People who spend huge amounts of $ on private college consultants are wasting their money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent $8K on a consultant for our DS and he got into every school he applied to. She didn't have him aiming too high- no real reaches. She got him to focus, write his essays and get everything done and submitted in a 30 day period. We didn't use her for DD- it seemed like too much $ for what would have likely been the same results. DD wrote her essays- we spent $100 to have them reviewed by a writer and then she submitted all her apps. She too got into all of the schools she applied to except for one. I don't think a consultant is needed- the online applications are pretty straight forward and there are a bunch of good youtube videos that demonstrate completing applications, essay writing, etc. I do think that having essays reviewed is worth spending money on because sometimes the writer (and parents) don't see grammatical mistakes, etc.

The colleges have no way of checking on this, but they would disapprove if they knew for sure an application was substantially influenced by a paid professional. It's a mini-scandal, but not on the order of the blatant bribery scandal in the news the last couple of days.

I don't agree at all. This was someone who was cracking the whip to get the work done in a timely and accurate fashion. No influence at all... the facts are the facts- grades, scores, extracurriculars were submitted. There isn't a magic formula that the consultant used. In retrospect it was a waste of money. DS' chances to get into a school weren't improved by using them. They lead you to believe that the process is way more complicated than it is. My DD who didn't use a consultant got into several of the same schools that DS did and she had lower gpa and scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent $8K on a consultant for our DS and he got into every school he applied to. She didn't have him aiming too high- no real reaches. She got him to focus, write his essays and get everything done and submitted in a 30 day period. We didn't use her for DD- it seemed like too much $ for what would have likely been the same results. DD wrote her essays- we spent $100 to have them reviewed by a writer and then she submitted all her apps. She too got into all of the schools she applied to except for one. I don't think a consultant is needed- the online applications are pretty straight forward and there are a bunch of good youtube videos that demonstrate completing applications, essay writing, etc. I do think that having essays reviewed is worth spending money on because sometimes the writer (and parents) don't see grammatical mistakes, etc.

The colleges have no way of checking on this, but they would disapprove if they knew for sure an application was substantially influenced by a paid professional. It's a mini-scandal, but not on the order of the blatant bribery scandal in the news the last couple of days.

That is ridiculous to call it a "mini-scandal." It is not a scandal at all and is 100% legal and above board. Many parents with the financial ability hire these professionals mainly because they don't have the confidence in the school counselors AND they know their DC will likely not take advice from them, the parents. This is why we hired our consultant. Advice coming from a professional is more likely to be taken vs. from parents...we managed to mostly stay out of a lot of our son's college application process. He ended up getting into his first choice school. Was it because of the consultant? Who knows. But it just made the household less stressful during the process.

By the way, the colleges would be fine with knowing that parents support their child in these ways...especially knowing that the parents are wealthy enough to do this and will most likely be full pay tuition. And there you have it.

It’d be interesting to see the essays before and after the consultant got to it. It’s cheating but yes, legal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a great experience with our college consultant - so OP I disagree that it was a waste of money.

We did, too. It was not a huge amount of money, and it was aimed at matching our kid rather than getting him in where he didn't belong.

I also thought it was a great way to protect my kid from my anxiety.

A child going to college should be able to handle the anxiety of applying to college.

And you cant read. He could handle his anxiety. I didnt think he should have to handle MY anxiety. And I stand by that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would challenge your assertion that a consultant is a waste of money based on the logic you provided primarily because the essays you read or the resumes that you review are probably enhanced by a parent, an uncle/aunt, or another relative. I suspect that those are the ones that you would catch. I didn't even know that this industry existed before this big story broke in the news yesterday. Wouldn't a college consultant be more surreptitious anyhow and know how the game is played?

For example, the guy that is being convicted (Singer?) gave advice to some parents who photoshopped their son's head on someone else's body (to show that their kid was a water polo stud) that they should find a different picture because the picture of the body was way too high out of the water and only a few athletes are able to get that kind of height in the water. My point is that these college consultants know what admissions folks or coaches are looking for and make the [insert essay, resume, athlete picture, etc] believable.

That's true but it's dishonest and unethical. Thankfully, some daylight is now being shed on these despicable practices.

I'm the PP you are responding to. The argument is not whether these consultants are dishonest or unethical, it's whether people spending huge amounts of $ on private college consultants is a waste of money. I am not so naive to think that the people who are running these scams are not good at their job...that's why they get paid the big big bucks.

Now I agree with you, those that cross the line, are unethical and dishonest. But I have to believe that there are some that are good, maybe not many. That said, I don't see the difference between college consultants and lawyers. Lawyers know the game (law), they know the players (judges), and know how to play the game to their client's advantage. Isn't that the same thing here with college consultants? And by the way, I think that parents or relatives that over help on their kid's essays, application, etc are in a way cheating as well. There is another thread asking about who helped with your college application back in the day when you were applying to college and no one is calling out parents who do more work than the child in filling out a college app.

As a parent of a couple elementary school kids, this subject is demoralizing because the entire game is stacked against the average joe.

