Guidelines When Considering Outside Advising Services

This advice comes from UWSOM Student Affairs Deans, Career Advisors, and Specialty Career Advisors. 

UWSOM has a team of experienced Specialty Career Advisors and Career Advisors who have an outstanding track record of success in supporting students to match in their preferred specialties and programs.  As such, we do not think that students need to engage outside advising services.

For students who want to explore this option, we encourage you to be wise consumers: 

1. Review service providers’ websites, LinkedIn profiles, etc. 
   • Look for information about their background and experience, licensure, areas of expertise, approach to the work, services, and costs.  
   • Do they have endorsements or recommendations about their services? 
2. Ask questions:  
   • How many students have they supported in the past and for which specialties?
   • What is their expertise in specialty-specific advising? E.g. do they have experience as a physician advisor in the specialty you are applying in? Or is their experience in general advising? 
   • How do they stay current with trends, resources and data in general advising and specialty advising? 
   • If they provide personal statement support, how do they ensure personal statements among students are differentiated and not too similar?
   • What is different from the service they provide versus what the school is offering?  
   • What negative experiences have students had with their services? It’s very easy to share positive reviews and amazing match outcomes… when has this “not worked?” 
3. Ask to review the contract in advance and ensure total costs, types and terms of services, availability, and communication expectations are clear (prior to payment).
   • Ask questions and review terms of service prior to payment. 
   • Ask about any “surprises” that have popped up.