Do you need a university admissions adviser? What it costs and how to judge one

Before you pay anyone, use what's free. Your child's high school guidance counsellor knows the Ontario system, holds their Ontario Education Number and fixes errors in the marks OUAC receives. OUAC's own instructions tell students to talk to guidance counsellors, teachers, family and friends while they research.

Universities run free info sessions, campus tours and open houses, and their admissions offices answer questions by email. Our guides are free too, from the application guide for parents to the Grade 12 timeline.

For immigration, IRCC is blunt: you don't need to hire a representative. Every form and instruction is free on its website, and IRCC says that if you follow the instructions you should be able to apply yourself.

Paid advising buys time and attention. A school counsellor looks after every student in the school. An adviser can spend an hour on one essay, or help a family new to the Canadian system understand prerequisites, OUAC and scholarships from the start.

It tends to help most when your child is applying to programs with extra forms, interviews or portfolios, when they're applying from outside Ontario, or when the family's first language isn't English and the system feels unfamiliar. It helps least when it replaces your child's own effort. A plan your child doesn't own rarely survives Grade 12.

Prices across the industry vary widely, from single essay reviews to full packages for the whole application cycle. There's no regulated price list, so compare what's included, not just the total. Ask for a written quote that lists every service, the number of meetings and what happens if you stop part way.

Our own starting prices are in the table above and on our services page. Course selection help is free. Full one-on-one advising is quoted after a free consultation, because the cost depends on how many schools and applications your child needs help with. Our advisers are university students who've recently been through the process themselves.

IRCC's checklist for choosing an immigration representative works well for any adviser. Ask about their training and experience. Ask for references and how long they've been in business. Discuss the services and the fee, and get a written contract that lists both before you sign.

Then ask questions about your child. A good adviser will want to meet your child, not just you, and will talk about what your child wants before what looks impressive.

The biggest red flag is an adviser who writes for your child. Waterloo's FAQ answers "Can I have someone else complete my AIF?" with a plain no. It says an application may be rejected, or an offer revoked, if it has reasonable grounds to believe someone else wrote the form. UBC asks whether a personal profile authentically reflects the applicant's own words.

The second is a guarantee. Universities make their own admission decisions, so no adviser can promise an offer. IRCC says the same about visas: using a representative won't draw special attention to an application or mean it's approved. Be careful of anything that sounds too good to be true, and of anyone who encourages false information.

The third is unlicensed immigration advice. IRCC says anyone you pay to help with an immigration application, in money or any other way, must be authorized. That means a lawyer or paralegal in good standing with a Canadian law society, a Quebec notary, or a consultant who is a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. If you use an unauthorized paid representative, IRCC may return or refuse the application.

Good help makes your child's own thinking clearer. UBC gives applicants three tips for its personal profile: take time to reflect on what they learned, be specific with details, and be true to who they are rather than writing what they think UBC wants to hear.

An adviser who follows that advice asks questions, points to vague sentences and checks the answer fits the character limit. They don't hand back a rewritten draft. If the essay sounds more like the adviser than your child after a session, say so.

Once you've chosen someone, let your child lead the meetings. Your job is the calendar and the budget. Ask for a written plan after the first session, with dates, and check it against the official deadlines yourself.

Keep copies of everything. IRCC tells families never to leave original documents with a representative and to get copies of anything they prepare. That's good practice with any paid help.