A Student of Colleges: Fundamentals of Independent Educational Consulting

This textbook is an introduction to a career in the field of independent educational consulting. It explores, analyzes, and explains many dimensions of this booming career. This book highlights the practices, principles, and tenets that are essential to those contemplating a career in this field or those wanting to hone, strengthen, and grow their current practice. Although written for an independent educational consultant (IEC), the content (running a business; counseling strategies leading to more effective communication; ways of growing and evolving a small business, etc.) is applicable to other small business women and men, particularly those wanting to be a consultant of any sort. Topics covered include how to become a consultant, the qualities necessary for a successful career as an IEC, the right timing for starting a private practice, how to run a consulting business, working with families on cost and affordability issues, how to organize time with students, how to build a college list, counseling basics for IECs, how to build knowledge of colleges and the admission process, ways of getting to know students, working with learning disabled students, forging a partnership with parents, the higher education and admission landscape, and expanding an IEC practice. The book is a culmination of the author's 30-plus years as an Independent Consultant. Materials were gathered through teaching at both University of California, Irvine and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), presenting at national and regional conferences, and training Independent Educational Consultants.