Who Can Use an Educational Consultant?
Parents
You need more than just a list of schools…
If a parent just wants a list of schools, there is the internet. But the internet can be either a valuable tool or a hindrance. Websites do not ever tell the whole story about the inside culture of a school and whether it will be the right fit for your child. Many times we see well-intentioned parents who are unduly influenced by what they find on the World Wide Web. They usually have never done this before, and so are flying a bit blind. They aren't sure what questions to ask, and they don't have the background on a particular institution.
Getting to know you and your child:
Whether it’s for college, boarding school, or therapeutic programs, parents often request that we give them a list of schools. Our response to that is always, “Tell me more about your child.”
The good news is that vast numbers of educational options exist, but how to know which choice is the right one for your child is not easy to discern without more detailed information.
The detailed information that is gathered in an initial meeting might include questions such as:
- What is the current school setting?
- What’s working and what’s not?
- What are your child’s strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes, interests and turn-offs?
- What are your child’s aspirations?
- How are his/her grades (past and present)?
- With so many options to choose from it can be very confusing. Few things in life are as important or potentially as stressful as making the right educational choices for our children. This is one area in which we, as parents, want to get it right. RNG will review your options with you and make professional recommendations on a plan of action. We work together honestly and candidly in order to do what is right for the student. But the final decisions are always made by the family. The goal is to make educational choices that will optimize the student's chances for success.
Working with a Consultant
The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) gives excellent guidance on what to expect when working with a consultant as well as what to look for when hiring a consultant. It is also important for international families to understand the difference between working with an IECA consultant and a paid agent. Paid agents are paid by the schools (boarding and universities) for students who are enrolled at their recommendation. Agents usually do not reveal this to unsuspecting families. When hiring a professional member of IECA, a family can rest assured that recommendations are always made in the best interest of the student - not because of a commission.
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