College Counseling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's hard to get people to recommend college counselors on DCUM. The majority of posters won't ever hire one, and will tell you that you don't need one. The very few who do hire one, are not sure they helped, or don't want to share their counselor.

I did not hire one for my oldest, who had such a complicated SN profile that I didn't even want to hire an SN-specific company to help us. But I'm wondering whether my other kids could benefit.

I will push back against the notion that magnet kids don't need counseling, or somehow have a leg up. They don't. You don't go to a magnet for a boost in college admissions! It doesn't help at all, and it's hard to distinguish oneself amid a pool of extremely high-achieving applicants, where a lot of families want Ivies or similar for their kids.

All I can tell you is that it's best to look for a counselor sooner rather than later. They prefer to influence high school trajectory and summers as much as possible, not swoop in just for college lists and essays.

Good luck!

Colleges across the country know about the Blair Magnet. It's definitely a leg up to graduate from Blair's Magnet program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach at Wheaton and the vast majority of the magnet kids want to to to UMD.

The Wheaton "magnet" is not a high-level one. Please understand what OP is saying. We're talking about a high-achieving student doing very advanced coursework at Blair. Also, Wheaton has a low-income population and of course you'll get fewer students ready to pay private tuition.

Yes, it is. I have a kid who choose Wheaton over Blair and a kid at Blair magnet. Both high level programs, just different foci. We have been very impressed with Wheaton (Blair too, of course). Kids in Wheaton mag come from all over dcc like Blair and from various income levels. Also, many if the outstanding students are from lower income tiers.

Write what you know rather than deal in arrogant conjecture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach at Wheaton and the vast majority of the magnet kids want to to to UMD.

The Wheaton magnet is nowhere near the Blair SMACS Magnet program when you look at the caliber of students enrolled.

Again, the ignorance. When and how have you "looked at the caliber?" You haven't. Wheaton has students admitted to top schools like Blair, and with a much smaller magnet contingent. They also have an amazing electric vehicle racing team that just won a global championship. Not too shabby. There is no need to denigrate another magnet. It does not make Blair look better (Blair does just fine without you) and just makes you look petty and ignorant --Blair/Wheaton parent

[Anonymous]

For many, the choice of college comes down to ROI. Will the kids be able to to completely support themselves out of school AND pay that lone?
You pay for Ivy vs OOS vs in state. In state is always the cheapest option especially for upper middle class who is not getting any aid (merit or need based).

Given UMD is priority good place to be with quality education, I can’t imagine what OOS or Ivy school must provide for my gifted magnet child for me to pay premium.

[Anonymous]

Many other countries who properly subsidize education do not charge money out the wazoo for something that is a basic human necessity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many other countries who properly subsidize education do not charge money out the wazoo for something that is a basic human necessity.

College counseling is a basic human necessity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach at Wheaton and the vast majority of the magnet kids want to to to UMD.

The Wheaton "magnet" is not a high-level one. Please understand what OP is saying. We're talking about a high-achieving student doing very advanced coursework at Blair. Also, Wheaton has a low-income population and of course you'll get fewer students ready to pay private tuition.

Wheaton has two application only county wide STEM magnets. They are highly regarded everywhere but DCUM.