Getting into college counseling
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Anonymous
Which is why you need to do research about hiring someone. Being a reader doesn't impart the knowledge that a good counselor would have. |
Anonymous
St. Joe’s is private, they can do whatever they want. Why don’t you go ahead and stop talking. |
Anonymous
I think this is good advice! |
Anonymous
It literally says: In lieu of previous reading experience, prior experience as a school based counselor or independent consultant/counselor can be substituted. Sheesh, have none of you ever heard that thing about how women don't apply for jobs or promotions unless they are 100% qualified, while men will apply for practically anything? I don't think OP is crazy for wanting to do this! |
Anonymous
How much does the ucla program cost? |
Anonymous
That's because you don't know people like OP - who literally micromanage every detail of their kids' college applications and talk incessantly about it to others. I have one kid in college and one applying next year, and I will occasionally run across a parent like OP. Last time, it was over drinks with a mom I've known casually for years, but it was the first time I'd seen her since her kid got into college. She not only told me about his application process in excruciating detail, she read me parts of his personal statement from her phone. She was clearly extremely proud of herself for writing it (or, to give her the benefit of the doubt, rewriting it). Since then, she has offered multiple times to help with my younger child's process because she thinks he will "need help" beyond what our high school counseling office can offer. I have started to avoid her. |
Anonymous
Would you be willing to share some of these quirks, or at least the specific Reddit forums you found helpful? |
Anonymous
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Our child is currently working with a college counselor (and not to talk us out of Stanford or MIT--those schools aren't on the radar for our kid). We interviewed several potential counselors before hiring one and there was a huge difference between those who had worked full time for several years in a major college admissions office and those who sound like OP (whom I also laud for following her dreams, so not trying to tear her down!). Those who have worked in admissions just have a much deeper understanding of the current landscape IMO and are more able to support a diversity of student applicants. I also agree with PP who said that another part of what matters is connecting with kids. We hired a counselor in large part to serve as an intermediary for us and it's worked beautifully but that's because the counselor does a great job chatting with our kid and guiding them in different ways. You need to be someone a student really listens to and trusts in a way they might not with their parents.
I think OP could do this as a side hustle without diving into working full-time at a college admissions office for years, especially if she charges a bit under market. It really depends what she's hoping for long-term. I also think it's odd that OP and some others think they "got their kids into" top schools. We, or a counselor, can guide a kid to a degree but no, we are not getting them in. We didn't hire a counselor to get our kid in anywhere and are under no illusions that this is how things work. |
Anonymous
Well, I don’t know about all of that, but I did find it weird I will admit. OP says when you reach “our“ age and the kids have college admissions success this sort of thing is kind of inevitable - but we sent four kids to college, and we never had any of those kind of conversations with literally anyone. Not even family. And our kids went to good schools as did many of our relatives and friends’ kids and of course many of our kids’ friends. It was just not a topic of conversation other than “so where is Susie going to college? Oh, that’s great!“ Of course, I cannot speak for everyone, but I’d be very surprised if most people in the world were in OP‘s class when it comes to this kind of thing as opposed to ours. |
Anonymous
She was neither. She was someone who says she helped some friends and family. Are you suggesting she lie? Expand on the truth? |
Anonymous
This. i am the first one who said it is odd. It is odd. Sounds like a busy body who is trying to make it appear this organically happened. It did not, though I also suspect OP is far exaggerating her worth and input, even if unintentionally. From her perspective, she probably legitimately believes she was the instrumental piece that got those kids into those schools, including the ones she “got” kids to apply to instead of ones who were out of reach. |
Anonymous
omg. that sounds horrid. Big 3? |
Anonymous
I agree with this. Most kids have no idea how to position themselves (with essays and all the other stuff in the application) so they end up sounding like every top stats kid who wants to be a doctor or SWE etc. |
Anonymous
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U-Miami is looking for a seasonal part-time reader.
https://careers.miami.edu/us/en/job/R100087740/File-Reader-for-Undergraduate-Admission-Domestic-Applications-Temporary-Position-%C2%A0 |
Anonymous
Around 6k. Google “ucla extension college counseling certificate” for more details. Have heard good things about UCI extension too. And have heard that there are even shorter programs through other UCs? Check them out. I am enjoying this and learning a lot. There is a summer training institute held through IECA (I think, but I am not doing it myself) that some people use as a start — it is around 1k. Join IECA as a student or HECA to get 10% discount on courses. Good luck! |