to do a degree in a public institution may find that their degrees take longer to earn because of reduced classes. Furthermore, the quality of instruction can change as class sizes dramatically increase.

So what should students and families do? Look at private universities instead? That is an option, of course, but these options also have real sticker shock. In a revealing blog by Dean Sklaris called “The Dirty Little Secrets of College Admissions“, families need to understand that the ability to pay is often a factor in admissions decisions. If you read the first 80% of this blog only, you will most certainly be discouraged about paying for college and wonder if you’ll ever be able to finance it without selling a kidney!

Scripps College, a private college in California

One thing I can declare with certainty is that the college admissions process is not what it used to be. Back in my day, when the earth was still cooling, I applied to two schools and was admitted to both. It did not occur to me that they wouldn’t want me. I don’t remember my SAT scores, but I do remember I did not prepare at all. I just showed up one Saturday morning with two, number two pencils. And guess what? I got into both schools. Those simplistic days of college admissions are gone.

If the search for financial assistance is important, then it’s better to understand how this all works and fits together sooner rather than later. It’s important to understand terms such as  “net tuition revenue“, institutional need, enrollment management, and institutional goals. In other words, how does the admissions process positively affect the needs of the college? And how does the college admissions process positively affect the life of the student?

I always tell the families with whom I work that the “college list” we assemble together can be based on a number of factors important for “fit and match”.

But there is no such thing as a tooth fairy that puts money for college under our pillows. Therefore, there is no shame in admitting that college needs to be a financial match as well.

Did you know that of the 466 graduate counseling programs in the United States, only 42 degree programs offer a course in college counseling? And that only one program in the nation, Long Island University, makes that course mandatory? I was shocked when I read that. The source of this statistic is Patrick O’Connor, the former president of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, who wrote for Diverse Magazine: Issues in Higher Education (see p. 17 for his op-ed piece, “Inadequate Counsel”).   Lynn O’Shaughnessy, one of my favorite bloggers on college, wrote about this in her latest post on Money Watch using the provocative title “Why High School Counselors Are Failing.”

The library at Vassar College took my breath away during my recent visit.

Defending the High School Guidance Counselor

These two pieces caught my interest because this cuts to the heart of my profession and what I do. First of all,  I am disappointed that graduate programs do not offer more instruction in college counseling. That should be changed. However, I also will defend the work that current high school counselors do. They handle huge case loads, juggle scheduling, proctor tests, intervene in student crises, listen to and assist with students’ problems, and then – on top of it all – need to meet student and parental expectations for college counseling. Many school based counselors are my friends and I know how hard they work. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

Furthermore, a school counselor is based in the school. They rarely are able to leave the building, except to maybe attend a staff meeting somewhere else. Occasionally they can attend a conference – when the budget allows. But they rarely have the freedom to be able to go out and visit campuses during the school year; nor can they possibly spend much time with each individual student. Different schools have different student-counselor ratios, but suffice it to say that it is rare that a counselor can spend hours and hours with any individual student or family.

The Importance of Quality Guidance for all Students

Post secondary guidance is critical to insuring our children’s futures. Not all students are ready for college, or have that as their ambition. Other students have more potential than they give themselves credit for, and with proper guidance, can channel their energy and interests towards a brighter future. Still others need help finding out about their own talents, interests, learning styles, personality, and aptitudes. In an ideal world, this would be funded by public school systems and every student would receive quality guidance. Even in private schools or international schools, this is not always a need that can be met.

Why Use an Independent Educational Consultant?

There is a reason why educational consulting is a rapidly growing profession. Independent Educational Consultants (IECs) fill an important need. Contrary to the impression that media stories often misleadingly present, IECs are not about “getting a kid in” to college. Independent Educational Consultants help students to find direction that will hopefully set them on the right path for the rest of their lives. Additionally, an IEC will also answer the hundreds of questions that come up during the application process. In fact, many consultants are former school counselors and educators who enjoy the freedom of spending more time with students and families than they could when working in the school setting. It’s not “better” work – just different.

