hiring an admissions counselor.. worth the money?

[jym626]

Toptier,

Read this NYT article and you’ll see why HS counselors are simply overwhelmed and unable to give the time/assistance that they might like. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/26/nyregion/little-college-guidance-500-high-school-students-per-counselor.html?_r=0

While small private schools can often afford to provide their students with tremendous hand-holding, large public high schools across the country struggle with staggering ratios of students to guidance counselors. Nationally, that ratio is nearly 500 to 1, a proportion experts say has remained virtually unchanged for more than 10 years. And when it comes time to apply to college, all of the students need help at once…
…Nonetheless, the national student-to-counselor ratio, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling, is 478 to 1, nearly double the recommendation of the American School Counselor Association.

Here’s a table of all HS counselors by state. Look at the ratios compared to the recommended ratio https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/Ratios10-11.pdf This table isnt just college counselors, but the problem of understaffing in general is apparent.

**** ETA: Current research indicates that one in 4 are now using an independent college consultant. My graduating seniors this year said they couldn’t have done it without the help, support and guidance.