I'd start by reading "Who Gets in and Why" by Jeff Selingo. It's a fascinating, and often sobering, look into modern college acceptance. It's not a "how to crack the code" but rather a candid insight into how decisions are made. He's a former journalist so makes for a very quick read. Start there and then you'll have a stronger base to make some other decisions. |
You can research yourself and figure out the “trade off.” Save yourself some money! |
Yes. A few years ago someone suggested these books to me. All were great reads - but you can skim a bunch of them. Who Gets In and Why Soundbite Valedictorians at the Gate The Gatekeepers Inside Stanford Admissions The Exceptional Applicant The Years That Matter Most |
To the OP- if you are primarily concerned with finding good fit colleges, hop over to College Confidential (which tbf isn't as great as it used to be) and post in the chance/match me me forum. There are some very knowledgeable people on there who give great insights, and a few of them are private college counselors and test prep counselors. Or post your student's stats and interests on this thread and see what you can crowd source. It sounds like your student has the grades and testing part down, and if you can cultivate a good list of colleges, I honestly don't think you'll need a CC, the only thing I could see being worth spending $ on would be essay editing. |
Agree. I am a college consultant who works ala carte and is reasonably priced. Would happily send an email and offer references, but feel odd about anonymous self promotion. |
A college consultant can often help with creating an academic narrative or admissions hook, junior/senior class choice (especially if a lot of electives are available at your HS) and choosing majors.
More strategic than it seems. |
We didn't spend a lot on a counselor, just a few hours with us and our kid. But what we learned about the expectations of Ivy League colleges, was really helpful in terms of not wasting any time trying to apply to them. The CC wanted our son to jump through hoops in order to make himself seem like a viable candidate and we knew this was for him, totally unrealistic and unachievable without enormous pressure and the help of tutors in several subjects that don't come naturally to him.
So in a sense, the perhaps ill advice of the CC helped us find clarity in the process and know better where we should be aiming for. |
I’m not a college consultant. Just helping a kid mostly with essays. Has received interviews from 4 of HYPSM. Crazy how an outside adult looking at essays can help so much.
When I read her first essays, I was like you sure you want to apply to MIT? Because this essays says you don’t want to go there! She had not realized. Just so many more stories like that. I helped her put her best foot forward and wondering if I should do it for $ now. Tbf she had a few not-so-spectacular awards, but her app would have been put into the reject pile based on her essays. It might be worth it to ask someone outside your circle to read essays. The rest you can do yourself! |
Which national firm did you use for your application review? |
Looking for more resources for people new to the process. Where else should I look? |
Bumping this. Which national firm for application review? |
i would say, save your money and pay some agreed amount like $2K or something to an ivy league current student to review the essays for your target schools. These students has been vetted out and got into some of the top schools most of them, were accepted to ivy, ivy plus and public ivy's. Redditt and CC has a bunch of threads about these resources. More genuine unlike former AO's trying to tell how stupid we are. |
Sorry, terrible idea. Have the app reviewed by someone who has seen thousands and knows how to help yours. It can be as simple as the syntax of the activity list. Not saying that will make a difference or not, but if you are looking to improve... |
Np: We used Ingenius Prep (bought an application review package for 3 schools right after ED decision came out - but I'd been in touch around Thanksgiving to get info on the package for the 3 schools; learned about IP here (along with CEG but went with IP)). They got information from me in mid-December on what draft applications I might send for review on my DC's behalf, so they could match us with a former AO from one of those 3 schools for the review. The Application Review: It was helpful and detailed. Also included line by line essay review (DC didn't incorporate all changes but did incorporate some). Detailed suggestions for the following sections in common app: (1) awards/honors; (2) career plans; (3) tightening up ECs and reordering; (4) additional info section and (5) endings for certain supplemental essays - in addition to edits for each set of essays in Google Docs. Helpful to get another set of professional eyes. Other Advice: Also advised on soliciting a 3rd LOR from private school headmaster for deferred ED school, and suggestions for which specific RD schools that might take that letter and view it favorably or neutrally. |
Parents at your DC’s school whose kids got the outcomes you want. IECs can be a bit of a hush-hush topic depending on your school’s CCO, but satisfied parents are the best referral. I hired ours based on this criteria, and DC got into first choice HYPSM early this cycle. |