The case for independent college counselling for students looking to study abroad

2. Ethical challenges

Agents occupy a substantial part of the college counseling domain. Under contract with colleges, they help students apply to various institutions at no or nominal cost. In return, the institutions compensate them with a commission for every acceptance. Though this structure is crucial to international student recruitment, it is fraught with unethical practices. Since an agent’s business model hinges upon the number of students successfully admitted, and not the quality of acceptance that they receive, students are often shortchanged due to colored advice. Such incidents have prompted calls for stricter oversight.

3. Unauthorized sharing of students’ and parents’ data

The increasing demand for foreign education has also prompted the entry of disruptive VC-led companies focussed on a high volume of customer acquisition to achieve economies of scale. An essential element of their sales strategy is to approach schools to open their doors to for-profit entities. Such extensive “lead generation” often veers into murky waters, ethically speaking.

In lieu of organizing or sponsoring “free” webinars and info sessions, schools are expected to share their student database, sometimes without the students’/parents’ consent. The repeated (and unwanted) sales calls that follow are a whole other nightmare.

Roadmap for the future

1. Promoting unbiased counseling

The NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) defines counselors as, “professionals who advise or counsel students about making the transition from secondary school to college or about transferring from one college to another. The term typically refers to secondary school counselors, independent educational consultants (IECs), ...” IECs provide students withunbiased advice for creating a college list, evaluating fit, preparing applications, seeking financial aid, and more. Since their source of revenue is totally dependent on the quality of acceptances, their operational model is automatically student centric.

2. Autonomous or governmental regulation

The NACAC Code of Ethics for Ethical Practice in Admissions was laid down to streamline the functioning of the college counseling industry in the United States and weed out fraudulent practices. Additionally, organizations such as IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) and HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association) have provided an ethical model for college counseling.

Though these independent guidelines don’t alway guarantee a fair playing field, they help students find the right guide (IECA or HECA members) and hold counselors to strict professional standards (see IECA’s “Ethical Practices”). It is imperative for India’s study abroad industry to come up with similar standards for autonomous governance

3. Institutional Change

Given that a foreign education has a direct correlation with the future earnings of a student’s family, schools need to take a more structured approach to counseling. They can—

• Dedicate time and resources towards career counseling
• Host admissions and career counseling experts, regularly
• Focus on students’ professional development and college readiness, through a dedicated curriculum touching upon communication, networking, writing, critical thinking, etc.
• Training teachers and school counselors on the finer details of higher education in other countries and the application process
• Curb access to for-profit entities without a clear set of guidelines in place for data sharing and further contact.

4. Advice for parents

• Educate yourselves on the college application process well before their child starts high school. A clear understanding of the process and an early start makes for an easier navigation through the entire college admissions process.
• Vet admissions consultants carefully by examining their track record, verifying testimonials, and most importantly, ensuring that the consultant’s approach and attitude aligns with your child’s needs and goals.
• Do not be dissuaded by unsolicited advice and baseless opinions. Follow the advice of your chosen expert. Take everything else with a grain of salt.
• Be patient and ensure that the child is coping well during this intensely emotional journey. Remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint.

It is vital that all stakeholders in the process, particularly educators, understand that our duties towards students is by its very nature fiduciary, and that will and must never change.

This article was originally published by The Economic Times on 20th January 2023