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!

Used an essay consultant to protect parent-child relationship. DC was rejected REA from HYPS. No contact with essay coach after Nov 15 (was in contract, but we did not realize that we could need someone to talk to if rejected REA) so I had to step in to provide my advice to DC who decided to follow most of my advice, but not all. Admitted to multiple HYPSM RD. As I looked over my notes from podcasts, etc. I found that the consultant had not known what each college looks for. E.g., Yale does not care about your career aspirations. Most importantly, DC did not understand that essays needed “reflection” and I blame the coach 100% for this. To add insult to injury, after RD decisions were released, coach asked to share DC essay that had been worked on separately for something else, but used for college apps. Ummm, no way — the essay help the coach had provided was not worth it and we did not want him to sell his services based on DC’s results after he just made sure DC stuck to a schedule. This was a reputed coach that we paid a ton of money for so be careful — really, really careful. Once you sign a contract, you might find that they have zero accountability.

If I had to do it again, and our family had just regular amount of stress, I’d listen to DC and myself — no consultant required.

We had a similar experience. DC used an expensive coach who was uniformed and had dismal results in REA. Fortunately, we found another coach for RD. She was amazing and DC had similar RD results to your child. Ironically, the amazing coach was less expensive. Be careful out there!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

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.

huh? my kid is at an ivy unhooked and most of their friends there have dual working parent households. The vast majority of the kids who get ivy+ admissions from our HS are dual working parents, often at least one a doctor or lawyer. No one is staying home to be a college counselor to their kid. true top kids do not need paid college counseling services or extensive advice from mom or dad. they read all the websites of the schools on their own and from that one can get a great idea of what each school is seeking. tours and admission-officer sessions also give hints. top kids take notes and refer to them when writing apps.
you underestimate the level of preparedness and focus of the very top high schoolers.

THIS! If your kid can't do it on their own, they don't have what it takes. Sorry to inform you tiger parents that you can't force brilliance.

I hope you and your kid realize their privilege. My kid went to a corrupt public HS with a teacher who PAID money to a local org through a non-profit. They happily gave credit for my kid’s project to another student that the teacher wanted the credit to go to because the kid had no other ECs and if the kid got into HYPSM, the teacher would get all the credit. Some of us have had to deal with more than the usual stuff! I am not sure how I kept it together. Lawyers who were involved found the people who took the money guilty but have not done anything about the teacher whose husband is well-connected. I’m sure those lawyers got something in return. Actual wire fraud is what we are talking about here.

[Anonymous]

This teacher always gives people money if they are adults and LORs or leadership positions if they are kids — none of which the recipient has earned. Then she starts calling in favors. She makes sure there is a trail — bribery and blackmail are her M.O.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

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.

huh? my kid is at an ivy unhooked and most of their friends there have dual working parent households. The vast majority of the kids who get ivy+ admissions from our HS are dual working parents, often at least one a doctor or lawyer. No one is staying home to be a college counselor to their kid. true top kids do not need paid college counseling services or extensive advice from mom or dad. they read all the websites of the schools on their own and from that one can get a great idea of what each school is seeking. tours and admission-officer sessions also give hints. top kids take notes and refer to them when writing apps.
you underestimate the level of preparedness and focus of the very top high schoolers.

THIS! If your kid can't do it on their own, they don't have what it takes. Sorry to inform you tiger parents that you can't force brilliance.

Oh blow it out your ass.

Stay classy, DCUM!

[Anonymous]

No coach, only school counselors looking over the essay & helping with wording the activities list on Common App. Normal ECs, no big national awards or anything, at Brown. I did spend time doing research on College Confidential, Reddit and listening to podcasts, and I think that was useful

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No coach, only school counselors looking over the essay & helping with wording the activities list on Common App. Normal ECs, no big national awards or anything, at Brown. I did spend time doing research on College Confidential, Reddit and listening to podcasts, and I think that was useful

Major?
Private HS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No coach, only school counselors looking over the essay & helping with wording the activities list on Common App. Normal ECs, no big national awards or anything, at Brown. I did spend time doing research on College Confidential, Reddit and listening to podcasts, and I think that was useful

Same, no paid coach/counselor, but kid was the honor-scholar (top kid) at a private, took every hard class and literally ran out of stem classes, had some state/regional recognition in three different areas. Engineering and got into five T15/ivies. CC was helpful, reddit was off the mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

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.

huh? my kid is at an ivy unhooked and most of their friends there have dual working parent households. The vast majority of the kids who get ivy+ admissions from our HS are dual working parents, often at least one a doctor or lawyer. No one is staying home to be a college counselor to their kid. true top kids do not need paid college counseling services or extensive advice from mom or dad. they read all the websites of the schools on their own and from that one can get a great idea of what each school is seeking. tours and admission-officer sessions also give hints. top kids take notes and refer to them when writing apps.
you underestimate the level of preparedness and focus of the very top high schoolers.

THIS! If your kid can't do it on their own, they don't have what it takes. Sorry to inform you tiger parents that you can't force brilliance.

