If You’re Comparing Fees, You’re Missing the Point
I just wrapped up a stretch of three weeks of school visits, plus attending the Enrollment Management Association conference. This admissions cycle is busy but it feels different than prior years. As I’ve compared notes with trusted colleagues, I’m struck by how often families want to zero in on fee structures when deciding on a consultant. I get it! This is a big investment. But here’s the truth, parents: if you’re comparing consultants on price alone, you’re focusing on the wrong thing!
What parents don’t always see is the investment on my side—the time, resources, and commitment it takes to run a firm the right way. I travel to visit schools in person, attend conferences, sit in on presentations, and spend hours in conversation with admissions leaders and faculty. None of that is glamorous or inexpensive, but it’s what ensures that the recommendations I make for your child aren’t based on brochures or hearsay. They’re based on trust, established relationships, and lived knowledge over many years!
A thoughtfully curated school list isn’t pulled from Google or ChatGPT. It’s the product of years of groundwork—walking dorm halls, eating in dining halls, listening to students talk about their experiences, and noticing the culture that doesn’t always make it onto a website. That’s what gives me the insight to say, this is a school where your child will be seen, supported, and able to thrive.
So yes, there are fees. But they reflect the investment I’ve made long before I ever meet your student or speak with you. The value isn’t in the hours you see. It’s in the depth of knowledge and relationships you can’t see. And that’s what makes the difference between finding just a good school, and finding the right school.
Families who choose an educational consultant based only on cost are gambling with their child’s future. The real differentiator isn’t the fee. It’s the relationships, knowledge, and judgment that only come from years of investment in this field.
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