College Consultants in South Carolina

Q: Are college admissions consultants worth it?

Yes! If you have access, this extra level of support can genuinely provide you with insight into the admissions process and enhance your odds of admission. More importantly: you won’t be alone during the arduous process of applying to colleges.

Find college admissions counselors in South Carolina. Getting into a top ranked college requires more than straight A’s. You need expert help; we help you find quality college consultants near your city and state.

By AI Staff

According to our college consulting expert, David H. Nguyen, PhD, founder of Next Level Prep, Location is pertinent to finding the best educational consultant agencies because companies based in a region will understand the characteristics that admissions officers look for in students from high schools in that region. There is an edge that consultants gain from having worked with many students in the same region. That’s why our college consulting agencies are broken down state-by-state.

Most high school students have extremely limited access to direct guidance during the college admissions process. According to The New York Times, during the 2012–2016 school year, every public school counselor in the U.S. was assigned an average of 470 students! That doesn’t leave much time for one-on-one support as you figure out how to complete your FAFSA, decide which extracurriculars improve your chances of college admission, and what application strategies can help you stand out in a sea of other excellent students.

College admissions consultants, or college coaches, can help fill that gap, and give you a major advantage in finding the school of your choice.

Best College Admissions Consultants in South Carolina

Agencies are listed alphabetically within their cities.

City

COLLEGE VISITS

Location: Charleston, SC

Services include:

College list
college visits
Financial Aid information
Campus tours

Affiliations and Accreditations

NACAC

Educational Avenues

Location: Charleston, SC

Services include:

Comprehensive EduAve
Review of Affordability
In-Depth Interview
MBTI
Interest Inventory
Major Selection
Career Planning
Development of College List
Essay Feedback
Interview Preparation
Special Application Support
Financial Aid Guidance
Final Decision Support

Affiliations and Accreditations

Consultants In College Counseling

Location: Columbia, SC

Services include:

Balanced College Lists
Standardized Test Timelines
High School Course Selection
College Application Guidance
Developing Extracurricular Activity List
Essay Brainstorming, Editing, And Proofreading
Summer Enrichment Plans
Résumés
Mock Interviews
Scholarship and Financial Aid information
Admission Timelines
Organization of College Process
Reducing College Related Stress at Home
Advocate and mentor for the student

Affiliations and Accreditations

NACAC

Consultants in College Counseling LLC

Location: Columbia, SC

Services include:

Development of Balanced College Lists
Standardized Test Timelines
High School Course Selection
College Application Guidance
Development of Extracurricular Activity List
Essay Brainstorming, Editing and Proofreading
Summer Enrichment Plans
Resumes' Mock Interviews
Scholarship and Financial Aid Information
Admission Timelines
Organization of College Process
Reducing College Stress at Home
Advocate and Mentoring for Student

Affiliations and Accreditations

The Price Group Therapeutic & Educational Consulting

Location: Columbia, SC

Services include:

College Consultation for Boarding Schools
Therapeutic Programs, Residential Treatment Centers
Summer Programs
College Consulting
Wilderness Therapy
Diagnostic Services
Recovery Services

Affiliations and Accreditations

Carnahan Lyndrup LLC

Location: Daniel Island, SC

Services include:

Comprehensive College Planning Beginning Freshman Year
Course Selection and Extracurricular Advisement
Development of College List
Registration of College Applications
Essay Brainstormng
Standardized Test Strategy
Instructional Interview Practice
Services for Transfer Students
Consultation for Boarding School

Affiliations and Accreditations

The College Planning Center

Location: E Murrells Inlet, SC

Services include:

College Planning Starting Freshman Year of High School
Diagnostic Aptitude Assessment
High School Academic and Extracurricular Review
College List Creation
Assistance on Determining Which Colleges to Visit
Unlimited Standardized Testing Prep
Unlimited Admission to all College Planning Center Workshops
Pre-Vist College Interview Coaching
Review of Colleges for Best Financial Fit
Anytime Access to College Palnner Pro Software Program for Tracking all College Admissions Details
Assistance Completing Applicaitons
Mock Interview
Support in the College Decision Making Process

Affiliations and Accreditations

Klaar College Consulting, LLC

Location: Fort Mill, SC

Services include:

Roadmap From High School to College
High School Course Selection and Extracurriculars
Community Service
ACT/SAT Preparation
College Visits
Applications
Essay Feedback

Affiliations and Accreditations

Educational Directions, Inc.

Location: Greenville, SC

Services include:

Comprehensive College Services
Interest and Personality Inventories
Review of High School Transcript
Personalized Application Timeline
Standardized Testing Timeline
College Research
Best Fit College List
Application Review
Financial Aid Review and Planning
Boarding School Consultation
Therapeutic Placements
Advisement on Summer Programs

Affiliations and Accreditations

Murtaugh College Consulting

Location: Greer, SC

Services include:

College Search
Application assistance
Essay Prep
Financial aid assistance
Recommend extracurriculars
Graduate school advice
Interview Preparation
Guidance on final choices

Affiliations and Accreditations

NACAC

Murtaugh College Consulting LLC

Location: Greer, SC

Services include:

Comprehensive College Counseling
Assessment with College List
Essay Feedback
Applicaiton Support
Financial Aid Guidance
Decision Making Support

