Did Private College Counseling workout for your DC in the early rounds (2022-2023 applicants)?

[Anonymous]

I get that this post is probably geared towards families gunning for Ivies and with lots of cash to burn but I just wanted to tell everyone else that you really don’t need this. I did college research myself to understand what the best matches would be for my DC - there are so many resources out there for free that any educated person can help their kid assemble a list. We did pay DC’s regular tutor to help with test prep and to be the task master on essays. Worth every penny to have someone else help brainstorm, set deadlines for drafts, and then give a basic review before submitting. I think there were maybe 3 different essays. Probably spent less than 1k on all of this, and if we hadn’t done the test prep would’ve been even less, only $200-300 dollars for the essay sessions.

[Anonymous]

How was College Bound detrimental? A few posters mentioned that. I understand waste of money but how were they detrimental?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that this post is probably geared towards families gunning for Ivies and with lots of cash to burn but I just wanted to tell everyone else that you really don’t need this. I did college research myself to understand what the best matches would be for my DC - there are so many resources out there for free that any educated person can help their kid assemble a list. We did pay DC’s regular tutor to help with test prep and to be the task master on essays. Worth every penny to have someone else help brainstorm, set deadlines for drafts, and then give a basic review before submitting. I think there were maybe 3 different essays. Probably spent less than 1k on all of this, and if we hadn’t done the test prep would’ve been even less, only $200-300 dollars for the essay sessions.

Many hire college consultants because they want to communicate in a confidential manner with a person experienced in this area who has specific knowledge about the applicant.

It is important to establish what you want & expect from any professional relationship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How was College Bound detrimental? A few posters mentioned that. I understand waste of money but how were they detrimental?

Not PP.

A consultant can be detrimental with poor advice on college choices, HS course selection, standardized test strategy, essay topic selection, poor essay editing advice, financial aid, inaccurate information regarding deadlines or requirements. I’ve heard of consultants giving students a different years
essays for colleges so the child had to redo their essays at the last minute. They can set unrealistic expectations and make more work or affect mental health when the child has few options because they aimed too high, or the child can end up without the opportunities they might have had if the consultant aims too low.

They also should make the process less stressful for the student and family. If the consultant increases stress that’s detrimental too.

It may look like an easy job but consultants can have a major impact on a child’s life - good or bad.

[Anonymous]

i spent $14k and have mixed feelings. All the prep and admin work are absolutely doable by a parent. Checking common app, spell checking etc. They wanted to do all of that and I found it a waste of my money. What I did think was helpful was the work they did brainstorming essay ideas, guiding and prompting child to get those done. ED1 to a top 25, so a good result. But I have no idea if that essay was worth 14k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i spent $14k and have mixed feelings. All the prep and admin work are absolutely doable by a parent. Checking common app, spell checking etc. They wanted to do all of that and I found it a waste of my money. What I did think was helpful was the work they did brainstorming essay ideas, guiding and prompting child to get those done. ED1 to a top 25, so a good result. But I have no idea if that essay was worth 14k.

I think you know the answer to that rhetorical question!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i spent $14k and have mixed feelings. All the prep and admin work are absolutely doable by a parent. Checking common app, spell checking etc. They wanted to do all of that and I found it a waste of my money. What I did think was helpful was the work they did brainstorming essay ideas, guiding and prompting child to get those done. ED1 to a top 25, so a good result. But I have no idea if that essay was worth 14k.

I think you know the answer to that rhetorical question!

DC is happy. But yes, my DH knows the answer.

[Anonymous]

21:17 poster here. The way my family members put it, they'll never know for sure if their respective kids would have won the ED lottery without the private counselor's help, but she definitely supplied them with some extra tickets they wouldn't otherwise have had. $250/hour (niece went this route), $9000 unlimited (nephew went this route, and it's really good that he did because he completed 28 applications before hearing from his ED school and having to withdraw/not submit the other 27) for the 2022-23 school year.

[Anonymous]

Alot of these prices sound crazy. I thought we paid too much. Paid $4500 package; did not use enough to justify it. Should have done $250/hour. Was helpful on essays (brainstorming topic; editing suggestions) and answering some questions we needed another opinion on. Not helpful on college list; did not know my kid well enough + did not seem to have much insider info about any of them. I found out more on line/asking around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recommend against College Bound in Potomac Village. Hugely unqualified. We actually stopped using them even though we already paid bc they were truly useless and actually detrimental. Lacked in organization and insight.

+10. We used them also and I agree. Paid $1500 for a list and little guidance. Didn’t even contact us to “refine the list”. Detrimental. Not available. Uses an essay writer for $250 an hour. That might have been the only thing that was a bit helpful, but really not for that amount. Terrible and I don’t recommend them

Similar very poor experience with College Bound. Essay writer was vastly overpriced for her work and the essays approved would put anyone to sleep.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Phenomenal results with Dr. Sybil Gohari.

Sybil E Gohari, PhD is the ONLY way to go. Get the Mentor package. Its expensive, yes, but worth it.

https://admissions.company/undergraduate/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Phenomenal results with Dr. Sybil Gohari.

Sybil E Gohari, PhD is the ONLY way to go. Get the Mentor package. Its expensive, yes, but worth it.

https://admissions.company/undergraduate/

School or it didn’t happen…

[Anonymous]

We did it by the hour. DC loved the process and by hiring someone to help, it got me, the dad out if the role as “nag”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did it by the hour. DC loved the process and by hiring someone to help, it got me, the dad out if the role as “nag”

Did you Sybil?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i spent $14k and have mixed feelings. All the prep and admin work are absolutely doable by a parent. Checking common app, spell checking etc. They wanted to do all of that and I found it a waste of my money. What I did think was helpful was the work they did brainstorming essay ideas, guiding and prompting child to get those done. ED1 to a top 25, so a good result. But I have no idea if that essay was worth 14k.

LOL I can tell you no.

But what was worth that 14k was the "brainstorming essay ideas, guiding and prompting child to get those done"

If you can afford that easily, then it was worth it.