private HS CCO and influence in admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost all of the CCs at top privates were in admissions depts at selective colleges before moving to the other side. It's a relatively small world and of course there are all sorts of informal conversations happening between AOs and CCs at these schools.

It's also quite clear that at top privates the counseling office is trying to manage all sorts of expectations from parents while maximizing the best total outcome for a particular class.

Anecdotally, a friend whose daughter was on the WL at an Ivy but who was admitted to Chicago told me that the Ivy contacted the CC directly to ask if the student would definitely commit if admitted off the waitlist -- if a yes, they would be admitted, if not, they remain waitlisted. Kid went to Chicago.

Obviously this cannot happen with CCs at every suburban high school in the country. Only at a select group of privates where these relationships are already in place.

What’s stopping a public high school from calling? This isn’t rocket science lol

Generally, they wouldn't have relationships with the AOs.

You don’t need a relationship to pick up a phone.

[Anonymous]

Our counselors have over 200 students. It is nowhere close to the same situation.

[Anonymous]

A lot of old guard AO’s retired during Covid. I wouldn’t be so sure the new generation of AO’s that are closer in age to students than parents still take calls. Does your kid like talking on the phone to catch up with old friends? Probably not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of old guard AO’s retired during Covid. I wouldn’t be so sure the new generation of AO’s that are closer in age to students than parents still take calls. Does your kid like talking on the phone to catch up with old friends? Probably not.

My college freshman has phone and Facetime calls with her HS friends fairly regularly - if anything, she shows up on the group calls less than the rest of them do because she has lots of evening commitments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of old guard AO’s retired during Covid. I wouldn’t be so sure the new generation of AO’s that are closer in age to students than parents still take calls. Does your kid like talking on the phone to catch up with old friends? Probably not.

My college freshman has phone and Facetime calls with her HS friends fairly regularly - if anything, she shows up on the group calls less than the rest of them do because she has lots of evening commitments.

That is atypical for Gen Z and millennials.

https://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2024/04/the-changing-status-of-phone-calls.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost all of the CCs at top privates were in admissions depts at selective colleges before moving to the other side. It's a relatively small world and of course there are all sorts of informal conversations happening between AOs and CCs at these schools.

It's also quite clear that at top privates the counseling office is trying to manage all sorts of expectations from parents while maximizing the best total outcome for a particular class.

Anecdotally, a friend whose daughter was on the WL at an Ivy but who was admitted to Chicago told me that the Ivy contacted the CC directly to ask if the student would definitely commit if admitted off the waitlist -- if a yes, they would be admitted, if not, they remain waitlisted. Kid went to Chicago.

Obviously this cannot happen with CCs at every suburban high school in the country. Only at a select group of privates where these relationships are already in place.

What’s stopping a public high school from calling? This isn’t rocket science lol

I am curious what you do professionally, because I can tell you that in my business I have spent decades building professional relationships that mean I can reach out to the head of any company I do regular business with, or anyone who works for them, and get them on the phone pretty much immediately. I know them well - some, very well. Often, I've met their spouses, know where their kids go to school, I've been to lunch or dinner or out to drinks with them. It's similar to the relationships college counselors build with AOs. So, yes, you could call an AO at Yale out of the blue from a high school that sends maybe one kid there every few years, but honestly it will be tough to get them on the phone. They will tell you it is against their policy to talk to you about specific kids. Now, if you are at a top high school that sends most of your kids to T20 schools, yes they are happy to hear from you, they are sending colleagues to visit your school every year, and you are probably visiting their campuses. They will talk to you whenever you want.

[Anonymous]

Harvard Westlake says they are no calls anymore. There were many calls 15 years ago. Some calls 5 years ago. Zero calls now.

If HW isn't having calls, I doubt any schools are. Maybe something specific like BC High and BC. Otherwise, no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Westlake says they are no calls anymore. There were many calls 15 years ago. Some calls 5 years ago. Zero calls now.

If HW isn't having calls, I doubt any schools are. Maybe something specific like BC High and BC. Otherwise, no.

Maybe.
Or maybe they are managing annoying senior parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Westlake says they are no calls anymore. There were many calls 15 years ago. Some calls 5 years ago. Zero calls now.

If HW isn't having calls, I doubt any schools are. Maybe something specific like BC High and BC. Otherwise, no.

That surprises me.

https://www.ivycoach.com/the-ivy-coach-blog/college-admissions/high-school-counselors-who-wont-make-advocacy-calls/
https://www.tiktok.com/@tineocollegeprep/video/7467345029950999838

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost all of the CCs at top privates were in admissions depts at selective colleges before moving to the other side. It's a relatively small world and of course there are all sorts of informal conversations happening between AOs and CCs at these schools.

It's also quite clear that at top privates the counseling office is trying to manage all sorts of expectations from parents while maximizing the best total outcome for a particular class.

