Save time and money on your kid's college search

Applying to college is a difficult process. Guidance counselors are overwhelmed. It's tempting to pay $5,000 or more to a private college counseling service to help your child, but when you add in travel to half a dozen potential schools you're looking at a hefty price tag.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to spend less time and money and still get the necessary information:

1. Check out books from the library on applying to college. Some of the best-known college counselors write books on the process as a way to bolster their credentials and extend their brands. By getting their books at the library, you pay nothing for this wisdom. Why not take advantage of it? You and your high school student can both read up and brainstorm strategies.

2. Practice the SAT or ACT on your own. Sure, a course can help. But so can simply being familiar with the tests. Buy (or check out) a book of practice tests, as well as a book of test-taking strategies, and save yourself hundreds of dollars right there.

3. Use Unigo for college counseling. Unigo, the website with college reviews from students, now offers a new service where you can be matched with a college counselor, and pay by the hour (rather than buying a 4-figure package). He or she can guide you through any rough patches, or you can set up more regular chats.

4. Use Unigo to "visit" colleges in a pinch. While it's always nice to visit a school in person, you're unlikely to get the real scoop on any school from the official tour. Another idea? Unigo will (for a fee) match you up for video chats with students at your prospective schools who are as similar to you as you wish. Are you an Asian-American woman looking to major in English? They will hook you up with female Asian-American English majors.

5. Hire an editor off Craigslist to polish your essay. Hire a few and take the best advice from each. You'll probably still come out ahead compared with a pricey private counselor.

[GCSA]

I too am a college counselor and find the analysis for this article a bit off the cuff and not too informed. I think that some individuals can do some of these things on their own which is a fine stance but there are many students who are paralyzed in the process and need assistance. Many of my colleagues offer students either a package or hourly rates. (Unigo did not come up with this concept.) I am also a member of the IECA which ensures a level of professional standards for its members that reach well beyond Unigo and other online sources. I see this no differently than doing taxes or investing. One can get a book out and do it on your own. But you need to have the time and understanding to arrive at the finish line. If you don't have the time to digest and filter all the information that is out there, then there are services such Unigo for college search or turbo tax for taxes or charles schwab online for investing that gives you slightly more filtered information. Finally, there are options where one can engage directly with an independent consultant for the college search or go to a tax accountant for taxes or a broker for investing. It costs more but there is a level of service that comes with that cost that might serve you well. As a business owner, I too have to come to terms with the tasks I can accomplish myself and what services such as accounting and taxes that I am better served by a professional in the field. I only wish this article approached all sides of the spectrum on this topic rather than a very one-sided view of the college search and selection process as well as a giant ad for Unigo.com. I agree with collegedirection.....I would reconsider the comments and try to achieve some balance in this report.

[collegedirection]

As a private college counselor, I resent the fact that you indicate that families will have to pay $5000 or more to hire someone like me to help them with the college admissions process. That simply isn't true. I charge a lot less than $5000 and have had more parents tell me that it is the best investment they have ever made. Websites are helpful as are books from the library, but they simply cannot provide the same personal one-on-one attention that you receive from a private college counselor. We visit colleges on a regular basis and know which ones fit particular students. If students are not motivated to do test prep on their own, and most aren't, a class or tutoring can be the most effective answer. I have seen some of the essay editors on Craig's list and I wouldn't hire most of them. Brainstorming the essay with a student is one of the most important parts of the college admissions process. Please rethink your comments.