Sara Harberson-essay editing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a member of the Facebook group- costs $79 a month and I have read her book soundbite. I have found her advice to be very solid and her responses to questions on the FB group and on the Zoom calls very useful. The one thing I don’t like is that in order to even pay for her to review/edit your child’s essay you have to post on the FB group your child’s soundbite - which is basically what makes them standout or what are their unique characteristics - along with a blurb on 3 potential essay topics. Even though it’s a private FB group, it does have thousands of members who all have kids applying for the FY 24 class, and I don’t want my child’s personal essay topics or personal info out there. I would actually love to pay for her services but I can’t get past that requirement. I find her to be very genuine and she and her staff do really seem to bring out the best in each applicant by really forcing the kid to do alot of introspection to find what is special and unique about them. I have found tremendous value in the resources she has posted to the FB site and the cost is very reasonable.

I too would hesitate at this. In fact, I think that's a deal-breaker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a member of the Facebook group- costs $79 a month and I have read her book soundbite. I have found her advice to be very solid and her responses to questions on the FB group and on the Zoom calls very useful. The one thing I don’t like is that in order to even pay for her to review/edit your child’s essay you have to post on the FB group your child’s soundbite - which is basically what makes them standout or what are their unique characteristics - along with a blurb on 3 potential essay topics. Even though it’s a private FB group, it does have thousands of members who all have kids applying for the FY 24 class, and I don’t want my child’s personal essay topics or personal info out there. I would actually love to pay for her services but I can’t get past that requirement. I find her to be very genuine and she and her staff do really seem to bring out the best in each applicant by really forcing the kid to do alot of introspection to find what is special and unique about them. I have found tremendous value in the resources she has posted to the FB site and the cost is very reasonable.

I'm in that group too -- hello! I'm in the same boat with my child, who is very private (virtually no social media footprint) and does not want me to share essay topics or AP scores online. Not least because they have someone else from their school in the group, as well as a friend of a friend. Too many connections. That being said, I feel like we get our money's worth. It's a very supportive and informative community.

[Anonymous]

I agree. I would never post my kid’s information on FB like that. Also, I would not be stunned if AOs lurk on there. Probably fine to join (we did not) and ask basic questions, but I’d be careful about exposing too much. I’m on College Cinfidential and there is one kid who is told her life story and give. A to. If private information while trying to get a college to make a special exception for her. They did and must not have been reading or they probably would not have, but she is very identifiable.

[Anonymous]

BTW, if you're in that group: literally anyone who has published a book can self-nominate for the Pulitzer Prize. If you catch my drift. (Talking about a group member, not Harberson.)

https://www.bkconnection.com/bkblog/jeevan-sivasubramaniam/how-you-or-anyone-can-be-a-pulitzer-prize-nominee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I interviewed her and felt she was full of herself. I am the greatest etc. No thanks. Move On.

Thirty seconds on her website could have told you that. It screams I’M SO AHHHHMAZING! The energy is intense.

lol

[Anonymous]

I don’t see how she knows more than others (inc parents) who have studied college admissions info. For example, here’s a new post from her which contains nothing new unless you haven’t read or heard the news in the last few weeks: https://www.saraharberson.com/blog/supreme-court-ended-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions?utm_campaign=New%20Articles&utm_content=255829344&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-2726663570

I’ve attended a very few of her public Facebook lives and they are all very general. I don’t like the vibe of someone who self titles themselves in a way that makes them seem better than they are. Oh, she also said in one of those Facebook - in response to a question I had- that my child would have a very unique slant to her application if she had what I said she had (specialized training). Turns out, it’s not that unique or special, and lots have it.

[Anonymous]

