Previous Article | May 2010 Table of Contents | Next Article »

Counseling Using Technology

Ten years ago, we developed college lists from college guide books and our own knowledge bases. Today, in addition to those resources, we use college search engines and Internet-based admissions data websites such as Naviance. An experienced Dunbar consultant can sort through a list generated at Collegeboard.com or Petersons.com to hone in on colleges and universities that best fit your academic profile and interests. Reviewing your high school's Naviance data with you allows us to factor in your school's track record of placements at individual colleges and universities, as well as giving us a sense of how your school's grading is viewed by the colleges reading your applications.

All of this information helps us assess your likelihood of admission at any given college or university so we can make sure your list is appropriate.

But one of the biggest technological changes we've seen recently is in how we work with our students. Many of the Dunbar consultants are using webcams and Skype or similar services to "meet" with our students and their parents wherever they are located in the world. These virtual meetings facilitate discussions and allow us to effectively guide students whether they are living in New Canaan or New Delhi. If you are not located near one of our consultants (Boston, New York, Washington DC, and Hong Kong), we can still help you!

We also use Skype to communicate internally. For example, all of the Dunbar consultants "meet" regularly to review student profiles and school/college lists that we post on our own Naviance site. These can be viewed by our consultants from any location which allows our group to meet more frequently and share our views on the latest admission trends.

Many boarding schools and colleges are also using Skype and webcams to offer virtual interviews to students who are unable to visit their campus. While it is ideal to visit campuses whenever possible, it is good to know that you can have an "on-campus" interview without leaving home!

Robert Cummings

rcummings@dunbarconsultants.com

Previous Article | May 2010 Table of Contents | Next Article »