If you realize the admissions boost that legacy and recruited athlete categories are given by elite universities when compared to unhooked, non-athlete, in other words, the majority of the applicants you will be even more demoralized to the point that you may contemplate throwing the towel and have your children apply only to state flagships. Giving boost to legacy, athletes, big donors, influential people is immoral and unethical though legal. It is like state sanctioned slavery, segregation, denying voting rights, redlining - they were all legal at sometime in the past but they were never moral or ethical.

SO DRAMATIC!!!! Of course the system built by the rich founders of the ivy league and other elite schools favors the elite. Your education was just too poor for you to realize it. If you want to change the system attacking legacy, athletes and URM is the least likely way to actually end favortism. It will just move to another path that is obvious to everyone on the inside and not to everyone on the outside. How dumb are you not to realize that different people faced different obstacles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would challenge your assertion that a consultant is a waste of money based on the logic you provided primarily because the essays you read or the resumes that you review are probably enhanced by a parent, an uncle/aunt, or another relative. I suspect that those are the ones that you would catch. I didn't even know that this industry existed before this big story broke in the news yesterday. Wouldn't a college consultant be more surreptitious anyhow and know how the game is played?

For example, the guy that is being convicted (Singer?) gave advice to some parents who photoshopped their son's head on someone else's body (to show that their kid was a water polo stud) that they should find a different picture because the picture of the body was way too high out of the water and only a few athletes are able to get that kind of height in the water. My point is that these college consultants know what admissions folks or coaches are looking for and make the [insert essay, resume, athlete picture, etc] believable.

That's true but it's dishonest and unethical. Thankfully, some daylight is now being shed on these despicable practices.

I'm the PP you are responding to. The argument is not whether these consultants are dishonest or unethical, it's whether people spending huge amounts of $ on private college consultants is a waste of money. I am not so naive to think that the people who are running these scams are not good at their job...that's why they get paid the big big bucks.

Now I agree with you, those that cross the line, are unethical and dishonest. But I have to believe that there are some that are good, maybe not many. That said, I don't see the difference between college consultants and lawyers. Lawyers know the game (law), they know the players (judges), and know how to play the game to their client's advantage. Isn't that the same thing here with college consultants? And by the way, I think that parents or relatives that over help on their kid's essays, application, etc are in a way cheating as well. There is another thread asking about who helped with your college application back in the day when you were applying to college and no one is calling out parents who do more work than the child in filling out a college app.

As a parent of a couple elementary school kids, this subject is demoralizing because the entire game is stacked against the average joe.

If you realize the admissions boost that legacy and recruited athlete categories are given by elite universities when compared to unhooked, non-athlete, in other words, the majority of the applicants you will be even more demoralized to the point that you may contemplate throwing the towel and have your children apply only to state flagships. Giving boost to legacy, athletes, big donors, influential people is immoral and unethical though legal. It is like state sanctioned slavery, segregation, denying voting rights, redlining - they were all legal at sometime in the past but they were never moral or ethical.

Amen. I would add having the ability to pay the full tuition and apply ED is almost as strong as being a recruited athlete.

Which is kinda on the parent to do.... Some people love their jobs and some people do jobs they don't like to make money so their kid can be full pay... for some people dual degree college people in DC a lot of this is a lifestyle choice

[Anonymous]

You don't need an expensive private consultant; a decent guidance counselor and well-timed SAT/ACT prep course helping you with speed and comprehension will do. I would pay someone to review the essays though. What you really need is for your kid is to work hard in school and to be motivated and wanting to be at a certain school and apply there.

I recently spoke with someone with one kid at UVA and one going to Vandy on a full ride. The kids prepped themselves for SATs (1500 range both) and they're first generation immigrants. Their NoVA public HS guidance counselor helped them and pushed them to apply to certain schools based on their SAT scores.

[Anonymous]

Elite colleges have always been like country clubs. They have always served the function of adding some social and intellectual capital to children of the wealthy. Over the last 50 years however, there is a benefit to having fewer inbred toffs and more first generation and multi-cultural students. They are smart enough to know that a majority white campus would give them the cachet of Ole Miss or Bama. We agree to be window dressing in exchange for the advantages of elite credentials. But, there is never much doubt on these campuses that they are intended to benefit the rich white kids, not us.

[Anonymous]

I'm laughing at this because we hired a consultant to help us figure out which pre-school to send our DC to. Best money ever spent.

As I told the consultant how happy we were with an older child's school, the consultant replied, "One child's Heaven is another child's Hell."

They got us to wipe our mind about preconceived notions. Our high school counselor is useless so, we are having conversations about what to do now. DC was 100% sure on the pathway they wanted to take but, is expressing reservations now.

