Parents often assume their teen’s school counselor can handle every part of the college planning process, but the reality is far more collaborative.

In this episode, Lisa Marker-Robbins and Stephanie Simpson, CEO of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), explore how the right team and a foundation of self-awareness can help students make thoughtful college decisions.

In this episode, Lisa and Stephanie discuss:

• How school counselors, independent educational consultants, and families each contribute to college planning
• Why self-awareness should guide college and career decisions from the start
• When outside college planning support can benefit students and families
• What to consider when choosing an independent educational consultant

Key Takeaways: 

• Start career and identity exploration before college applications so students make decisions based on who they are, not deadlines.
• Independent educational consultants help students present their authentic story and find the right college fit, not improve their admissions odds.
• Many begin in junior year; starting by sophomore year creates more time for thoughtful course selection, extracurriculars, and summer opportunities.
• Choose an independent educational consultant whose expertise matches your student’s needs and complements the school counselor’s support.

“Independent means that these counselors do not receive any compensation from a program, school, or university to place or recommend a student, so they really can provide that unbiased advice.” – Stephanie Simpson

About Stephanie Simpson:

Stephanie Simpson is the Chief Executive Officer of IECA, the leading professional organization for independent educational consultants supporting students and families through college and career planning. Previously, she led the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) and held senior leadership roles at the American College of Cardiology and the American Psychiatric Association. She holds a JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and a BA from DePaul University.

Episode References:

• Learn more about Launch Career Clarity at https://flourishcoachingco.com/course
• Find a Private College Counselor: https://www.iecaonline.com/independent-educational-consultant-search/
• #230 Stop Trying to Impress Colleges: What Admissions Really Want with Susan Knoppow: https://flourishcoachingco.com/230

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion: flourishcoachingco.com/video 

Connect with Stephanie:

Website: https://www.iecaonline.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-simpson-49bba72a/

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishcoachingco/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co

Access the episode transcript here