College Application Consultant

Nowadays the hardest part of getting into a college is choosing the right one; it’s a vital decision for a young person’s future, one with far-reaching implications. Now more than ever, a bachelor’s degree is almost a requirement to secure a decent, well-paying job. And although some high schools do have respectable advising departments, many do not invest the time and money into this important aspect of continuing education that they could and should. That’s where you come in. As an independent college application consultant your services are in high demand in a low-competition field. What more could a business person ask for? If you are amenable to long hours of research and documentation, this business could provide you with just the intellectual challenge you need. Your main hurdles are problem-solving for high school seniors and their families and dealing with emotional/sentimental issues (primarily of the parents). You would conduct a skills/ needs assessment, match them to an appropriate choice of universities, assist the customer in obtaining and fi lling in financial aid and application forms properly (and mailing them on time). You will also relay necessary facts about ACT/SATs, placement tests (such as math, English, and foreign languages), degrees, program requirements, extracurricular activities offered by schools that might be of interest to students, and so on.


A computer is the largest expense at about $1,500, if you choose to buy one. It isn’t a necessity but it will tremendously speed the search process. College catalogs available online show listings of courses and a description of each, as well as some information about application procedures, fees, deadlines, requirements and other general facts about the schools. Buying many of these print catalogs, as well as a few specialized publications that rate universities or give little-known information about them, will cost several hundred dollars. Placing only small ads will help keep advertising costs down to $100 or so, but the price of calls to colleges may add up quickly, so remember to monitor your phone time. Charges for these tasks could be determined a number of ways: per task, per package of tasks, hourly, or however else seems reasonable for the area and best covers the particular request.


Good listening and problem-solving skills are your biggest assets in this business. Customers are trusting you with a very important part of their lives: their futures. High self-motivation and research skills will also help keep you enthused and knowledgeable about colleges and what’s new on campuses. If you enjoy being the middleman, then college consulting is for you.


Approx. cost of start-up: $500 to $1,000


Approx. potential earnings: $15,000 to $30,000


Typical fees: Extremely varied; some consultants charge as little as $150 or as high as $1,000 for this service


Where to promote: School and local papers, direct mail, Yellow Pages, banner ads on college-oriented online message boards, your own Web site with helpful information


Qualifications: Familiarity with various colleges and programs


Things needed: Computer, variety of available databases, reference materials


Staff required: No


Hidden costs: Long distance phone calls and Internet Service Provider fees