What Did Your Educational Consultant Do for You?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:little harsh here on OP. Both DH and I were working very hard when DC1 was applying for schools. We considered using an ed consultant, then realized DC had no extenuating circumstances (e.g., wildly divergent test scores, crippling social anxiety, etc), so we just handled on our own. I think ed consultants probably help families where parents may not be realistic about their DCs' potential at that time or greatly underestimate how steep admissions odds are at some schools.

If OP believed that an ed consultant could pull a string, then that is probably misguided.

Help them how? By talking some sense into them? Therapists are cheaper.

DCUM is free! And I have to say, this is one way that DCUM can really help. Just start a thread about "my snowflake in the 95th percentile" or "does Sidwell offer pre-calc in kindergarten?" or maybe something having to do with affirmative action and your white/asian snowflake. Then wait for the "reality" to pour in. Of course, not everybody is on DCUM and they may need to buy a dose of reality from a professional.

[Anonymous]

Nothing. Total waste of money and biggest scam going. We got into top tier school, but certain it had nothing to do with our consultant. Please don't waste your time or money. I hope this ridiculous practice goes away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:little harsh here on OP. Both DH and I were working very hard when DC1 was applying for schools. We considered using an ed consultant, then realized DC had no extenuating circumstances (e.g., wildly divergent test scores, crippling social anxiety, etc), so we just handled on our own. I think ed consultants probably help families where parents may not be realistic about their DCs' potential at that time or greatly underestimate how steep admissions odds are at some schools.

If OP believed that an ed consultant could pull a string, then that is probably misguided.

Help them how? By talking some sense into them? Therapists are cheaper.

I am the PP who wrote the comment you bolded. Look, we have two super bright, hardworking DCS, who are doing quite well at a Big 3. We have close friends with a first DC who is also super bright, yet has some very severe challenges. It finally took an ed consultant for them to wrap their minds around that a Big 3 was probably not in the cards for this round. In politics, folks say people need to hear it at least hree times before it sinks in. Some parents need to hear it from an ed consultant when they have refused to listen when their kids' preschool teachers or school head explains the prospects for their kid. Some parents believe the failing is the school, not that their child may thrive in a different setting. If you have been at the top of the school and career heap, may be hard to get that your child is on a different path, if just for awhile.

Wow. PP. you are annoying as hell. and smug too. Hope you aren't at my kid's school. Aren't you quite the expert. Yes, dammit, why can't your friends figure out on their own that their idiot kids aren't as bright and wonderful as your "big 3" snowflakes.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, why are you all so mean on this board?

[Anonymous]

Our child was in a well regarded public school for 3 years before we met with an Ed consultant.

For those 3 years, we worked with the school and followed
All the advice/direction that they provided but our child
continued to fall behind--further and further behind over those 3 wasted years.

We reluctant met with an ed consultant and it was very expensive. Ugh.

He met with, assessed and tested our child, finding our child's true learning issues-- something our public failed to diagnose in 3 years! We can't get those years back.

Fortunately, our consultant helped find a school that could properly address our child's disabilities/abilities. Our child has made enormous progress in the 1.5 years in the new program. Unfortunately, he wasted 3 years in his public school where he was in grade 3 reading at a K level.
Our ed consultant was able to give an accurate assessment if our child. We found out that he has a solid average IQ but that his learning difference made a general classroom an impossible learning environment for him.

Anyway, valuable time was wasted but because of our consultant, our child is now in an environment where he is quickly catching up and doing well.

Consider yourselves blessed if your child can make
Decent progress in school and not have day difficulties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. Total waste of money and biggest scam going. We got into top tier school, but certain it had nothing to do with our consultant. Please don't waste your time or money. I hope this ridiculous practice goes away.

So don't use a consultant to improve your chances - they don't guarantee that anyway. But we found the one-time visit to talk about school possibilities to be very helpful.

[Anonymous]

BS...total BS is what you should expect. $500 I'll never get back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BS...total BS is what you should expect. $500 I'll never get back.

My take on this is that either 1) you did not need a consultant to begin with and went for the wrong reasons and with the wrong expectations or 2) you did not work with a consultant that knows their job.

[Anonymous]

I find it hard to believe that adults around here in the uber competitive area aren't smart enough themselves to be their kids own educational consultant. Seriously some people just like to outsource everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to believe that adults around here in the uber competitive area aren't smart enough themselves to be their kids own educational consultant. Seriously some people just like to outsource everything.

As has been noted above, there are actually cases where it is hard to figure out where your child may "fit" if he or she is having difficulties in a school environment. Yes - there are probablty parents using consultants that don't need to. But there are also parents with children who present a big challenge when it comes to school. If you can't imagine how a parent might need some professional advice on finding a good educational environment for their child, then consider yourself lucky.