This course is designed to introduce emerging consultants to the educational and professional issues faced when advising students in the college planning process. Topics in this course examine the principles and practices associated with the development of an independent college counseling practice. Highlighted is the role of the educational consultant as a resource for students and parents and the operating philosophies connected to that role. Additional topics include: the complexities of college choice, ways to make the practice successful and what is changing in the admission and higher education landscape.

This course is designed for educational consultants interested in broadening their range of services to parents and their dependent student. It focuses on vehicles of college funding, issues of affordability, and sources of federal and institutional financial aid. Consultants can help students gain access to colleges that are affordable for them. We review the Federal Methodology (FM) and Title IV funding, which includes all types of federal student aid, such as loans, grants, work-study, the FAFSA, the SAR and loan repayment terms. We also review the Institutional Methodology (IM) used by elite private colleges via the CSS Profile form, types of scholarships available, and the role of enrollment management in financial aid. Through case studies, we learn how to read financial aid packages and how to compare and contrast students' awards from multiple colleges. Participants also learn about the role of the financial aid administrator and circumstances that may qualify for professional judgment. We review how to position our services, direct families to quality consumer information, work within our expertise, and commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and principles of good practice.

There are hundreds of books and websites devoted to college planning. This course focuses on identifying and managing all of this information to help you identify the most reliable resources for college planning. In addition, the course provides an overview of the resources and tools available for educational consultants and when to use them in one's practice. Example areas include: working with parents, helping students with careers, helping students make successful college visits, dealing with selective college admission, non-travel ways to learn about colleges, and online resources.

This course addresses the key components necessary for developing and operating an independent educational consulting business. Topics include: business finance options, contracts and agreements, software and hardware options, insurance and incorporation and how to develop and implement a business plan. The course highlights issues related to setting fees, collecting payment, managing the inquiry process, hiring employees and subcontractors, budgeting and launching a website for business.

This capstone course gives participants the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained through the program's coursework to their own independent consulting practice. Students will be expected to contract with a client family and demonstrate their ability to guide the client through the beginning stages of the application process. Students will develop their professional identity as educational consultants.

This course examines the various methods used in counseling college-bound students with learning differences and explores the unique characteristics of this student population. Topics include: specific learning disabilities; gifted students with LD; fostering independence; college planning; assessing college learning support services and programs. Supplemental resources include information on interpreting a neuropsychological report.

This course provides a strong understanding of fundamental marketing and public relations principles and practices. Students learn how to develop a marketing plan, leverage branding concepts, use social networking tools, including internet forums, blogs, wikis, podcasts, and social networking sites, develop a public relations plan and analyze the effectiveness of small business strategic and tactical plans.

This course focuses on how to serve students in transition by studying three key areas within the college admissions process: advising high school students on summer programs and gap/interim year opportunities as well as supporting college students through the transfer admissions process. Topics will include transfer admission policies and procedures - and how they vary from school to school and state to state; how to identify and counsel students for whom a gap year may be appropriate - as well as information on specific programs; and how advising on these three topics can enhance the practice of an independent educational consultant.

This course is an introduction to advising the student living outside of the United States who is looking at American options in higher education. This course will examine how advising the international student, or American student living overseas, varies from counseling the domestic student. Sometimes even basic concepts are subject to misinterpretation, and diverse attitudes and expectations must be approached with cultural sensitivity and awareness. Cultural adjustment to the U.S. as well as campus life must also be considered in order for the student to be successful. In addition to understanding cultural considerations, by the end of this course, students will be able to articulate why international students would choose an American higher educational experience, be able to compare the mechanics of the international college application process with that of the more traditional domestic student, assist families to understand financial and visa matters, know how to assess and advise on options when the student is not yet academically ready for the American university experience, and defend and represent ethical practices in international consulting.

Successful business owners understand the importance of connecting with constituents and maintaining open channels of communication. Perhaps no set of tools have been as perfectly suited for communication as are today's social media tools. Social media is especially helpful for networking, listening to key constituencies and fostering communication. It's now incumbent upon consultants to not only be familiar with, but to implement and manage a myriad of effective online communication channels. This course will introduce you to all types of social media - from social networking to blogging, to multimedia sharing and bookmarking. Participants will learn strategies and become familiar with the most important social media tools in today's digitally connected world.