The Business of College Consulting

Colleen Reed, founder of American College Consulting and former high school teacher, helps Canadian students navigate their U.S. university applications. She shares insights on turning her consulting practice into a family-run business by involving her husband and daughter. Colleen emphasizes the importance of personal connections during consultations, ensuring students are invested in the process. She tackles current challenges like visa issues and political uncertainties, while advocating for affordable Canadian universities. Plus, she discusses the value of networking among consultants for continuous growth.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Click here! Margaret Baudinet shares her journey from college consultant to CEO of College Solutions, balancing business growth while raising quintuplets and building a thriving consulting practice with specialized services and a team of seven counselors. Margaret shares her journey:• Purchasing College Solutions from founder Larry Dannenberg in July 2020 during the pandemic• Transitioning from a small team to a comprehensive organization with leadership roles and specialized services• Managing the surprise of quintuplets born in 2016 while maintaining her consulting career• Developing grade-specific packages for underclassmen to provide flexibility and improve cash flow• Raising prices while effectively communicating value to clients• Building strong referral networks with financial planners as primary sources• Using Boomerang email software to manage inbox and improve productivity• Creating targeted growth strategies focused on specific markets rather than general expansion• Embracing the concept of work-life "seasons" rather than perfect balance• Hiring team members who complement your weaknesses and leverage tools like ChatGPT for processeshttps://www.collegesolutions.com/Thank you for listening to this episode of the Business of College Consulting. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or share it with a friend in the college consulting industry! 

Kim Derrick, an experienced college consultant known as Coach Kim, operates a high-volume, low-touch consulting model while volunteering with Georgia Tech's Stamps President Scholars Program. She reveals her 'big four' pillars of college guidance: list development, grades, testing strategies, and authentic activities. Kim emphasizes clear communication through yearly contracts, video content, and targeted outreach. With over 90% client retention, she discusses balancing efficiency with personal relationships and shares insights on adapting her business model for new IECs.

In this engaging conversation, Sylvia Borgo, owner of DJ Educational Consulting and a former classroom teacher, shares her journey from education to college consulting. She emphasizes the importance of deep student connections and her intent to maintain a solo practice. Sylvia offers practical tips on organization, time management, and the value of sharing knowledge freely. She discusses her unique approach to college advising, including how in-person meetings and a structured curriculum enhance her clients' experiences, all while preserving work-life balance.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Click here! Aubrey Groves shares her journey from Chinese language teacher to joining her mother's college consulting business, Davis Groves Educational Services, and how they've built a thriving practice focused on creating work-life balance for working parents.• Joining her mother's college consulting business after teaching Chinese for six years• Bringing technology improvements like Google Docs to streamline their processes• Transitioning to a fully remote business model and creating more efficient systems• Developing a filtering system for identifying client "red flags" • Evolving their curriculum to ensure students take ownership of their applications• Finding the right balance in potentially using AI for appropriate tasks• Creating a business that intentionally supports working parents• Setting firm boundaries around personal time with two dedicated days off weekly• Building a mother-daughter business relationship that leverages different strengths• Focusing exclusively on seniors from August to November to maintain quality serviceIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or share it with a friend in the college consulting industry.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Click here! Stephanie Mead shares her journey as an "accidental entrepreneur" who built a successful college consulting business by trusting her instincts over conventional business wisdom. Her experience demonstrates that personal authenticity can be the strongest foundation for business success.• Started as a test prep tutor while pursuing an acting career over 30 years ago• Discovered her natural talent for connecting with teenagers • Transitioned organically into college consulting through client demand• Grew a tutoring team to 15 people before scaling back to focus on what she loved• Found that a smaller business actually generated more take-home profit• Implemented an innovative hourly billing system instead of traditional packages• Recently added two associates using a profit-sharing model rather than employment• Uses a virtual assistant to handle administrative tasks, improving efficiency• Believes strongly in being true to yourself in business decisionsIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or share it with a friend in the college consulting industry.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Click here! Lisa Hillhouse shares her journey from Air Force officer to successful independent educational consultant, highlighting how she built a thriving college consulting business with a military specialty focus. Lisa shares how she:• Leveraged background in Air Force admissions to create a specialty in military academy and ROTC applications• Established strong business systems from day one with help from a business consultant• Built a support team including essay editors, former military officers, and a student success manager• Created a sustainable marketing strategy through conference presentations and word-of-mouth referrals• Developed relationships with high school counselors by volunteering and sharing resources• Implemented careful time tracking and package pricing to ensure profitability• Found community through Berkeley Extension program cohort that still meets regularly• Learned when to say no to clients who aren't a good fit• Uses technology strategically while maintaining personal connection with studentsResources:Lisa's LinkedIn ProfileLisa's WebsiteBreakthrough Brand Podcast

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Click here! Mark Scalaro, CEO of IECA for over 30 years, shares his unique perspective on the business of college consulting and how the industry has transformed from an avocation into a respected profession. His insights cover the evolution from a field where consultants were openly booed at conferences to today's professional landscape with recognized standards, training programs, and business practices.• Most consultants struggle with imposter syndrome initially, especially the business aspects• Market your unique strengths rather than trying to be a generalist competing with established professionals• Three essential pieces of advice: differentiate yourself, under-promise and over-deliver, and "fold the toilet paper ends"• Making your behind-the-scenes work visible to clients is crucial as this prevents the most common complaint• Partnerships require complementary skills, shared vision, and formal written agreements to succeed• Building positive relationships with school counselors requires empathy for their challenges• Future growth opportunities include expanding into gap years, military options, career schools, graduate programs, and international educationThank you for listening to this episode of the Business of College Consulting. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or share it with a friend in the college consulting industry. 

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Click here! You can't miss this episode with Chris Andersson, former Director of Admissions at NYU's Tisch School and founder of Nothing But Drama. In our latest episode, Chris recounts his move from academia to entrepreneurship, sharing the highs and lows of his journey.Chris highlights the collaborative spirit among college consultants and the ethical creation of referral networks. He shares his strategic steps in scaling his business, touching on the breakthroughs that came with hiring a social media manager and other contractors to lighten his workload and free up his time to work with more students.  Tune in for an episode filled with actionable insights, whether you're an established IEC or someone just starting to navigate the college consulting waters.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Click here! In this episode, Stef Mauler, founder of the Mauler Institute, shares her story of her early days as a Canadian navigating U.S. college applications to becoming a Harvard MBA graduate and launching her own thriving college consulting business, Stef discusses her strategic growth and the pivotal decision to hire writing coaches. Her business acumen shines through as she details her unique college admission strategies by leveraging business principles and helping students craft their unique selling points. Stef opens up about her strategies for success, such as time management and setting professional boundaries. Discover how building a supportive community rather than viewing others as competition and being generous with knowledge can be powerful tools in client retention and satisfaction. This episode is jam-packed with insights to inspire and guide whether you are an emerging consultant or a seasoned pro.