private HS CCO and influence in admissions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Almost all of the CCs at top privates were in admissions depts at selective colleges before moving to the other side. It's a relatively small world and of course there are all sorts of informal conversations happening between AOs and CCs at these schools.

It's also quite clear that at top privates the counseling office is trying to manage all sorts of expectations from parents while maximizing the best total outcome for a particular class.

Anecdotally, a friend whose daughter was on the WL at an Ivy but who was admitted to Chicago told me that the Ivy contacted the CC directly to ask if the student would definitely commit if admitted off the waitlist -- if a yes, they would be admitted, if not, they remain waitlisted. Kid went to Chicago.

Obviously this cannot happen with CCs at every suburban high school in the country. Only at a select group of privates where these relationships are already in place.

What’s stopping a public high school from calling? This isn’t rocket science lol

Already handling 100+ seniors. Why look for more work for mediocre pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are going through the motions to appease you. AO’s don’t take calls anymore.

Patently untrue. Our CCs call AOs about wait lists and deferrals and I know this for a fact. We’re at a NW private

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are going through the motions to appease you. AO’s don’t take calls anymore.

Patently untrue. Our CCs call AOs about wait lists and deferrals and I know this for a fact. We’re at a NW private

+2 Our CCO also makes advocacy calls about waitlists. They will call and ask about possible waitlist movement and will then discuss the kids that will 100% take a spot if offered. Who knows if it helps, but the calls are definitely made. DC private.

[Anonymous]

YCBK talks about “reconciliation” calls and preview calls on this weeks episode. Seems limited.

“But sometimes volume just, either a college doesn't get to the school reading at the end, the reconciliation process. Most selective colleges have ended the practice of having a preview phone call.

Sure.

That's a privilege enjoyed by only certain schools that have very long and historic impactful relationships with certain institutions. But even then, that's almost become taboo.”

From Your College Bound Kid | Admission Tips, Admission Trends & Admission Interviews: How Can My Student Stand Out in a Competitive Admission Pool, Apr 1, 2026

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They may be trying to manage acceptances for the high school as a whole and potentially plug for some students but not others.

The high school counselor is on Team High School, not on Team Student.

2nd paragraph is definitely true - always.

CC might know from experience that college X will only offer to 2 students each year. (Yes, that is a thing that happens at some high schools.).

S/he might be trying to make sure that most or all students get in to accepted by at least one of their top-3. By knowing top-3 for each student, s/he also can try to lobby with friendly colleges to maximize the (1 accept from top-3) outcome across the student body.

At my HS, back then and even today, the Lacrosse coach was politically untouchable, because he frequently (not always) could get a 3rd student accepted at several Ivys on a Lacrosse "bye" (no $, but some Ivys would accept an extra person - beyond their usual quota for that HS - if they needed a Lax player that year.)