741. WHAT IS AN IEC AND WHO NEEDS ONE?

741. WHAT IS AN IEC AND WHO NEEDS ONE?

July 21, 2026 · 24 min · Season 1 · Episode 741

About this episode

The episode discusses the role of Independent Educational Consultants in the college admissions process and their relationship with school counselors.

Most people know–or at least think they know–the role of a school-based counselor. What about all of the professionals in private practice who support families on their admissions journeys and more? Amy and Mike invited IECA CEO Stephanie Simpson to learn what an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) is and who needs one. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What role do Independent Educational Consultants (IECs) play in a student's academic journey, and how do they How can IECs complement the contributions of school counselors, especially in districts where high counselor-to-student ratios make individualized support difficult? At what point in a teen's academic journey can IECs be most valuable? What else do IECs offer beyond application coaching? What does a qualified, ethically grounded IEC practice look like in today's landscape, and how should educators and school counselors help families evaluate who they choose to work with? MEET OUR GUEST Stephanie Simpson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), the leading professional organization representing independent private college and career counselors who…

People in this episode

Hosts: Amy Seeley, Mike Bergin

Guest: Stephanie Simpson

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Independent Educational Consultants Association, Association for Middle Level Education

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