Frequently Asked Questions

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What does an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) do?
An IEC provides personalized guidance to students and families as they navigate the college admissions process. They offer support on everything from building strong applications to selecting best-fit schools, providing expert advice based on years of experience and up-to-date knowledge of the admissions landscape.

How do you differ from a School Counselor?
As an Independent Educational Consultant who is also a School Counselor with former experience in selective college admissions, I offer highly personalized and expert one-on-one guidance tailored to each student’s specific needs. While School Counselors provide valuable support, as an IEC, I can limit the number of students I work with in order to provide more time and individual attention throughout the entire college readiness and admissions process.

Are all your services offered virtually?
Yes, all of my services are delivered virtually through secure video meetings. This allows me to work with students no matter where they are located, whether in the U.S. or internationally.

What does Comprehensive Support mean?
Comprehensive Support is my highest-touch, most personalized offering. It provides start-to-finish, one-on-one guidance through every stage of the college admissions process.

This includes:

• In-depth college exploration and list development
• Strategic planning across all four phases of my Empowered Path framework
• Application and deadline management
• Essay development and revision support
• Recommendation strategy
• Interview preparation
• Ongoing communication and parent updates
• Guidance tailored to each student’s strengths, goals, and unique story
   

This package is designed for families seeking a holistic, long-term partnership that ensures their student is supported from the very beginning of the process through final decisions in senior year.

How many college applications are included in Comprehensive Support?
Comprehensive Support includes guidance for up to 10 college applications, covering the full application strategy and all major components (essays, short answers, activities list, and supplemental materials).

Additional applications beyond the initial 10 can be supported for an extra fee.

Do you offer hourly services?
Only in very limited circumstances. Because my work is highly personalized and preparation-intensive, hourly sessions often require more behind-the-scenes time than a single meeting reflects.

For families seeking short-term guidance, The Clarity Session or the six-week College Prep Intensive usually provides significantly more value, structure, and actionable insight than a standard hourly meeting.

That said, hourly services may be appropriate for:

• Transfer students
• Graduate school applicants
• Very specific, well-defined tasks (e.g., a single essay review or application check)
   

What are College Prep Intensives, and how do they work? 

College Prep Intensives are short-term, high-impact programs that give students focused, expert guidance on key aspects of the college admissions process.

This one-on-one program offers an abridged version of The Empowered Path, my proven four-step process. Over six weeks, students receive personalized support to help them gain clarity, build momentum, and make measurable progress toward their college planning goals.

What’s included

Students receive tailored assignments and feedback through CounselMore, allowing them to complete structured, meaningful work between meetings. The Intensive combines expert guidance with actionable steps—without requiring a long-term commitment.

How are services delivered?
All services are offered virtually via video calls using Zoom, making them accessible to students regardless of their location. This flexibility ensures that each student can receive consistent support no matter their schedule or time zone.

How do I schedule meetings?
Once enrolled, students can schedule meetings through their CounselMore account or through my Calendly link.  And when in doubt, just send me an email!  

Can I start services mid-year?
Yes! All services are designed to accommodate students at different points in the academic year. You can start at any time.  

What payment methods do you accept?
I accept card payments and Zelle.  Payment plans are available to make it easier for families to budget over time.

What is the payment plan for Comprehensive Support?
The comprehensive package includes multi-year support through my Empowered Path framework. To ensure fairness and flexibility, the package is divided into a retainer and four phase-based payments:

• $2,000 Down Payment (due at signing):
  Reserves your student’s place on my roster through their senior year and covers onboarding, assessments, and early planning work
   
• Four Phase Payments ($1,500 each):
  Each phase of the Empowered Path—Discover, Explore, Plan, and Achieve—is billed separately at set intervals throughout the duration of the contract.
   

This structure ensures that families only pay for the phases they enter, while honoring the substantial planning and behind-the-scenes support built into each stage.

What is your Refund/Cancellation policy?
Families may discontinue services at any time. Because the comprehensive package includes ongoing planning, communication, and preparation throughout the year, the retainer and any phase payments already made are non-refundable. Families are not responsible for future phase payments if they discontinue before entering the next phase.

This approach protects the value of the work already completed while keeping the process fair and transparent.

Do you offer scholarships or sliding scale options?
At this time, I do not offer scholarships or sliding-scale pricing. The package cost reflects the highly personalized, expert, and continuous support each student receives throughout their college admissions journey.

Do you guarantee admission to any colleges?
No, I do not guarantee admissions to any college or university. The admissions process is complex and can be highly competitive, and no one can guarantee specific outcomes. We guide students to present their strongest applications, but ultimately admissions decisions rest with the institutions.

How do you adhere to ethical standards in educational consulting?
As a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), I follow a strict code of ethics, ensuring transparency, fairness, and professionalism in my services. I work in the best interest of each student and family, providing honest advice and never engaging in unethical practices like guaranteeing admission.

If you have any other questions that aren’t covered here, feel free to reach out to lizette@empoweredaccess.com.! I’m always happy to provide more information and help you get started on your college admissions journey.