What would your senior like/want from a private college counselor as a gift?

[Anonymous]

I am a private college counselor and want to start giving gifts to all of my seniors after they decide on a school (either through an ED acceptance or a traditional decision period that involves other schools). I have wanted to do this for years but can't think of any good ideas.

First of all: what to send? It would be neat to send something that has to do with their college, or college in general- but these kids already have tons of sweatshirts and other apparel and I don't want to get them doubles.

Secondly: when to send it? Do I send something after they make their decision (i.e. now for ED kids and May 1 for the others) or would it be nice to get somethign as a surprise after they have been in school for a few weeks? I am sure I could get their school addresses from their parents.

I was thinking about maybe sending a dozen Georgetown Cupcakes to them at school as a little "taste of home," but by experience with their delivery has been so abysmal that I am wondering if that is not the best idea. Plus, I think maybe it would be better to send something while they are celebrating their decision....

Any ideas would be appreciated! I'm thinking in the $50-100 range per student but pretty flexible.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to figure out why I find your post so annoying.

[Anonymous]

Send them the balance of your bill. Thank goodness our school has fantastic counselors at no extra charge.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a nice idea but here's my limited experience. After group classes we're working we paid what I consider a (fair but) exorbitant fee ($250/hr) for SAT prep and some college essay/admissions help for DD. The hours really added up. On the eve of the SATs, her tutor sent DD a heart-felt email with words of encouragement and short reminders of strategies they had worked on. He encouraged her to send him a quick email just after the test was over to see how she felt about it. Anyway, I thought that was nice and just the right touch. If the essay/app tutor sent her a gift after acceptance, I'd find it a little off. And I don't know why. Maybe just unnecessary. But if you do send something, how about custom "good job" "congrats" "go Tigers" "look out Princeton" half dozen cookies? Come to think of it, I think the cookies could be cute! I'd send them right after the senior commits to the college.

[Anonymous]

I would not send gifts. I would be weirded out if any of my child's tutors/counselors sent gifts.

If you send anything, send the gift to the home, not to school. Really, that idea is bizarre.

[Anonymous]

This is weird OP. They're your clients, not children or friends.

[Anonymous]

Real estate agents give gifts to their clients after they close on a house. You may not like the gift to client idea but it's not as if it's never done.

[Anonymous]

I understand it's not as if it's never done, I'm a consultant myself, but the idea of sending cupcakes to a student's school if the student is accepted is really poor form. I don't think schools would appreciate it on several levels. A card is nice. If a gift happens, a card with a gift certificate to a place like Staples or the Container Store (school / dorm supplies!) would be nice.

[Anonymous]

I am the OP. I completely understand that you all do not understand why I would think to get them a gift/think it's weird/whatever. The bottom line is a) these people have spent a lot of money for my services, and b) after meeting with a student once a week for 4-6 months you do get to know them well and are emotionally invested in the outcome. I assure you that I am just as excited as they are when they are admitted and I am sitting there biting my nails along with them as we are waiting for the release of decisions. Why not celebrate with a little gift and heartfelt card? These are good kids who I admire and genuinely wish well. I just wanted to get them something that they would like and was hoping for ideas.

[Anonymous]

Oh and 12:54, I think you may have misunderstood me. I would NEVER send cupcakes to the school as a thank you for admitting a student! I am cringing at the idea. I just meant sending cupcakes to the students themselves once attending and living on campus. The school does not monitor mail or know who is sending what, so I can't see why the school would know and/or have an issue with this. It's just an expensive care package.

[Anonymous]

So you're talking a gift card at the time of acceptance and a care package 10 months later (if it's the first round of early decision notices). If that makes sense, great. I would think if you'd worked with these students closely, you'd know them well enough to know what they might like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand it's not as if it's never done, I'm a consultant myself, but the idea of sending cupcakes to a student's school if the student is accepted is really poor form. I don't think schools would appreciate it on several levels. A card is nice. If a gift happens, a card with a gift certificate to a place like Staples or the Container Store (school / dorm supplies!) would be nice.

I've sent Gtown Cupcakes to my DD in college. More than once in fact. The school didn't seem to object.

[Anonymous]

How about a notebook/stationery/pen from the school? Just a small token. I wouldn't spend more than $25.

[Anonymous]

What will you do if the student is disappointed with the results? Celebrating would be odd but, if you have clients who know each other, not celebrating would be just as odd.

[Anonymous]

condoms.