Consultant Comparison
Which consultant should I choose?
Once a decision has been made to pursue a scholarship in the USA, many people search for a consultant who knows the ins and outs of the system and will be able to make credible introductions on your behalf. Some factors to consider when selecting a consultant.
Placement – How many students have they successfully placed in the previous three years? In addition, what is the average cost of education for these students and can you have contact information for players/parents who the company have helped.
History – How long have the company been in this business? Many people in this business are claiming to be consultants but have no track record.
Associations – Which reputable bodies in the UK are the consultant recommended by. For example, Pass4Soccer are recommended by both the English Schools’ FA and British Colleges Sport, both of whom are the FA’s chosen bodies for sport in Schools and Further Education.
Transparency - Why do consultants avoid openly publishing their fees and insist on prospective student athletes signing a contract without having any real knowledge about the potential costs of education? It is known that some consultants increase fees depending on the individual and family background.
Cost – Some people perceive higher fees, with better service. We encourage you to ask questions regarding any service fees prior to attending any assessment events. Many consultants do not have their fees clearly displayed on their websites.
The cost of university in the England has been well aired in the media with the average student loan debt in 2010 before the increased Tuition Fees being £23,000 per student! At Pass4Soccer we are proud to be able to announce that our top 25 UK and Irish players who we placed in August 2011 were fully funded both academically and athletically to include tuition, food and accommodation The net average cost of education for the next 25 Soccer clients placed in August 2011 was only £2000 pa for tuition, food and accommodation. In most cases after Year 1 or 2 these costs could be extinguished with positive academic and athletic progress.
All too often students and their parents are unaware of who they are dealing with, players become impressed by invitations to attend ‘free’ trials, by fancy websites, expensive brochures, being told they have been ‘accepted’ onto a program, by the need to sign contracts and taken in by slick unsubstantiated marketing claims, without the slightest idea about the real costs and whether studying and playing football in America is in fact the right move.
We have devised this page to help your basic research in seeking US soccer scholarships and to understand more by listing 8 UK and Irish consultants 7 of whom we know are professional, experienced, if not transparent, and are not ‘here today and gone tomorrow’ at such an important point in your life.
Below is a table showing the top consultants operating in the UK and Ireland
|
|
Written Assessment Cost* |
Total Fee |
Deposit |
Balance** |
|
Pass4Soccer |
£25 |
£ 995 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
A |
n/a |
£2500 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
B |
n/a |
£2000 |
£1000 |
£1000 |
|
C |
n/a |
£1900 |
£950 |
£950 |
|
D |
£25 |
£1800 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
E |
n/a |
£1450 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
F |
n/a |
£1250 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
G*** |
£25 |
£1400 |
n/a |
n/a |
|
H*** |
£20 |
£980 |
n/a |
n/a |
* This should be provided prior to any commitment to proceed showing their fees, the cost of getting to America, Academic entry points and the Net Cost of Education to include Tuition, Accommodation and Food.
** Balance payable when any offer is received, not an offer that the client is happy with. Deposits are a recipe for argument and ill feeling.
***Irish consultants. The costs shown are conversions from Euros.
Best advice – ask questions, check the facts, honestly manage your own expectations and listen to your own feelings.
Bi-lateral introductions by well meaning coaches, teachers and friends means foregoing choice and access to professional advice. A prospective student athlete may also end up paying substantially more in net cost of education. Many recruiting coaches, where there is no competition, will offer less scholarship money.
