Episode Summary: Should You Work with an IEC (Independent Educational Consultant)?

Podcast: College Bound Mentor
Date: November 6, 2025
Guest: Kristina Dooley, Founder – Estrella Consulting

Overview

This episode explores the evolving role of Independent Educational Consultants (IECs) in the college admissions process. The hosts—Lisa, Abby, and Stefanie—discuss the myths, value, industry changes, school counselor relationships, the impact of misinformation (especially via TikTok and ChatGPT), shifting admissions trends, and key questions families should ask IECs with the highly experienced Kristina Dooley of Estrella Consulting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Is an IEC? (01:11–01:53)

• Kristina Dooley: An IEC is a professional who supports students through educational searches, primarily college planning, but also boarding school, therapeutic programs, and graduate school searches.
  • “We support students through a variety of different educational searches… the vast majority… are working primarily with kids looking at colleges.” (01:16)

2. Common Myths and Realities (01:53–03:06)

• Myth 1: IECs do the applications and essays for students.
  • “There’s an assumption that IECs are completing the application pieces for students… The vast majority of us are not and are held to ethics codes by our professional associations.” (02:02)
• Myth 2: IECs replace school counselors.
  • “We fully replace school counselors, and that’s just not the case.” (02:54)
• Reality: Most IECs work in partnership with school counselors and adhere to ethical standards.

3. What Makes an IEC Different From a School Counselor? (03:06–04:46)

• Individualization: IECs can offer more in-depth, personalized guidance due to lower student caseloads and specialized expertise.
• Collaboration: IECs often supplement the work of school counselors, especially when families seek a broader range of school options or require deeper support.
  • “This is our only job... We’re not handling things like course scheduling… so we have... additional time to be able to get out onto campuses.” (03:49)

4. Role of the High School Counselor When an IEC Is Also Involved (04:55–06:28)

• School counselors provide essential administrative tasks (transcripts, recommendations), school-specific curriculum insights, and support for learning differences.
• “I do think it’s important that IECs start to bridge gaps and build relationships with school counselors… we’re all really trying to help the students as a team.” (05:54)

5. Bridging the Divide with School Counselors (06:28–10:34)

• Kristina’s Approach: Outreach through professional associations (NACAC, regional ACAC), inviting counselors to educational events and webinars, and offering value without heavy self-promotion.
• Developed workshops for school administrators to educate them about the current landscape and address family concerns with facts.
  • “We had about 50 people who attended from almost 30 different school districts... Before I arrived home from that event this year, I had an email from another district saying please bring that to our district.” (09:29)

6. Vetting an IEC: What to Ask (10:36–12:43)

• Key Questions for Families:
  1. What are your credentials and professional affiliations?
  2. How do you keep up-to-date on college admissions and financial aid?
  3. How do you learn about schools and resources beyond what parents could find online?
• Caution: Focus less on “success rates” or Ivy League admissions.
  • “I wish families wouldn’t say, you know, how many of your students have gotten into XYZ University because that has no bearing on their child... it’s not us getting kids in.” (12:24)

7. The Art and Science of Fit (13:12–15:31)

• Success means finding the right school for the student, not a name-brand institution.
• “My favorite statistic annually… is the number of different colleges where our students are accepted, and also new colleges to our list.” (13:27)
• Personalized Matching: The hosts and Kristina discuss the “art and science” of identifying unusual but perfect school matches still not replicable by AI.

8. Industry Changes: Tech, AI, and More (15:31–20:45)

• Artificial Intelligence (AI):
  • Changing applications, review processes, and possibly even the importance of essays.
  • Some colleges use AI to review essays or transcripts (referenced UNC’s use of AI for initial screening – 17:19).
  • New modalities like “Glimpse” videos may supplement or even replace essays, shifting the skillset IECs need to coach (e.g., on-camera presence).
    • “I can’t imagine a world where five to ten years from now we will have a 650 word Common App essay.” (20:45)
  • Potential challenges for students with learning differences or anxiety.

