Question for Parents of Students Admitted to Top 25 Colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this question has probably been asked many times before, but I wanted to reach out specifically to parents whose kids were admitted to a top 25 schools, either in the most recent admissions cycle or in the past few years.

Which college consultant (if any) did you use, and how was your experience?

Please, no snark , just hoping for genuine, firsthand recommendations or feedback from those who have real information to share.

Thanks in advance!

It's like being on Ozempic. Everyone lies about it and says they are not on it, but lost weight through disciplined diet and exercise. On this forum, no one uses a Consultant, but we know they all actually do. You do not spend all day on this forum and not fork over $$ for every resource you hear will give your student an edge in admissions. We used InGenious prep and they were helped a lot when you have a student that does not know where to start and did not have a bunch of extracurriculars to talk about. Our student is starting at UVA this fall.

They say no consultant. They used CCO.
Oh and hired that “essay coach” whose name won’t be shared who basically rewrites every essay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has been wild to read. I am not in DC, but my kid attends a public high school in an affluent suburb on the west coast. Everyone I know has a college counselor. Yes, everyone. It's like orthodontics; yes, occasionally someone does not need it, but I think 80-90% of parents and kids could use some help and there's zero shame around using a college counselor. That said, it's a huge industry and there are many affordable options (unlike orthos).

It’s sad this board has been completely taken over by maga. They want moms stay home to take care of larlos’ college applications. They want to feed to moms fear and anxiety, that nothing is good enough until you drop everything professional and tend to a silly college admission game themselves.

[Anonymous]

We didn't need a counselor because DD already was attending a top private school. She had all the services she needed from the private school, and is now going to a WASP, her first choice.

[Anonymous]

Not one person has shared a name …. This thread is a brag sheet for parents of kids at T20s.

[Anonymous]

People were suppose to share information about a consultant they had used and thought was really helpful in admissions. Not just sit back and laud about their genius super organized kids.

[Anonymous]

We are in a NoVa HS and most of my DC's friends had counselors. Some are in T25 schools, some aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not one person has shared a name …. This thread is a brag sheet for parents of kids at T20s.

The time to ask is Jan/Feb. Not now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that my DD (Ivy admit) and her classmates who were admitted to top schools did not need, or use, private counselors/coaches. Obviously, these kids don't need the help, but it also makes me wonder if the schools sense who is using private counselors and holding it against those applicants.

I think some of the counselors are just bad. And a kid relies on them.

Without a counselor, kid and parents are researching wording in EC lists; CEG essay frameworks etc.

My point is that the KIDS, without parental or other adult involvement, are doing it all. These are the ones who are admitted and thrive at Ivy league schools. The ones who need handholding won't do great and wondering if AOs can sense that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not one person has shared a name …. This thread is a brag sheet for parents of kids at T20s.

That is not true. I shared a name back on page 5 or 6
read the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has been wild to read. I am not in DC, but my kid attends a public high school in an affluent suburb on the west coast. Everyone I know has a college counselor. Yes, everyone. It's like orthodontics; yes, occasionally someone does not need it, but I think 80-90% of parents and kids could use some help and there's zero shame around using a college counselor. That said, it's a huge industry and there are many affordable options (unlike orthos).

We're in an affluent suburb in CA, and while there is a cohort of families who use counselors, I don't think it's 80%. Usually the families who hire counselors have kids who need help shaping their application and those kids tend to end up at the UCs or a private school like Northeastern. They're not the standout students at our school Just from what I have observed these past 4 years - the kids getting into Ivys have their talents and hooks and they don't need a counselor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that my DD (Ivy admit) and her classmates who were admitted to top schools did not need, or use, private counselors/coaches. Obviously, these kids don't need the help, but it also makes me wonder if the schools sense who is using private counselors and holding it against those applicants.

I think some of the counselors are just bad. And a kid relies on them.

Without a counselor, kid and parents are researching wording in EC lists; CEG essay frameworks etc.

My point is that the KIDS, without parental or other adult involvement, are doing it all. These are the ones who are admitted and thrive at Ivy league schools. The ones who need handholding won't do great and wondering if AOs can sense that.

No they can’t!
lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread has been wild to read. I am not in DC, but my kid attends a public high school in an affluent suburb on the west coast. Everyone I know has a college counselor. Yes, everyone. It's like orthodontics; yes, occasionally someone does not need it, but I think 80-90% of parents and kids could use some help and there's zero shame around using a college counselor. That said, it's a huge industry and there are many affordable options (unlike orthos).

Yep, and the vast majority also pay for test prep too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that my DD (Ivy admit) and her classmates who were admitted to top schools did not need, or use, private counselors/coaches. Obviously, these kids don't need the help, but it also makes me wonder if the schools sense who is using private counselors and holding it against those applicants.

I think some of the counselors are just bad. And a kid relies on them.

Without a counselor, kid and parents are researching wording in EC lists; CEG essay frameworks etc.

My point is that the KIDS, without parental or other adult involvement, are doing it all. These are the ones who are admitted and thrive at Ivy league schools. The ones who need handholding won't do great and wondering if AOs can sense that.

Definitely. An AO friend once told me they were born like that. Like a shark who can smell blood a mile away. A silkworm that can detect a single molecule of female pheromone a few miles away. Plus they are all being trained well. As a result, their college let in over 40% of private school kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed that my DD (Ivy admit) and her classmates who were admitted to top schools did not need, or use, private counselors/coaches. Obviously, these kids don't need the help, but it also makes me wonder if the schools sense who is using private counselors and holding it against those applicants.

I think some of the counselors are just bad. And a kid relies on them.

Without a counselor, kid and parents are researching wording in EC lists; CEG essay frameworks etc.

My point is that the KIDS, without parental or other adult involvement, are doing it all. These are the ones who are admitted and thrive at Ivy league schools. The ones who need handholding won't do great and wondering if AOs can sense that.

Definitely. An AO friend once told me they were born like that. Like a shark who can smell blood a mile away. A silkworm that can detect a single molecule of female pheromone a few miles away. Plus they are all being trained well. As a result, their college let in over 40% of private school kids.

Ha. Exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread has been wild to read. I am not in DC, but my kid attends a public high school in an affluent suburb on the west coast. Everyone I know has a college counselor. Yes, everyone. It's like orthodontics; yes, occasionally someone does not need it, but I think 80-90% of parents and kids could use some help and there's zero shame around using a college counselor. That said, it's a huge industry and there are many affordable options (unlike orthos).

We're in an affluent suburb in CA, and while there is a cohort of families who use counselors, I don't think it's 80%. Usually the families who hire counselors have kids who need help shaping their application and those kids tend to end up at the UCs or a private school like Northeastern. They're not the standout students at our school Just from what I have observed these past 4 years - the kids getting into Ivys have their talents and hooks and they don't need a counselor.

PP here who said that 80% of kids in my area use counselors and I stand by that. Whether the kid is shooting for top schools or not, and whether the kid goes to a private school or a public school. The going rate in our suburb is $6k-$10k for unlimited help for 10th-12th. Our public high school teacher does this work as a side gig even though there's a clear conflict of interest (i.e. some of the counseled kids are in their class).