A study abroad consultant spends years and big money to visit foreign educational institutions, analyze their proposals and select the most interesting and worthy ones. In general, you can try to do without intermediaries. But in practice it turns out that knowledge of the language is not enough when choosing a foreign educational program.

Sites of foreign educational institutions are similar, all are equally beautiful, but few people think that having a beautiful website does not mean offering a quality education. After all, it is more important to invest money in teachers, in methods, in scientific developments, and not in an effective picture. So often it turns out that they choose those who have more aggressive advertising.

– How is an educational consultant different from study abroad education consultants ?

This is a delicate question – the difference at first glance, indeed, may be invisible. I think that an educational consultant has a lot of information and a better understanding of the needs and demands of students. Educational consulting is akin to investment: both here and there requires serious analysis and competent advice on where to invest money so as not to lose. Only in one case is it solely about financial gain, and in the other about the person’s future.

A professional consultant does not promise mountains of gold, he will not offer “suitable options” on the go. He is repelled by the needs of the client, sometimes even to the detriment of himself, and the agent “works out” his contracts, sending primarily to those with whom he has the most favorable terms of cooperation.

If you do not regret time, trying to penetrate into your problem and find the best solution, then most likely you are dealing with a professional consultant.

– What personal qualities and knowledge should an educational consultant have?

It seems to me that for our profession we need a special character, a way of thinking and a type of memory. To do this, you need to be able to keep in mind a lot of detailed information, some nuances. A good broad education contributes to this. Required and analytical skills. And most importantly – the interest in people, great patience and a desire to listen to their stories, to help. In other words, if you are too lazy to study as a psychotherapist, go to educational counselors. And be prepared for the fact that you will have to learn all your life and more than once make the difficult choice between what is right and what is beneficial.

– What is the role of the Internet today – does it help or hinder your work?

Of course, to quickly obtain information the Internet is irreplaceable, and we try to use its capabilities to the maximum. But at the same time, a lot of so-called consulting educational sites appeared that could easily disorient. Often there is simply unreliable information. Another problem is biased forums: when a service is imposed under the guise of an independent opinion.

And of course, the Internet “eats away” a significant piece of clientele. But nothing can be done about it.