Equity - Private College Counselor and HS Counselor

[Anonymous]

I agree that the public counselor will not care. It doesn't matter. And, I think it sends the wrong message to coach kids not to reveal information like this to their school staff - if your kid might mention it naturally, they should. That said, I'll admit that I cringed inside when our DD mentioned support with a private counselor in a parent-teacher conference at our public last year. But the teacher later asked if DD could team up with her on a project to get more college search and application process information out to other students during homeroom meetings, get the word out about free resources, etc. DD was really into this and followed through with the teacher and made it happen. And her private counselor was actually supportive of this!

On another note, I was surprised to see that our DD's ED school had a question on the application that asked students to check off the supports used to prepare the application. Independent counselor was one of the options. DD answered honestly and reported support from a private counselor.

[Anonymous]

The ^^ question from a college is surprising to me. What’s next? Did you take a SAT prep class?

[Anonymous]

OP how involved is your FCPS counselor at this point? If they are making an effort to actually help / guide your kid in their college applications, I wouldn't mention it. However, if they are just sending documents / ticking boxes and very lightly involved, I'd agree with others that they are not likely to care either way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Equity demands all you privileged parents just stop with the ridiculous spending on independent consultants.

Just stop.

You mean Communism demands.

[Anonymous]

The public school counselors get paid $80k (maybe less?) a year and are pissed people in general, and you in particular, can spend $5k or god forbid more than that, on your spoiled spawn for anything, let alone college admissions. I would not tell them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the public counselor will not care. It doesn't matter. And, I think it sends the wrong message to coach kids not to reveal information like this to their school staff - if your kid might mention it naturally, they should. That said, I'll admit that I cringed inside when our DD mentioned support with a private counselor in a parent-teacher conference at our public last year. But the teacher later asked if DD could team up with her on a project to get more college search and application process information out to other students during homeroom meetings, get the word out about free resources, etc. DD was really into this and followed through with the teacher and made it happen. And her private counselor was actually supportive of this!

On another note, I was surprised to see that our DD's ED school had a question on the application that asked students to check off the supports used to prepare the application. Independent counselor was one of the options. DD answered honestly and reported support from a private counselor.

What school, if you don’t mind sharing? That’s interesting. Did the app ask about SAT prep?

[Anonymous]

At least one of my kids applications had that box-“Did anyone help you with the application” might of been her ED school Vanderbilt (answer was no, and she was rejected)

[Anonymous]

Do not disclose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the public counselor will not care. It doesn't matter. And, I think it sends the wrong message to coach kids not to reveal information like this to their school staff - if your kid might mention it naturally, they should. That said, I'll admit that I cringed inside when our DD mentioned support with a private counselor in a parent-teacher conference at our public last year. But the teacher later asked if DD could team up with her on a project to get more college search and application process information out to other students during homeroom meetings, get the word out about free resources, etc. DD was really into this and followed through with the teacher and made it happen. And her private counselor was actually supportive of this!

On another note, I was surprised to see that our DD's ED school had a question on the application that asked students to check off the supports used to prepare the application. Independent counselor was one of the options. DD answered honestly and reported support from a private counselor.

What school, if you don’t mind sharing? That’s interesting. Did the app ask about SAT prep?

This was Carleton College. It didn't ask about SAT prep. Just asked what kind of support was used in preparing the app and listed things like high school counselor, family members, independent counselor, etc. FWIW, DD had completed about nine other apps prior to ED admittance to Carleton including a couple of Ivies, and this question wasn't on any of the other apps that I recall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the public counselor will not care. It doesn't matter. And, I think it sends the wrong message to coach kids not to reveal information like this to their school staff - if your kid might mention it naturally, they should. That said, I'll admit that I cringed inside when our DD mentioned support with a private counselor in a parent-teacher conference at our public last year. But the teacher later asked if DD could team up with her on a project to get more college search and application process information out to other students during homeroom meetings, get the word out about free resources, etc. DD was really into this and followed through with the teacher and made it happen. And her private counselor was actually supportive of this!

On another note, I was surprised to see that our DD's ED school had a question on the application that asked students to check off the supports used to prepare the application. Independent counselor was one of the options. DD answered honestly and reported support from a private counselor.

What school, if you don’t mind sharing? That’s interesting. Did the app ask about SAT prep?

This was Carleton College. It didn't ask about SAT prep. Just asked what kind of support was used in preparing the app and listed things like high school counselor, family members, independent counselor, etc. FWIW, DD had completed about nine other apps prior to ED admittance to Carleton including a couple of Ivies, and this question wasn't on any of the other apps that I recall.

Is that an optional question?

[Anonymous]

You are overthinking.

[Anonymous]

My kids school was one that really touted equality in all things, never really announced when anyone won anything, very top nationally ranked public. We didn’t tell, but only really used for a few hours of their time as essay/theme sounding board. It wouldn’t have gone over well and if there was an opportunity to not advocate I feel like they would have used it against them. Personality of the counselor also influenced decision. In hindsight, don’t think it would have offered any benefit anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the public counselor will not care. It doesn't matter. And, I think it sends the wrong message to coach kids not to reveal information like this to their school staff - if your kid might mention it naturally, they should. That said, I'll admit that I cringed inside when our DD mentioned support with a private counselor in a parent-teacher conference at our public last year. But the teacher later asked if DD could team up with her on a project to get more college search and application process information out to other students during homeroom meetings, get the word out about free resources, etc. DD was really into this and followed through with the teacher and made it happen. And her private counselor was actually supportive of this!

On another note, I was surprised to see that our DD's ED school had a question on the application that asked students to check off the supports used to prepare the application. Independent counselor was one of the options. DD answered honestly and reported support from a private counselor.

What school, if you don’t mind sharing? That’s interesting. Did the app ask about SAT prep?

This was Carleton College. It didn't ask about SAT prep. Just asked what kind of support was used in preparing the app and listed things like high school counselor, family members, independent counselor, etc. FWIW, DD had completed about nine other apps prior to ED admittance to Carleton including a couple of Ivies, and this question wasn't on any of the other apps that I recall.

Is that an optional question?

It looks optional:

"We'd love to learn more about you and your experience applying to college. Which resources did you use to prepare your application? Check as many as apply:

School: teacher, counselor, etc.
Community-based organization: counselor, mentor, etc.
Friend or classmate
Independent counselor
Parent or other family member
Other mentor: sports coach, work supervisor, religious leader, etc.
Chat GPT or other AI
Online resources or guidebooks
Limited access to any support or resources
Other response"

[Anonymous]

I work in this industry of advising clients and I recommend to not disclose. Both public and private schools (especially private) bristle at this; and private seem to think they know everything but they often prioritize their richest and most VIP families.

[Anonymous]

YCBK has a whole segment on this. I think it's more nuanced than some think