This scandal makes me wonder if using a pro will hinder an already murky path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent $8K on a consultant for our DS and he got into every school he applied to. She didn't have him aiming too high- no real reaches. She got him to focus, write his essays and get everything done and submitted in a 30 day period. We didn't use her for DD- it seemed like too much $ for what would have likely been the same results. DD wrote her essays- we spent $100 to have them reviewed by a writer and then she submitted all her apps. She too got into all of the schools she applied to except for one. I don't think a consultant is needed- the online applications are pretty straight forward and there are a bunch of good youtube videos that demonstrate completing applications, essay writing, etc. I do think that having essays reviewed is worth spending money on because sometimes the writer (and parents) don't see grammatical mistakes, etc.

The colleges have no way of checking on this, but they would disapprove if they knew for sure an application was substantially influenced by a paid professional. It's a mini-scandal, but not on the order of the blatant bribery scandal in the news the last couple of days.

Why would a college care whether it was a parent. guidance counselor or paid consultant got him to focus and write his essays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’d be interesting to see the essays before and after the consultant got to it. It’s cheating but yes, legal.

Good consultants are definitely not rewriting essays, as that would change the voice. Are suggested edits cheating? Should seniors be submitting essays that no one else read?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent $8K on a consultant for our DS and he got into every school he applied to. She didn't have him aiming too high- no real reaches. She got him to focus, write his essays and get everything done and submitted in a 30 day period. We didn't use her for DD- it seemed like too much $ for what would have likely been the same results. DD wrote her essays- we spent $100 to have them reviewed by a writer and then she submitted all her apps. She too got into all of the schools she applied to except for one. I don't think a consultant is needed- the online applications are pretty straight forward and there are a bunch of good youtube videos that demonstrate completing applications, essay writing, etc. I do think that having essays reviewed is worth spending money on because sometimes the writer (and parents) don't see grammatical mistakes, etc.

The colleges have no way of checking on this, but they would disapprove if they knew for sure an application was substantially influenced by a paid professional. It's a mini-scandal, but not on the order of the blatant bribery scandal in the news the last couple of days.

That is ridiculous to call it a "mini-scandal." It is not a scandal at all and is 100% legal and above board. Many parents with the financial ability hire these professionals mainly because they don't have the confidence in the school counselors AND they know their DC will likely not take advice from them, the parents. This is why we hired our consultant. Advice coming from a professional is more likely to be taken vs. from parents...we managed to mostly stay out of a lot of our son's college application process. He ended up getting into his first choice school. Was it because of the consultant? Who knows. But it just made the household less stressful during the process.

By the way, the colleges would be fine with knowing that parents support their child in these ways...especially knowing that the parents are wealthy enough to do this and will most likely be full pay tuition. And there you have it.

It’d be interesting to see the essays before and after the consultant got to it. It’s cheating but yes, legal.

We had 0% input with our first child and based on the discrepancy between their stats, extracurriculars and volunteer work, we are convinced they wrote, "I am Satan."

[Anonymous]

correction: discrepancy between stats *and rejections,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’d be interesting to see the essays before and after the consultant got to it. It’s cheating but yes, legal.

Good consultants are definitely not rewriting essays, as that would change the voice. Are suggested edits cheating? Should seniors be submitting essays that no one else read?

They are doing everything just short of rewriting the essay. Otherwise it’s not worth paying for. They know this and you know this. But sure, your kid technically wrote it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a great experience with our college consultant - so OP I disagree that it was a waste of money.

We did, too. It was not a huge amount of money, and it was aimed at matching our kid rather than getting him in where he didn't belong.

I also thought it was a great way to protect my kid from my anxiety.

A child going to college should be able to handle the anxiety of applying to college.

And you cant read. He could handle his anxiety. I didnt think he should have to handle MY anxiety. And I stand by that.

Don’t sweat the keyboard judges here. They just need someone to attack. I thought it was honest and funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We spent $8K on a consultant for our DS and he got into every school he applied to. She didn't have him aiming too high- no real reaches. She got him to focus, write his essays and get everything done and submitted in a 30 day period. We didn't use her for DD- it seemed like too much $ for what would have likely been the same results. DD wrote her essays- we spent $100 to have them reviewed by a writer and then she submitted all her apps. She too got into all of the schools she applied to except for one. I don't think a consultant is needed- the online applications are pretty straight forward and there are a bunch of good youtube videos that demonstrate completing applications, essay writing, etc. I do think that having essays reviewed is worth spending money on because sometimes the writer (and parents) don't see grammatical mistakes, etc.

The colleges have no way of checking on this, but they would disapprove if they knew for sure an application was substantially influenced by a paid professional. It's a mini-scandal, but not on the order of the blatant bribery scandal in the news the last couple of days.

I don't agree at all. This was someone who was cracking the whip to get the work done in a timely and accurate fashion. No influence at all... the facts are the facts- grades, scores, extracurriculars were submitted. There isn't a magic formula that the consultant used. In retrospect it was a waste of money. DS' chances to get into a school weren't improved by using them. They lead you to believe that the process is way more complicated than it is. My DD who didn't use a consultant got into several of the same schools that DS did and she had lower gpa and scores.

You paid someone to crack the whip, and that's it? I don't believe that's what most of these consultants are paid for. If that's all you got then I understand why you feel it was a waste of money.