Who to go to for university counseling advice?
Who to go to for university counseling advice? What is the difference between IECs, School Counselors and Agents? Let’s analyse what each of them does: how they differ and how they overlap.
An IEC stands for: independent educational consultant
An IEC (Independent Educational Consultant) is a professional who helps students and families navigate the school or university admissions process. IECs provide personalised guidance on selecting the right schools, preparing applications, writing essays, and strategising deadlines.
Unlike school-based counsellors, IECs work independently and often serve a smaller number of students. This allows for a more customised approach. They stay up-to-date on educational trends by visiting schools and universities, attending conferences, webinars and networking with other professionals.
IECs are often member of associations such as IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) or International ACAC. These associations follow a strict ethical code that ensures their members work solely for the students and families, without financial ties to universities. This is a key distinction from some agents who may receive commissions from institutions.
School counselors work in and for schools.
This means that they are payed by the school and are part of the offer the school gives to their students. Working for a school, often means that the workload is bigger. This can translat into a limited time for in-depth advising. They provide general guidance, often country- or school-specific, they have limited ability to visit universities individually and, overall, they help with general advice and transcripts but may lack time for detailed personal guidance.
What about Agents?
Agents, on the other hand, usually have agreements with universities. It means they receive a commission when a student enrolls in one of the universities they have agreements with. This may create a conflict of interest, as they might prioritise schools that offer them financial incentives over those that are truly the best fit for the student. Agents typically represent a limited number of universities and promotes only those, regardless of whether they are the best match for the student.
Following is a comparison of Independent Educational Consultants (IECs), School Counselors, and Agents based on key aspects of university advising.
| Aspect | IEC (Independent Educational Consultant) | School Counselor | Agent |
| Who They Work For | Families (students & parents) | Schools (students at that institution) | Universities (or specific schools they represent) |
| Financial Structure | Paid directly by families; no university commissions | Paid by the school; free for students | Receives commissions from universities when students enroll |
| Ethical Commitment | Independent & unbiased; no financial ties to universities | Works in the best interest of students but within school limitations | May prioritize schools that offer commissions |
| Number of Students Served | Small, personalized caseload | Large caseload (can be hundreds per counselor) | Varies, but often many students, with focus on placement |
| Personalization | Highly tailored guidance for each student | Limited time for in-depth, individual advising | Focus on directing students to partner universities |
| University Options | Wide-ranging, based on student’s needs & best fit | Provides general guidance, often country- or school-specific | Recommends universities they have agreements with |
| University Visits & Research | Personally visits and researches universities globally | Limited ability to visit universities individually | Focuses on partner institutions |
| Application Support | Comprehensive support: research, essay guidance, interview prep, financial aid, and application strategy | Helps with general advice and transcripts but may lack time for detailed personal guidance | Assists mainly with applying to their affiliated universities |
| Student Advocacy | Focuses on student’s best interest without external influence | Advocates for students within the school | Advocates for universities they represent |
| Professional Standards | Often members of IECA, International ACAC, or similar, with strict ethical guidelines | Follows school policies; may be a member of NACAC or local counseling organizations | No universal ethical standards; varies by agency |
Who Should Consider Each?
- Families who want personalised, unbiased guidance across multiple options, with deep research and support, should consider an IEC.
- Students in schools with strong counselling departments can receive good guidance from a school counselor, though support may be limited by time constraints.
- Students who already know they want a specific university from an agent’s list may find an agent useful, but should be aware of potential biases.
I am an IEC, I believe my independence, ethical standards, and personalised approach set me apart from agents and allow me to provide much deeper support than most school counselors can offer due to their high caseloads.