How does your private feel about outside college counselors?

[Anonymous]

Mine strongly discourages the use of independent education consultants, which doesn’t actually stop families from doing so but does result in them not disclosing such to the college counseling office. Seems counterproductive.

[Anonymous]

Why would they care? It’s your money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would they care? It’s your money.

The stated reason is that “too many cooks in the kitchen” will confuse the student, but the cynical part of me suspects the real reason is gatekeeping since their priority is the school and not any individual student.

[Anonymous]

Don't tell them you have a counselor - at ALL

[Anonymous]

There are a lot of independent college counselors who don't have much experience beyond getting their own kid through the college process, and the school-based counselors resent mopping up the mess often made by these folks.

[Anonymous]

The independent counselor’s basically tell the family that their kid needs to take the most challenging courses at their school. Duh. The problem is that many kids can’t handle this course load , so they struggle and then their parents blame the school.

[Anonymous]

Agree 100% with last 2 posts for my school, which has excellent college counseling. But they’re fine with essay coaches or deadline managers, should you be able to find someone to do those

[Anonymous]

The school's counselors have lots of information that an outside consultant wouldn't have. Thye know the history of the school with the college. They can talk directly to the Admissions people about your DC and the Admissions person will almost certainly listen.

I can't see an outsider having that same kind of contact with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school's counselors have lots of information that an outside consultant wouldn't have. Thye know the history of the school with the college. They can talk directly to the Admissions people about your DC and the Admissions person will almost certainly listen.

I can't see an outsider having that same kind of contact with the school.

That's not why people hire outside counselors. Parents expect that from the school, along with the outside counselor who handholds the kid through the process.

OP, my kids' school doesn't like it, but has reluctantly accepted that many people use outsiders. They ask for that information so that they can be "helpful" to the outside counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of independent college counselors who don't have much experience beyond getting their own kid through the college process, and the school-based counselors resent mopping up the mess often made by these folks.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school's counselors have lots of information that an outside consultant wouldn't have. Thye know the history of the school with the college. They can talk directly to the Admissions people about your DC and the Admissions person will almost certainly listen.

I can't see an outsider having that same kind of contact with the school.

That's not why people hire outside counselors. Parents expect that from the school, along with the outside counselor who handholds the kid through the process.

OP, my kids' school doesn't like it, but has reluctantly accepted that many people use outsiders. They ask for that information so that they can be "helpful" to the outside counselor.

Do families disclose? And if so, do the school and outside counselors then communicate/work together?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school's counselors have lots of information that an outside consultant wouldn't have. Thye know the history of the school with the college. They can talk directly to the Admissions people about your DC and the Admissions person will almost certainly listen.

I can't see an outsider having that same kind of contact with the school.

Our school says they do not talk with the admissions people at schools directly and do not do advocacy calls? We are very concerned because we know at some other schools the college counselors have good relationships with the colleges. How to address this if you know others are doing this but your college office insists they do not do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school's counselors have lots of information that an outside consultant wouldn't have. Thye know the history of the school with the college. They can talk directly to the Admissions people about your DC and the Admissions person will almost certainly listen.

I can't see an outsider having that same kind of contact with the school.

Our school says they do not talk with the admissions people at schools directly and do not do advocacy calls? We are very concerned because we know at some other schools the college counselors have good relationships with the colleges. How to address this if you know others are doing this but your college office insists they do not do this?

Changing school policy isn’t realistic. If this issue is that important to you, you may wish to change schools.

[Anonymous]

Ours had no issue with having an outside consultant who we brought in for expertise in athletic recruiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't tell them you have a counselor - at ALL

+1