With mounting uncertainty over ever-increasing competitive college admissions, many families consider hiring a private college counselor. But is private counseling essential — or simply an expensive add-on?
“The college admissions landscape can feel really overwhelming and stressful,” said Rye resident Josh Bieber, the Director of College Advising at Brigham Learning, a Rye-based education consultancy. “My role is to shift the mindset of students to a more confident, assured place through measured steps and strategies throughout the process.”
The American School Counselor Association recommends that schools maintain a ratio of 250 students per school counselor, with 80 percent of counselors’ time dedicated to direct or indirect student services. In practice, however, ASCA reports the national average is 311 students per counselor, with some regions facing ratios as high as 750:1.
Compounding this challenge, the National Association for College Admission Counseling finds that public high school counselors devote only 21 percent of their time to postsecondary planning. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education reports that public high school students receive an average of just 38 minutes of college counseling per year.
While the Rye City School District does not publish the number of minutes allocated per student, the structure of Rye High School’s counseling program suggests a more comprehensive and continuous approach than the national average.
In Rye, the student-guidance counselor ratio is considerably lower than the national average. According to New York State Education Department data for the 2023-2024 school year, Rye High School enrolled 905 students and employed six high school counselors, resulting in a student-to-counselor ratio of approximately 151:1 — well below the national average.
Under the leadership of Director of School Counseling and Student Wellness Seth Busching — who was unavailable for comment — Rye High School’s counseling team supports students with academic planning, course selection, and post-secondary exploration over the duration of their high school journey. This includes access to resources like Naviance, a college and career readiness platform; FAFSA tools, which help families navigate the federal financial aid process; and NCAA Eligibility Center guidance for aspiring college athletes. Additionally, to keep families informed, the department hosts grade-level presentations throughout the year.
Brigham Learning and others offer more personalized service. Bieber said he encourages clients to “find the best college fits for student happiness,” not just brand-name recognition. “This process is about advancing students to that next stage of life in a way that aligns with who they are,” he said. “It’s a careful balance — students have their own hopes and goals, and families sometimes have preconceived ideas. Our job is to make sure everyone feels heard and supported.”
That balance includes supporting students who pursue collegiate athletics, the arts, or simply wish to matriculate — declared major or not. Students need to “decipher through the noise,” Bieber said. “Just because a school reaches out doesn’t mean it’s the best fit. If sports are driving a decision, students need to ask — would I still be happy here if I got injured or couldn’t play?”
College counselors may get involved in everything from creating a list of colleges for a student to crafting and writing an essay to strategizing about early decision schools and keeping tabs on deadlines.
But even Brigham Learning founder Kathleen Brigham praises public school guidance counselors. “Public high school counselors do extraordinary work — often with huge caseloads,” she said. “We’re not here to replace them, but to enhance the support students receive.”
Kristen Brown, a longtime Rye resident with over 30 years of experience as a guidance counselor who has served in that role at Fox Lane High School in Bedford since 2000, agrees. “We work hard to meet the needs of all of our students, but it’s true that each counselor often has over 200 students on their caseload,” she said. “That can make individualized attention a challenge, especially during peak college application season.”
In addition to her work at Fox Lane, Brown also provides private college counseling on a referral basis throughout Rye and the surrounding area — mostly through word of mouth — and is committed to supporting college-bound students who might not otherwise have access to individualized help beyond what the school provides.
Brown said some students may benefit from additional guidance. “If a student is looking for more one-on-one time or a different perspective, outside support can be valuable — as long as it’s thoughtful and student-centered,” she said.
Bieber acknowledges there isn’t a “step-by-step blueprint to the college process.” The reality, he said, is that “everyone’s going to have different demands.” Students will eventually hit send on their applications — but the path to that moment often requires empathy, flexibility, and a commitment to keeping the student in the driver’s seat. “It’s working within those parameters to ensure that when it’s time to hit submit, students can say, with clarity and conviction, ‘I gave this everything I had—and I’m proud of it.’”