+++ and if you do micromanage them and pay someone big $ to try to force it ..what happens if they get lucky and get in to T10/ivy? they will be crushed by the competition once there especially if they want top law, top phD, med school, MBB, etc. the next level of the game is entirely different and your kid has to have the intelligence, drive & discipline just to keep above average at these places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

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.

huh? my kid is at an ivy unhooked and most of their friends there have dual working parent households. The vast majority of the kids who get ivy+ admissions from our HS are dual working parents, often at least one a doctor or lawyer. No one is staying home to be a college counselor to their kid. true top kids do not need paid college counseling services or extensive advice from mom or dad. they read all the websites of the schools on their own and from that one can get a great idea of what each school is seeking. tours and admission-officer sessions also give hints. top kids take notes and refer to them when writing apps.
you underestimate the level of preparedness and focus of the very top high schoolers.

THIS! If your kid can't do it on their own, they don't have what it takes. Sorry to inform you tiger parents that you can't force brilliance.

+++ and if you do micromanage them and pay someone big $ to try to force it ..what happens if they get lucky and get in to T10/ivy? they will be crushed by the competition once there especially if they want top law, top phD, med school, MBB, etc. the next level of the game is entirely different and your kid has to have the intelligence, drive & discipline just to keep above average at these places.

Not true at all. It’s how the world works.
Lots of people get their jobs and move on up through the world (MBB/PE/AM) without what you deemed to be the requisite “drive and discipline”.

My kids got their internships and jobs through connections…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

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.

huh? my kid is at an ivy unhooked and most of their friends there have dual working parent households. The vast majority of the kids who get ivy+ admissions from our HS are dual working parents, often at least one a doctor or lawyer. No one is staying home to be a college counselor to their kid. true top kids do not need paid college counseling services or extensive advice from mom or dad. they read all the websites of the schools on their own and from that one can get a great idea of what each school is seeking. tours and admission-officer sessions also give hints. top kids take notes and refer to them when writing apps.
you underestimate the level of preparedness and focus of the very top high schoolers.

THIS! If your kid can't do it on their own, they don't have what it takes. Sorry to inform you tiger parents that you can't force brilliance.

+++ and if you do micromanage them and pay someone big $ to try to force it ..what happens if they get lucky and get in to T10/ivy? they will be crushed by the competition once there especially if they want top law, top phD, med school, MBB, etc. the next level of the game is entirely different and your kid has to have the intelligence, drive & discipline just to keep above average at these places.

Not true at all. It’s how the world works.
Lots of people get their jobs and move on up through the world (MBB/PE/AM) without what you deemed to be the requisite “drive and discipline”.

My kids got their internships and jobs through connections…

Most definitely. But you are not going to win a case or perform a successful surgery because of a connection. For success in some disciplines you need to put up or shut up at some point. Some disciplines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

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.

huh? my kid is at an ivy unhooked and most of their friends there have dual working parent households. The vast majority of the kids who get ivy+ admissions from our HS are dual working parents, often at least one a doctor or lawyer. No one is staying home to be a college counselor to their kid. true top kids do not need paid college counseling services or extensive advice from mom or dad. they read all the websites of the schools on their own and from that one can get a great idea of what each school is seeking. tours and admission-officer sessions also give hints. top kids take notes and refer to them when writing apps.
you underestimate the level of preparedness and focus of the very top high schoolers.

THIS! If your kid can't do it on their own, they don't have what it takes. Sorry to inform you tiger parents that you can't force brilliance.

+++ and if you do micromanage them and pay someone big $ to try to force it ..what happens if they get lucky and get in to T10/ivy? they will be crushed by the competition once there especially if they want top law, top phD, med school, MBB, etc. the next level of the game is entirely different and your kid has to have the intelligence, drive & discipline just to keep above average at these places.

Not true at all. It’s how the world works.
Lots of people get their jobs and move on up through the world (MBB/PE/AM) without what you deemed to be the requisite “drive and discipline”.

My kids got their internships and jobs through connections…

Most definitely. But you are not going to win a case or perform a successful surgery because of a connection. For success in some disciplines you need to put up or shut up at some point. Some disciplines.

You sound naive. Or new to this country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No coach, only school counselors looking over the essay & helping with wording the activities list on Common App. Normal ECs, no big national awards or anything, at Brown. I did spend time doing research on College Confidential, Reddit and listening to podcasts, and I think that was useful

Would love any insight. That's my kid's top pick school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No coach, only school counselors looking over the essay & helping with wording the activities list on Common App. Normal ECs, no big national awards or anything, at Brown. I did spend time doing research on College Confidential, Reddit and listening to podcasts, and I think that was useful

Would love any insight. That's my kid's top pick school!

Lots and lots of old brown advice on here. Did you search?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No coach, only school counselors looking over the essay & helping with wording the activities list on Common App. Normal ECs, no big national awards or anything, at Brown. I did spend time doing research on College Confidential, Reddit and listening to podcasts, and I think that was useful

Would love any insight. That's my kid's top pick school!

Lots and lots of old brown advice on here. Did you search?

This person did it herself after research, so why not ask her directly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No coach, only school counselors looking over the essay & helping with wording the activities list on Common App. Normal ECs, no big national awards or anything, at Brown. I did spend time doing research on College Confidential, Reddit and listening to podcasts, and I think that was useful

Would love any insight. That's my kid's top pick school!

Lots and lots of old brown advice on here. Did you search?