We used Sara for two kids who didn't have access to knowledgable advising within their HS. It was very affordable to our family and I learned so much abut the process we never would have otherwise known. We were in her 2nd and 3rd cohorts, pre/during book (my kid has a small mention in her book). The FB group was much smaller then than I have heard it is now. We had no hesitation sharing soundbites and essay ideas within the group, in fact the group support and camaraderie were a big part of what made the experience outstanding. Sara has a huge heart and always came off as genuinely caring about my kids- all kids. Advice was always spot on. We did pay for essay editing for kid 1 who was aiming for T20 (achieved) and the back and forth suggestions and fine tuning / word cutting were still totally my kids voice. Learned enough to be able to comfortably guide/edit kid 2 myself. Both my kids had outstanding results in tough years. We could not have been more pleased and I highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a member of the Facebook group- costs $79 a month and I have read her book soundbite. I have found her advice to be very solid and her responses to questions on the FB group and on the Zoom calls very useful. The one thing I don’t like is that in order to even pay for her to review/edit your child’s essay you have to post on the FB group your child’s soundbite - which is basically what makes them standout or what are their unique characteristics - along with a blurb on 3 potential essay topics. Even though it’s a private FB group, it does have thousands of members who all have kids applying for the FY 24 class, and I don’t want my child’s personal essay topics or personal info out there. I would actually love to pay for her services but I can’t get past that requirement. I find her to be very genuine and she and her staff do really seem to bring out the best in each applicant by really forcing the kid to do alot of introspection to find what is special and unique about them. I have found tremendous value in the resources she has posted to the FB site and the cost is very reasonable.

Can you use a FB account without your personal info? Seems like a potential workaround.

It’s hard to get a second FB account safely these days. Also, this doesn’t solve the problem that other parents could lift your kid’s soundbite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a member of the Facebook group- costs $79 a month and I have read her book soundbite. I have found her advice to be very solid and her responses to questions on the FB group and on the Zoom calls very useful. The one thing I don’t like is that in order to even pay for her to review/edit your child’s essay you have to post on the FB group your child’s soundbite - which is basically what makes them standout or what are their unique characteristics - along with a blurb on 3 potential essay topics. Even though it’s a private FB group, it does have thousands of members who all have kids applying for the FY 24 class, and I don’t want my child’s personal essay topics or personal info out there. I would actually love to pay for her services but I can’t get past that requirement. I find her to be very genuine and she and her staff do really seem to bring out the best in each applicant by really forcing the kid to do alot of introspection to find what is special and unique about them. I have found tremendous value in the resources she has posted to the FB site and the cost is very reasonable.

Can you use a FB account without your personal info? Seems like a potential workaround.

It’s hard to get a second FB account safely these days. Also, this doesn’t solve the problem that other parents could lift your kid’s soundbite.

If a soundbite is done correctly, it's very unique and "lifting" another students sb would not be easy to substantiate or likely even possible without totally fabricating the supporting resume that backs it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a member of the Facebook group- costs $79 a month and I have read her book soundbite. I have found her advice to be very solid and her responses to questions on the FB group and on the Zoom calls very useful. The one thing I don’t like is that in order to even pay for her to review/edit your child’s essay you have to post on the FB group your child’s soundbite - which is basically what makes them standout or what are their unique characteristics - along with a blurb on 3 potential essay topics. Even though it’s a private FB group, it does have thousands of members who all have kids applying for the FY 24 class, and I don’t want my child’s personal essay topics or personal info out there. I would actually love to pay for her services but I can’t get past that requirement. I find her to be very genuine and she and her staff do really seem to bring out the best in each applicant by really forcing the kid to do alot of introspection to find what is special and unique about them. I have found tremendous value in the resources she has posted to the FB site and the cost is very reasonable.

Can you use a FB account without your personal info? Seems like a potential workaround.

It’s hard to get a second FB account safely these days. Also, this doesn’t solve the problem that other parents could lift your kid’s soundbite.

If a soundbite is done correctly, it's very unique and "lifting" another students sb would not be easy to substantiate or likely even possible without totally fabricating the supporting resume that backs it up.

It’s easy to lift parts with details changed. That’s one reason it’s deal breaker for some. If you’re ok with it, then you’re all set.

[Anonymous]

One other thing about her FB group that I like: they are good about kindly correcting misinformation, inaccuracy, and hysteria -- a quality missing in other groups (Paying for College 101, etc.)

[Anonymous]

Whoa. Why is it ok to have essays edited? Why do colleges permit this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whoa. Why is it ok to have essays edited? Why do colleges permit this?

Same way they permit private counselors who steer and package kids; test prep; tutoring; travel sports ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whoa. Why is it ok to have essays edited? Why do colleges permit this?

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One other thing about her FB group that I like: they are good about kindly correcting misinformation, inaccuracy, and hysteria -- a quality missing in other groups (Paying for College 101, etc.)

Perhaps the ways of the group change from month to month since it’s by subscription, but it can have a cliquey, pack mentality at times.