Affiliations and Accreditations

HECA

Baroody Associates

Location: Hilton Head, SC

Services include:

Educational Planning for College, Boarding and Day Schools, Therapeutic Placements and Adult Transitions to Independent Living
Gap Year Planning

Affiliations and Accreditations

Lowcountry College Planning Services

Location: Hilton Head, SC

Services include:

Direct College Application Process
Asses Interest, Goals and Talents
Review Academic and Testing Records
Create Best Fit College List
Guide High School Course Selection
SAT/ACT Test Preparation and Scheduling
Create Application Timeline
Critique Application Essays
Develop Interviewing Skills
Resume Development
Scholarship Search
Research Financila Aid
Plan Campus Visits

Affiliations and Accreditations

College HHI

Location: Hilton Head Island, SC

Services include:

Comprehensive College Consulting
Access to HHI Online Portal
Personality and Interest Inventory
Curriculum Review
ACT/SAT Testing Strategy
Athletic Assesment
Extracurricular Assessment
Building the College List
College Visit Checklist
Developing the College Essay
Choosing Letters of Recommendation
Application Strategy
FAFSA Timeline
CSS Timeline
Scholarship Strategy
Acceptance Advising
College 101

Affiliations and Accreditations

SCHOLARSHIP GOLD CONSULTING

Location: Lake Wylie, SC

Services include:

College lists
FInancial aid and scholarship navigation
college search
application assistance
test prep
decision assistance
essay assistance

Affiliations and Accreditations

NACAC

College Consulting Collaborative

Location: Seabrook Island, SC

Services include:

Review of Student's Learning History
Learning Style Assessment
College List Development
Advice on Visiting and Evaluating Colleges
Guidance for Resume and/or Social Media Profile
Brainstorming/Editing of College Essays
Application Timeline
Application Support Completion
Intervew Preparation
Transitioning to College Tips

Affiliations and Accreditations

IECA

College Consulting FAQs

What is an admissions consultant?

An admissions consultant is a hired professional who can guide you through the complex landscape of college admissions. Admissions consultant companies vary greatly in size and service offerings, and operate either locally, or as part of a nationwide network.

Learn more about how to select a college admissions counselor that is right for you in our conversation with NextLevelPrep college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen, who explains how to choose a college admissions counselor.

What does a college admissions consultant do?

College admission consultants help guide families and students through the often complex college admissions process. Services typically include counseling on how to improve your chances of getting into your chosen schools, coaching on writing college essays and personal statements, SAT and ACT test preparation, and assistance in the scholarship process, among others.

Why hire a college admissions consulting company?

One of the primary benefits of hiring a college admissions consultant is their experience: an expert consultant will have up-to-date insight on what colleges are looking for in terms of grades, extracurricular activities, test scores, and personal statements. This knowledge can help you make a favorable impression on the schools of your choice.

Plus, college admissions consultants who also provide test preparation can significantly improve your performance on SAT/ACT exams — improving your odds of both earning scholarships and getting into the higher-tiered schools on your list.

When is the best time to start working with a college admissions consultant?

This depends on your goals. If you simply need support during the test-prep and application process, you can begin your relationship with a consultant during your junior year of high school — just as the college search process really heats up. However, some college consultants begin working with families as early as 8th or 9th grade, guiding students in their academic focus, electdive course selection, extracurriculars, community service, and more.

This type of full-service consultation is generally very costly, but the goal is to provide students and families with a complete road map leading directly to a top college.

How much do college admissions consultants charge?

The price for college admissions consultation can vary widely depending on the type of company and the nature of services you seek. From one-time seminars to weekly consultation, to hands-on guidance for the entirety of your high school education, you have a lot of options. The higher the level of service you seek, the more you’ll spend.

For an overview of the pricing landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s ranking of The Best College Admissions Consulting Agencies.

Are college admissions consultants worth it?

Yes! If you have access, this extra level of support can genuinely provide you with insight into the admissions process and enhance your odds of admission. More importantly: you won’t be alone during the arduous process of applying to colleges.

While your high school guidance counselor can literally spend no more than a few minutes a semester on your admissions process, a professional college admissions consultant will be directly and professionally invested in your success. This can make a major difference in where you end up earning your undergraduate degree.

Can I trust college admissions consultants?

Yes, you can trust the recognized college admissions consulting groups. That’s why we list only companies that are recognized by agencies and associations such as Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC).

These independent agencies provide oversight and certification, ensuring that members adhere to all appropriate legal, ethical, and commercial standards both on behalf of consumers and within the higher education infrastructure. Consulting companies listed in their directories may be considered trustworthy and legitimate.

For more on how you can safely and effectively navigate the college admissions consulting landscape, check out college consultant and admissions expert David Nguyen’s Confessions of a College Prep Consultant.

Resources for College-Bound Students

Find College Admissions Consultants Near You

Colleges and Universities in South Carolina

The 31 public schools range in tuition from $5,000 to $17,000. The largest institution, the University of South Carolina (U of SC), is right in the middle, totaling $11,000 for fees. Located in Columbia, U of SC has over 30,000 students in attendance and offers over 300 degree options. Aside from the technical and community colleges in the state, there are four universities under $10,000. At $17,000, the Medical University of South Carolina is the most expensive public school in the state.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.