Lastly, many of the IECs whom I like, know, and respect have engaged in the professional development that both Patrick O’Connor and Lynn O’Shaughnessy have urged. Many have completed coursework (as I have) in college counseling certificate programs such as offered through UCLA and UC Irvine.

I would love to see a world in which each student had a publicly funded counselor who could work with them individually without time constraints. I bet high school guidance counselors would love to see that, too. Contrary to the title of Lynn O’Shaugnessy’s blog, I don’t think high school counselors have failed our kids at all. The system has. But in private enterprise, people step in to fill needs. If you are considering using an Independent Educational Consultant for your child, you will find it a worthwhile investment in his/her future.

Anne O’Connell, journalist extraordinaire, recently interviewed me on background for an article she was writing about using personality tests for career planning. Obviously the entire interview could not be used for the article, so I thought I’d share with you the transcript of that interview instead.

Anne: How effective are personality tests in providing guidance on career options?

Rebecca: Certain careers lend themselves to certain personality types better than others. Therefore, personality tests can be an important tool in providing career guidance by pointing out one’s innate strengths. People are happier in their careers when they feel fulfilled, and that often means they know how to make their personality work for them.

A: What tools have you used and why?

R: When I work with adolescents, I use a personality test based on the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) that has been developed for use with teens exploring their futures. After the personality test segment, it then asks students questions about possible career interests, then provides suggestions for the students about what career paths they might want to pursue that would be take advantage of their personality strengths. The theory behind it is that our basic personalities do not change over time, even though our interests and skills might.  I also use variations of personality tests based on the the work of John Holland which also illuminate one’s innate personality traits. When I have the time to work with a student in more depth, I like to administer several tests so that we can compare the results. And of course, at every stage, I always ask the student to comment on the accuracy of the profiles. They love learning more about themselves, and they almost always say the tests are very accurate!

A: What are the best circumstances in which to administer personality tests?

R: I like to work with a student in a relaxed setting so that they are not stressed or rushed.  Ideally, they should be administered between the ages of 15 and 17 when we begin to start talking about plans after secondary school. Young people need to know what’s out there so that they have time to lay the foundation while they are still in school. Together we identify the careers that interest them the most, and what will they have to do to prepare for those careers. This also serves as a motivational tool so that they understand the relationship between today’s choices and tomorrow’s opportunities.

A: How do you interpret results of personality tests and apply them to realistic career goals and strategies?

R: Let me give you an example. I have many students tell me they want to study “business”. Then I ask them, what angle of business interests you the most, i.e. finance, accounting, marketing, logistical planning, management, etc? I usually get a surprised look from the student, for they have never thought about the different opportunities within business before. That’s when we take a closer look at their innate personality and how they can use it to their advantage.

A: Can you give an example of a personality type and the career best suited to that person?

R: There are thousands of examples I could give! However, let’s take one that is very easy to understand. If I were working with a young person who wanted to be a television host, I would encourage someone to do that if they had great interpersonal and communications skills that made it easy for them to meet new people. But if their personality was such that meeting new people was painful, I might suggest that they pursue a different angle, such as working on the writing or production side of the show. There they might use their personality strengths to better advantage.

A: In all your years working with students are there any other insights you’d like to share?

R: When doing career exploration, it’s also important to also assess a person’s interests, abilities, skills, and work/life values. Personality assessment is just one part of the equation! But I think that the world would be a happier and more productive place if we could better guide students towards careers that took advantage of their passions AND personalities! Then work ceases to be work, and people engage in “work” activity for the sheer joy and satisfaction that comes from doing something that one loves.

Click here to read the final article that Anne O’Connell wrote about “Using Personality Tests to Ensure Career Success and Happiness” for Suite101.com.  If you know a young person who would like to have more career guidance as part of the college planning process, wherever they may be in the world, please contact me or see the RNG International Educational Consultants, LLC, website for more information.