9. In-Person Campus Visits vs. Virtual Engagement (20:45–24:40)

• Genuine campus visits still deliver unmatched value for students and IECs.
• Anecdotes from the hosts about students’ “gut” feelings on campuses.
  • “It’s a feeling. It’s kind of the same gut you’d get if you’re interviewing for a job. You can’t quite articulate why you feel like it’s a good fit.” (23:22)

10. TikTok, ChatGPT, and the Misinformation Flood (24:40–28:26)

• The rise of social media and AI tools spreads both helpful tips and rampant misinformation—sometimes influencing families more than expert counsel.
  • “The families that do need us, it’s when they call and… are spewing misinformation… but it’s been fed to them.” (28:43)
• Both students and parents are impacted; hosts note some parents are embarrassed to admit their source.

11. Do All Families Need an IEC? (28:27–32:10)

• Who Needs One: Students applying to many schools, with complex searches, or bombarded by conflicting information.
• Who Might Not: Students with straightforward in-state choices or robust school counseling support.
• Kristina: “I don’t oversell them… but families that do need us, it’s when they just… are spewing misinformation.”

12. IECA Presidency Insights (32:10–34:22)

• During Kristina’s leadership at IECA (much of it during the pandemic), she observed unprecedented collegiality and mutual support among IECs—a network she describes as vibrant, supportive, and vital.

13. Trends and Predictions in College Admissions (36:52–42:39)

• Testing: Some universities are returning to requiring standardized test scores (e.g. Ohio State—37:18).
• Southern Migration: A strong trend for students in the Northeast/Midwest to prefer southern schools, making previously accessible southern public universities much more selective.
• Impact of Private Equity: A growing presence may change the “Main Street” feel of the industry, potentially making it more corporate, though Kristina is neutral on whether that’s good or bad.

14. Increasing Importance of Financial Literacy for IECs (42:39–45:01)

• Rising closures, mergers, and financial volatility among colleges mean IECs must be adept at analyzing institutional stability as well as affordability.
  • “The need for IECs to be more financially adept… how do you assess [institutional] financial health?... That is something we are doing all the time in our work now.” (42:45)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Misinformation and Need for IECs:
  • “Families that do need us, it’s when they call and they just are… spewing misinformation.” – Kristina Dooley (00:01, 28:43)
• On Professional Ethics:
  • “The vast majority of us are… held to ethics codes by our professional associations.” – Kristina Dooley (02:06)
• On Success Rates:
  • “It’s not us getting kids in. I… don’t get kids in anywhere, you know, they get in.” – Kristina Dooley (12:24)
• On Industry Support:
  • “I was actually really surprised and infused with excitement about our profession by the way that people supported one another.” – Kristina Dooley (32:36)
• On Southern Migration Trend:
  • “The number of students in the Northeast, the Midwest, that are just wanting to all go south… The schools in the south that used to feel really accessible… are just much more selective.” – Kristina Dooley (37:18)
• On the Future of the Essay:
  • “I can’t imagine a world where five to ten years from now we will have a 650 word Common App essay.” – Kristina Dooley (20:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• What is an IEC? – [01:11–01:53]
• Myths and Truths – [01:53–03:06]
• IECs vs. School Counselors – [03:06–04:46]
• High School Counselor Collaboration – [04:55–06:28]
• Bridging Relationships with Schools – [06:43–10:34]
• Top Questions for Vetting an IEC – [10:36–12:43]
• Fit and the “Art & Science” of Placement – [13:12–15:31]
• AI’s Growing Role in Admissions – [15:51–20:45]
• Virtual vs. In-Person Engagement – [20:45–24:40]
• TikTok, ChatGPT, & Misinformation – [24:40–28:26]
• Who Needs an IEC? – [28:27–32:10]
• Leadership and Support in IECA – [32:10–34:22]
• Admissions Trends & Predictions – [36:52–42:39]
• Financial Literacy and Institutional Stability – [42:39–45:01]

Final Takeaways

• The value of working with an IEC lies in individualized, ethical, and up-to-date support—not “getting kids in” or focusing on brand-name schools.
• The admissions landscape is changing fast (AI, test-optional policies, southern migration, financial volatility), and families need expert guidance to navigate it.
• Choosing an IEC is about chemistry, professional rigor, and transparency, not just results.
• Both parents and students are inundated by online myths—one key role of the IEC is to correct misinformation and help focus families on strategy and fit.

Listen to the full episode for more in-depth case studies, practical advice, and to hear the conversational energy first-hand.