To be honest, a lot of the people here can offer you some pretty good advice. Throw in a guidance counselor who knows his/her stuff, and you should be good to go for free.
The reality is that the process doesn’t have to be as complicated as people here make it sound. Your high school has been sending kids to colleges forever; they know the drill.
The trick is in finding a list of schools that are the right fit for you: that you can get into, that you can afford, that have your major, and that you can see yourself learning (and possibly living) in for the next four years. The internet and some good advice from the people here can certainly point you in a direction, and there are plenty of College Match sites that will give you a long list to narrow down.
Lots of us here know our way around a college essay. Take a look at the essay forums, and look at the list of essay readers. But here’s the trick: click on each responder’s name and look at the threads they’ve started and their responses. If you don’t see evidence of adulthood-- a spouse/ kids/ career/ something, then avoid them. Read the advice they’ve offered others before you decide to take their advice. All advice is NOT created equal!!!
We’ve never considered using a counselor for our kids; it’s simply money that we don’t have.