Did you try a college counselor or advisor, and was it worth the money?

[Anonymous]

Friends and acquaintances kept telling DH that we should work with a professional college counselor or advisor, but I put my foot down. Our DC was admitted early to one of the top H/S/Y.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friends and acquaintances kept telling DH that we should work with a professional college counselor or advisor, but I put my foot down. Our DC was admitted early to one of the top H/S/Y.

Did they offer a name of a reputable person or company?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. This is OP. You confirmed what I thought - not worth the money. No, DC didn't clean latrines in Guatemala. We're pretty normal. And no, not hung up on Ivy, just was trying to present a picture of what DC is without giving too much info. In-state is probably where we will end up. I also want the best fit for DC, which may not be an Ivy. But when facing some SLACs at $65K a year x 4 or 5 years (as in the case of another DC), which is a huge investment, I just wanted to make sure I had done a proper job of preparing for the application process. If someone had a magic person who was reasonably priced I might consider it - going through the process with another DC was hell. But I'm not getting back any real positive recommendations or suggestions so thanks all for the input.

Well, start with the idea of fit first. What type of environment suits your DC? Small, medium, large? Rural, suburban, urban? A more STEM or professional focus or liberal arts? Close to home or is distance not a factor? Visit some local colleges to help DC get a flavor.

Use the Fiske Guide to Colleges or one of the on-line college search engines to start a list based on these (and other) fit factors. College Navigator is a great one. Use the admissions information to help sort your list into reaches, matches, safeties. Pay attention to the mid-range of SAT/ACT scores--this will give an idea of where your DC falls compared with enrolled students.

Now think about money. What can you afford? Is money no object? Or is it a factor? Note which colleges on your list meet financial need only versus offering merit aid. If you need financial aid, make sure you are seeking it from schools that are generous with it. Likewise, if your family could benefit from merit aid, don't bother with schools that offer only financial aid. Run the net price calculators on college's websites. If money is a factor, make sure safeties are not just likely to admit your DC but likely affordable for your family as well.

I really like the book and blog The College Solution.

What was hellish about your experience with DC1?

Thanks for the response. DC1 was SN in Fairfax public schools. Choices were self-limiting and the college counselor was overwhelmed with 550 seniors, 550 juniors, etc. We did all the work ourselves and ultimately made the right choice and found the right fit but it wasn't an easy go of it.

Ah. Yes, that sounds difficult. I do think outside advice can be really helpful when looking for colleges for kids with SNs. I bet you will find this go-round easier.

Thanks, yes, we're dealingi with an entirely different kettle of fish this time so basically are starting from scratch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a college counselor. Here are the main reasons why people hire me:

-Picking a college list - you don't need a professional for this. Buy the "Book of Majors" book if your child has a specific intended major, to get ideas, do some visits. and cross compare with Naviance. The main important thing to remember is that you need a true range of reaches, middles, and safeties. I find that parents are oftentimes not honest with themselves about which schools are reaches, but as long as you are realistic, you will be fine.

-Strategizing - when to pull the ED card, etc.

-Managing the process- some parents really just don't want anything to do with it.. And that is ok! I get it.. If I could pay someone to do frustrating parenting tasks, I probably would too. It can be easier for the parent/child relationship to let someone else be the bad guy, do the nagging, etc.

-Essays - essay work comprises the bulk of my time. When I start working with most families, they often tell me that their child will hardly need any essay help, is a great writer, etc. Let me tell you, I see more awful essays than anyone could believe! These are kids with good grades, good scores, good high schools, etc, and are on the route to good colleges- but so many of them would have just been in real trouble without me. I am really not sure why so much of their writing is so poor, but it is what it is. So, I would say this is the one particular area where it might be worth spending some money. You don't have to pay my rates, but pay someone something to really read through your child's essays carefully- both for grammar AND content. Your child's school counselors will not have the time or resources to read and nitpick over revisions to every single essay, and a lot of them really need this kind of editing.

Good luck to all of you!

Thanks PP. I am OP (exhausted from first round of this). If you don't mind saying, can you state your fees, or give an industry example? I was recently reading a 2 year old article in the Washingtonian about Ms. Marks. Then it said her fees were $700 an hour and $10,000 if you buy her package. Andy Ferguson cites in his book, Crazy U of $40K in New Jersey/NYC as being common. Not that rich!

I don't want to out myself (I read dcum as a parent, not a professional!) but I have a few different types of packages. Some families want me to do everything, from soup to nuts, and so that is more expensive than someone who really wants to do most of the work themselves but wants a professional to sort of oversee it all and make edits. My prices range from a few thousand to the low teens.

