College, the big, looming, and cumulative end to four years of high school education. It’s a hot topic on all students’ minds, whether it is the first few weeks of high school or senior year, where college is right around the corner.

Whatever it may be, the bottom line is that college is always imminent, and the stress of choosing where to go and what to study is constant. Stress is a powerful motivator, and it often drives students and families towards outside help, often in the form of a private college counselor.

Private college counselors are professionals in all thing’s college, and their services include helping students build a college list, focus on college and academic prep, submit financial aid applications, edit and brainstorming essay topics, and help guide clients towards a major they will be productive. Private college counselors help to ease the stress of college applications and provide an educated resource who is fluent in the language of college applications.

But are private college counselors necessary? Based on my personal experience, I don’t think so. While they can be helpful — especially early on when figuring out where to apply or what to study — that was really the extent of what I needed. For me, once I had a general direction, I was able to navigate the rest of the process on my own.

Private college counseling is an expensive investment. Most private counselors charge, on average, $10,000 for packages. Granted, each counselor is unique in what they offer, but this is a fairly accurate estimate. This number comes from the average rate of several counseling services, which typically charge between $200 – $500 per hour or offer packages ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per hour. Given this high cost, it is important to consider whether the value they provide justifies the expense; especially when many students can find success using Seattle Prep’s free college counseling services.

Looking inwards, Seattle Prep is unique in terms of college counseling. Mrs. O’Neil, Mrs. Covert, Ms. Foy, and Mrs. Powers offer incredible support throughout the school year.  Students can request and drop in for meetings anytime they need and are constantly supported through mandatory check-ins at key checkpoints during college application season. With decades of experience, Prep’s counselors “speak” the language of college applications, helping students navigate the college admissions process with clarity and confidence. Their commitment and accessibility make the need for private college counseling far less necessary.

Wherever students are in their process, there are numerous resources available to assist in applications, many of which can be found in “Free Hidden Gems”, an article featured in this issue of the Panther enlightening students to numerous free resources to help with college applications. All of these things are free to use and will provide the same, if not similar information as a private college counselor. Students just have to be willing to use it and take the time to have those college conversations with yourself and family rather than with a counselor.

So, do you need a private college counselor? Ultimately, the decision is up to you and your family, but coming from someone who doesn’t have one, trust me when I say you do not need one to be successful and find colleges that are perfect.