Anecdotally, a friend whose daughter was on the WL at an Ivy but who was admitted to Chicago told me that the Ivy contacted the CC directly to ask if the student would definitely commit if admitted off the waitlist -- if a yes, they would be admitted, if not, they remain waitlisted. Kid went to Chicago.

Obviously this cannot happen with CCs at every suburban high school in the country. Only at a select group of privates where these relationships are already in place.

What’s stopping a public high school from calling? This isn’t rocket science lol

I am curious what you do professionally, because I can tell you that in my business I have spent decades building professional relationships that mean I can reach out to the head of any company I do regular business with, or anyone who works for them, and get them on the phone pretty much immediately. I know them well - some, very well. Often, I've met their spouses, know where their kids go to school, I've been to lunch or dinner or out to drinks with them. It's similar to the relationships college counselors build with AOs. So, yes, you could call an AO at Yale out of the blue from a high school that sends maybe one kid there every few years, but honestly it will be tough to get them on the phone. They will tell you it is against their policy to talk to you about specific kids. Now, if you are at a top high school that sends most of your kids to T20 schools, yes they are happy to hear from you, they are sending colleagues to visit your school every year, and you are probably visiting their campuses. They will talk to you whenever you want.

You’re overthinking this. Admissions offices publish their phone numbers for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard Westlake says they are no calls anymore. There were many calls 15 years ago. Some calls 5 years ago. Zero calls now.

If HW isn't having calls, I doubt any schools are. Maybe something specific like BC High and BC. Otherwise, no.

Most schools will tell you there are no calls - this is not true. They are saying it so you will not ask them to call on behalf of your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost all of the CCs at top privates were in admissions depts at selective colleges before moving to the other side. It's a relatively small world and of course there are all sorts of informal conversations happening between AOs and CCs at these schools.

It's also quite clear that at top privates the counseling office is trying to manage all sorts of expectations from parents while maximizing the best total outcome for a particular class.

Anecdotally, a friend whose daughter was on the WL at an Ivy but who was admitted to Chicago told me that the Ivy contacted the CC directly to ask if the student would definitely commit if admitted off the waitlist -- if a yes, they would be admitted, if not, they remain waitlisted. Kid went to Chicago.

Obviously this cannot happen with CCs at every suburban high school in the country. Only at a select group of privates where these relationships are already in place.

What’s stopping a public high school from calling? This isn’t rocket science lol

I am curious what you do professionally, because I can tell you that in my business I have spent decades building professional relationships that mean I can reach out to the head of any company I do regular business with, or anyone who works for them, and get them on the phone pretty much immediately. I know them well - some, very well. Often, I've met their spouses, know where their kids go to school, I've been to lunch or dinner or out to drinks with them. It's similar to the relationships college counselors build with AOs. So, yes, you could call an AO at Yale out of the blue from a high school that sends maybe one kid there every few years, but honestly it will be tough to get them on the phone. They will tell you it is against their policy to talk to you about specific kids. Now, if you are at a top high school that sends most of your kids to T20 schools, yes they are happy to hear from you, they are sending colleagues to visit your school every year, and you are probably visiting their campuses. They will talk to you whenever you want.

You’re overthinking this. Admissions offices publish their phone numbers for a reason.

Then you should probably call the schools your kid applies to and advocate for them. Let us know how that goes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost all of the CCs at top privates were in admissions depts at selective colleges before moving to the other side. It's a relatively small world and of course there are all sorts of informal conversations happening between AOs and CCs at these schools.

It's also quite clear that at top privates the counseling office is trying to manage all sorts of expectations from parents while maximizing the best total outcome for a particular class.

Anecdotally, a friend whose daughter was on the WL at an Ivy but who was admitted to Chicago told me that the Ivy contacted the CC directly to ask if the student would definitely commit if admitted off the waitlist -- if a yes, they would be admitted, if not, they remain waitlisted. Kid went to Chicago.

Obviously this cannot happen with CCs at every suburban high school in the country. Only at a select group of privates where these relationships are already in place.

What’s stopping a public high school from calling? This isn’t rocket science lol

Generally, they wouldn't have relationships with the AOs.

You don’t need a relationship to pick up a phone.

You need a relationship for the other person to answer or return your call.

Do you really not understand that money talks and that’s how you get an AO on the phone?

[Anonymous]

If deferred from early decision, it’s best to try and get a letter from headmaster or assistant head of school or someone in a very senior leadership capacity at HS to augment the application.

That will generally do more than any advocacy call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If deferred from early decision, it’s best to try and get a letter from headmaster or assistant head of school or someone in a very senior leadership capacity at HS to augment the application.

That will generally do more than any advocacy call.

Where did you come by that information? Most of the schools say additional letters won't do anything and specifically say not to send them. A letter from a trustee might be the exception (but if you had such a letter, why wouldn't you send it before the ED?