I know a few counselors who are terrible that charge very low prices. You don't need the most expensive person, but be wary of someone charging under-market rates.

[Anonymous]

Counselor PP here: I should note that the average student who wants me to help with most aspects of the process would choose a package in the 5-8k range.

[Anonymous]

Thanks 18:55, 18:57. Tough question: what added value do you think you bring to the process? (need to convinice DH that I can't go at this alone again)

[Anonymous]

-Essays - essay work comprises the bulk of my time. When I start working with most families, they often tell me that their child will hardly need any essay help, is a great writer, etc. Let me tell you, I see more awful essays than anyone could believe! These are kids with good grades, good scores, good high schools, etc, and are on the route to good colleges- but so many of them would have just been in real trouble without me. I am really not sure why so much of their writing is so poor, but it is what it is. So, I would say this is the one particular area where it might be worth spending some money. You don't have to pay my rates, but pay someone something to really read through your child's essays carefully- both for grammar AND content. Your child's school counselors will not have the time or resources to read and nitpick over revisions to every single essay, and a lot of them really need this kind of editing.

Here is my concern about this, and I mean this totally respectfully: is the writing actually awful, or is that just the way some teenagers write? Shouldn't the admissions people see how the applicant actually writes? I get proof reading and minor edits, but at what point does professional help turn an essay into something completely different from what the teen is capable of producing on his/her own?

I have a friend right now whose child is getting help with college essays from a pro. I have read the main common ap essay the child is turning in and it is very, very different from any other writing this child does for school. I wonder what effect this has on the process? Is it appropriate for an essay to reflect a very different writing skill level than the applicant has actually attained?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

-Essays - essay work comprises the bulk of my time. When I start working with most families, they often tell me that their child will hardly need any essay help, is a great writer, etc. Let me tell you, I see more awful essays than anyone could believe! These are kids with good grades, good scores, good high schools, etc, and are on the route to good colleges- but so many of them would have just been in real trouble without me. I am really not sure why so much of their writing is so poor, but it is what it is. So, I would say this is the one particular area where it might be worth spending some money. You don't have to pay my rates, but pay someone something to really read through your child's essays carefully- both for grammar AND content. Your child's school counselors will not have the time or resources to read and nitpick over revisions to every single essay, and a lot of them really need this kind of editing.

Here is my concern about this, and I mean this totally respectfully: is the writing actually awful, or is that just the way some teenagers write? Shouldn't the admissions people see how the applicant actually writes? I get proof reading and minor edits, but at what point does professional help turn an essay into something completely different from what the teen is capable of producing on his/her own?

I have a friend right now whose child is getting help with college essays from a pro. I have read the main common ap essay the child is turning in and it is very, very different from any other writing this child does for school. I wonder what effect this has on the process? Is it appropriate for an essay to reflect a very different writing skill level than the applicant has actually attained?

This poster is being very polite. Let me ask the question more plainly. At what point does this cross the line into unethical? Do you really feel this is right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

-Essays - essay work comprises the bulk of my time. When I start working with most families, they often tell me that their child will hardly need any essay help, is a great writer, etc. Let me tell you, I see more awful essays than anyone could believe! These are kids with good grades, good scores, good high schools, etc, and are on the route to good colleges- but so many of them would have just been in real trouble without me. I am really not sure why so much of their writing is so poor, but it is what it is. So, I would say this is the one particular area where it might be worth spending some money. You don't have to pay my rates, but pay someone something to really read through your child's essays carefully- both for grammar AND content. Your child's school counselors will not have the time or resources to read and nitpick over revisions to every single essay, and a lot of them really need this kind of editing.

Here is my concern about this, and I mean this totally respectfully: is the writing actually awful, or is that just the way some teenagers write? Shouldn't the admissions people see how the applicant actually writes? I get proof reading and minor edits, but at what point does professional help turn an essay into something completely different from what the teen is capable of producing on his/her own?

I have a friend right now whose child is getting help with college essays from a pro. I have read the main common ap essay the child is turning in and it is very, very different from any other writing this child does for school. I wonder what effect this has on the process? Is it appropriate for an essay to reflect a very different writing skill level than the applicant has actually attained?

This poster is being very polite. Let me ask the question more plainly. At what point does this cross the line into unethical? Do you really feel this is right?

