CEP Spotlight

Laurie Kopp Weingarten, CEP 

Laurie Kopp Weingarten is the president and chief educational consultant at One-Stop

College Consulting. She is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) specializing in helping

students gain admission to the most selective schools in the country. She’s also a

Commissioner of the AICEP. We interviewed her about her work and what the

certification means to her practice.

AICEP: You have an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSE from The Wharton

School. You could do anything you wanted to do, why did you choose this field?

Laurie Kopp Weingarten: Even as a high school student, I was always interested in

college admissions. I grew up in New Jersey, and my parents said I could attend any

college within a four-hour drive. I wanted to learn about the schools within that radius

and began reading all the guidebooks and catalogues. But then, my curiosity took over,

and I began to research schools all over the country. I became familiar with hundreds of

schools.

When I got to college, I was so interested in the admission process that I volunteered as

a tour guide and as an “admissions sitter,” speaking to prospective students and

families. It was my hobby; I was obsessed with admissions, though it did not occur to

me that this could be my profession.

After graduating college, I worked in marketing and brand management, but also signed

up to be a University of Pennsylvania alumna interviewer. When I was ready to return to

work after taking time off to be a mom and being away from marketing for so long, I

sought a new direction. I had heard of independent educational consulting, and I

decided to give it a go.

AICEP: Why are you so good at what you do?

LKW: I live and breathe college admissions. I am truly passionate about this work. I

spend hours a day reading about the ever-changing landscape of higher education. I

listen to webinars and attend multiple conferences each year. I regularly speak with

admissions officers to stay on top of the new trends and the constant changes!

I love learning. I’m so focused on what I’m doing, and I am never bored. I really enjoy

this dynamic field because every day is different. IECs really care about helping teens.

For most of us, it is not “just a job.”

AICEP: Why did you get the CEP certification?

LKW: There was a booth at the IECA conference where AICEP spoke about how

valuable it is to have the certification. I was somewhat interested, but my business was

thriving, and I was so busy that sitting for the exam wasn’t on my “must do” list. Then, I

won a free application and assessment, and I decided to go for it! Steve Antonoff called

me—at that time, he called everyone who took the exam—and we discussed the

various questions and expectations.

I sat for the assessment in the fall, probably the worst time to take an exam—as I was

trying to get my high school seniors to the finish line for early decision deadlines—but I

managed to prepare for it. When I learned that I passed, I was surprised to see how

excited I was! It gave me a sense of accomplishment. I felt like it really showcased my

knowledge and served as an affirmation from experts in the field that I grasp the

complexities of college admissions. The CEP initials after my name mean so much to

me. I’m very glad I did it.

CEP is such a trusted credential. It shows your knowledge of the industry, your

commitment to ongoing personal development, and adherence to ethical standards. It

keeps you honest and current! You’re really keeping up with what is happening in the

industry. There is nothing else in this profession that requires continuous training like

this.

AICEP: How has your certification influenced your practice?

LKW: There are many in the public who still don’t know what the CEP is, but I always

mention it in my prospective student consultations.

There are no barriers to entry in this field—anyone can call themselves a college

admissions consultant–and the CEP is the only board certification offered. It is the gold

standard. Only 2% of educational consultants are certified. This low percentage number

is rather sobering.

I framed my certificate and have it on permanent display in my office. It is a great selling

point, even though I can’t quantify how many families hire me because of the credential.

But that’s not my primary concern. I am proud to have reached the highest level of

achievement in my career, and I think it’s wonderful that we all must recertify every five

years to remain current. The CEP designation acknowledges expertise in college

admissions, and it’s exciting to be a part of that!