What grade should you get a college consultant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to know if hiring a cc starting in 9/10 helped with course selection, ECs, etc

No. Our CC didn’t know much about my kid’s school offerings. Had generic advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to know if hiring a cc starting in 9/10 helped with course selection, ECs, etc

We spent a few hours consulting a famous private college counselor, we didn't buy into the whole package but the questions we asked were answered in mostly a very helpful manner and included queries about course selection, ECs, essay subjects and others.

You do not need to spend $20k to get this kind of help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to know if hiring a cc starting in 9/10 helped with course selection, ECs, etc

We spent a few hours consulting a famous private college counselor, we didn't buy into the whole package but the questions we asked were answered in mostly a very helpful manner and included queries about course selection, ECs, essay subjects and others.

You do not need to spend $20k to get this kind of help.

Which famous counselor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a very ambitious freshman. He has straight As, plays 3 varsity sports and is trying out various clubs. He is aiming for top schools. If we leave him by himself, I’m sure he will do fine but unlikely to have anything that will make him stand out from the other smart athletic kids.

We had a college consultant in the delivery room, but kid ended up at Tufts. Some people have told us if we were serious about the Ivies, we should have had one who was certified in pre-natal consulting.

+1 Unless they aren't there at conception, it's not even worth it.

Exactly. I came home early & found my wife with another man. She said, “Don’t worry, he’s a college consultant!” We’re hoping for Dartmouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to know if hiring a cc starting in 9/10 helped with course selection, ECs, etc

We spent a few hours consulting a famous private college counselor, we didn't buy into the whole package but the questions we asked were answered in mostly a very helpful manner and included queries about course selection, ECs, essay subjects and others.

You do not need to spend $20k to get this kind of help.

Which famous counselor?

Montauk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He gets good test scores- he already has everything else.

Scores will definitely be a thing in 3 years when he applies.

Not at top schools. OP should read Cal Newport's book on college admissions if they want something cheaper than a consultant.

[Anonymous]

*or blog

[Anonymous]

Join Application Nation. It $79 per month and buy the book Soundbite. You will learn everything you need to know about course selection, identifying what your child stand out areas are - for top schools you need something more than straight As, varsity sports, and high test scores- at top schools all the applicants have that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:zero grade. You don't need one.

Girl know your audience! You’re giving advice for the normal parent. There aren’t many of them here.

ehhhh - Every single one of my junior's friends has one.

“Hello, it’s me. I’m the problem.”
-Tay-tay

[Anonymous]

We hired them for our kids in 10th grade. For DS I think it was in Nov./Dec., and for DD we are just beginning to talk to them now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:zero grade. You don't need one.

Girl know your audience! You’re giving advice for the normal parent. There aren’t many of them here.

ehhhh - Every single one of my junior's friends has one.

Point proven

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd like to know if hiring a cc starting in 9/10 helped with course selection, ECs, etc

We spent a few hours consulting a famous private college counselor, we didn't buy into the whole package but the questions we asked were answered in mostly a very helpful manner and included queries about course selection, ECs, essay subjects and others.

You do not need to spend $20k to get this kind of help.

No you don't need to spend that much. You can find an excellent CC for $4-5K total for 4 years of HS. They won't promise to get your kid into a T20. They promise to help navigate the process with you, assist your kid with curating the best list of colleges (Reaches, Targets, Safeties and Likelies) so your kid will have several great choices come April, they will help with the essay process and entire application and manage it for you. Your kid will have to do the hard work, but they can take some of the work off you, and help your kid find hidden gems at the target safety and likely level---so you actually want to attend any of them.

Hint: anyone promising your kid will get into Harvard/Yale is lying.
They will help your kid get into the schools that are right fit for them.