Ethics are part of it, but also just the idea that the student might end up getting accepted to a school that is too challenging. I get the feeling that the more difficult the school, the more important the essay in the application process. If the student gets accepted at least in part because of an essay he had a lot of help with, he may end up overwhelmed and unable to handle the writing requirements of his college classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

-Essays - essay work comprises the bulk of my time. When I start working with most families, they often tell me that their child will hardly need any essay help, is a great writer, etc. Let me tell you, I see more awful essays than anyone could believe! These are kids with good grades, good scores, good high schools, etc, and are on the route to good colleges- but so many of them would have just been in real trouble without me. I am really not sure why so much of their writing is so poor, but it is what it is. So, I would say this is the one particular area where it might be worth spending some money. You don't have to pay my rates, but pay someone something to really read through your child's essays carefully- both for grammar AND content. Your child's school counselors will not have the time or resources to read and nitpick over revisions to every single essay, and a lot of them really need this kind of editing.

Here is my concern about this, and I mean this totally respectfully: is the writing actually awful, or is that just the way some teenagers write? Shouldn't the admissions people see how the applicant actually writes? I get proof reading and minor edits, but at what point does professional help turn an essay into something completely different from what the teen is capable of producing on his/her own?

I have a friend right now whose child is getting help with college essays from a pro. I have read the main common ap essay the child is turning in and it is very, very different from any other writing this child does for school. I wonder what effect this has on the process? Is it appropriate for an essay to reflect a very different writing skill level than the applicant has actually attained?

This is a great point. There was just an interview with the Dean of Admissions at Duke making this very point. They want to hear the voice of the student in the essay, and often too many edits from the grownups obliterate that voice and what comes across isn't authentic. Some editing is fine, of course. No one wants an essay with typos or grammatical errors, but admissons folk at colleges can tell when a fancy consultant has essentially written the essay for the applicant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Private school advising was discussed extensively in another thread. Get a one time consult with K&E and see if it is helpful. Less expensive than Nina marks. I agree you can do it yourself but do you want to? It's a lot of research.

Can you provide a link? I did do a search here before posting but perhaps used the wrong phrases. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

-Essays - essay work comprises the bulk of my time. When I start working with most families, they often tell me that their child will hardly need any essay help, is a great writer, etc. Let me tell you, I see more awful essays than anyone could believe! These are kids with good grades, good scores, good high schools, etc, and are on the route to good colleges- but so many of them would have just been in real trouble without me. I am really not sure why so much of their writing is so poor, but it is what it is. So, I would say this is the one particular area where it might be worth spending some money. You don't have to pay my rates, but pay someone something to really read through your child's essays carefully- both for grammar AND content. Your child's school counselors will not have the time or resources to read and nitpick over revisions to every single essay, and a lot of them really need this kind of editing.

Here is my concern about this, and I mean this totally respectfully: is the writing actually awful, or is that just the way some teenagers write? Shouldn't the admissions people see how the applicant actually writes? I get proof reading and minor edits, but at what point does professional help turn an essay into something completely different from what the teen is capable of producing on his/her own?

I have a friend right now whose child is getting help with college essays from a pro. I have read the main common ap essay the child is turning in and it is very, very different from any other writing this child does for school. I wonder what effect this has on the process? Is it appropriate for an essay to reflect a very different writing skill level than the applicant has actually attained?

This is a great point. There was just an interview with the Dean of Admissions at Duke making this very point. They want to hear the voice of the student in the essay, and often too many edits from the grownups obliterate that voice and what comes across isn't authentic. Some editing is fine, of course. No one wants an essay with typos or grammatical errors, but admissons folk at colleges can tell when a fancy consultant has essentially written the essay for the applicant.

Could either someone who is a college counselor or someone who has worked with one comment on what is involved with helping kids with essays? Are counselors concerned about crossing the line of helping too much with the essays and what do they do to avoid crossing the line? How do you make sure it remains the work of the student? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I know that some Potomac parents were paying up to 25K to professional writers to write the essays.

I think these kids will bomb in college anyways.

[Anonymous]

OP,
Where did the advisor work before? New doesn't mean inexperienced. When do you start meeting with her? How many students will she be counseling? Things to consider. It can be worth it. It depends on the student (some are proactive and organized), etc. Our college counselor at a local independent was stellar. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, Ivy League can be amazing if your career will benefit from that brand name. If not then you are better off saving yourself that pressure and cost.

If a graduate degree matters a lot in the chosen profession, I would go the route of an in-state school and then spend money to go to the top graduate school....

Whose career wouldn't benefit from and ivy pedigree?

Mine hasn't. Two Ivy degrees and currently looking for work.