Becoming a Private College Admissions Counselor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counselors are for people who don’t want to help their kids (like we all did). You guys are so dense. Most people I know don’t research or spend time here.

There are so many of them and spending $5-10-15-25k is not a big deal. Your demographic is not the target.

I guess you’re correct. I just can’t imagine spending $5-25K on something we can do ourselves, especially something as important and personal as college admissions. Of all things, that doesn’t feel like it should be outsourced.

So I’m definitely not the demographic. Leaving this thread.

5-25k is nothing when you are targeting people who spend 250k on high school, 250k on college and 250k on professional school.

Exactly. I spent $25k in a week just randomly on an impromptu five night trip. The demographic for this kind of thing is very different than the people who sit on this site day and and day out.

Even if you’re not super rich, if you are the type who spent thousands on prepping your kid to take the test to get into a selective high school, spent thousands on SAT prep and cram schools, etc., it makes sense to spend another few thousand making sure essays and applications look good.

I’m sure I’m going to get flamed for this, but here goes:

If your child needs all that support (essay writers, test prep, people to apply for them), SHOULD they be going to these colleges?

The answer is no, they shouldn’t.

I don't agree. The colleges have done wrong here by turning this into a ridiculous game, benefitting those who know how to play it. The fact that the kids need help navigating reflects a broken system, not their lack of qualification. (I'm just talking about college app advice generally, not folks writing their essays for them)

I mean, if they wanted to do it by merit, they'd have all the HS seniors show up for testing day and test their writing skills. But they don't want that, so people buy support for essay writing and rich kids slide in on "holistic" merits (water polo anyone?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counselors are for people who don’t want to help their kids (like we all did). You guys are so dense. Most people I know don’t research or spend time here.

There are so many of them and spending $5-10-15-25k is not a big deal. Your demographic is not the target.

I guess you’re correct. I just can’t imagine spending $5-25K on something we can do ourselves, especially something as important and personal as college admissions. Of all things, that doesn’t feel like it should be outsourced.

So I’m definitely not the demographic. Leaving this thread.

5-25k is nothing when you are targeting people who spend 250k on high school, 250k on college and 250k on professional school.

Exactly. I spent $25k in a week just randomly on an impromptu five night trip. The demographic for this kind of thing is very different than the people who sit on this site day and and day out.

Even if you’re not super rich, if you are the type who spent thousands on prepping your kid to take the test to get into a selective high school, spent thousands on SAT prep and cram schools, etc., it makes sense to spend another few thousand making sure essays and applications look good.

I’m sure I’m going to get flamed for this, but here goes:

If your child needs all that support (essay writers, test prep, people to apply for them), SHOULD they be going to these colleges?

The answer is no, they shouldn’t.

I don't agree. The colleges have done wrong here by turning this into a ridiculous game, benefitting those who know how to play it. The fact that the kids need help navigating reflects a broken system, not their lack of qualification. (I'm just talking about college app advice generally, not folks writing their essays for them)

I mean, if they wanted to do it by merit, they'd have all the HS seniors show up for testing day and test their writing skills. But they don't want that, so people buy support for essay writing and rich kids slide in on "holistic" merits (water polo anyone?)

Don’t hate the player. Blame the game. The system.

Join in - otherwise you’ll be stuck. On the outside at some flagship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counselors are for people who don’t want to help their kids (like we all did). You guys are so dense. Most people I know don’t research or spend time here.

There are so many of them and spending $5-10-15-25k is not a big deal. Your demographic is not the target.

I guess you’re correct. I just can’t imagine spending $5-25K on something we can do ourselves, especially something as important and personal as college admissions. Of all things, that doesn’t feel like it should be outsourced.

So I’m definitely not the demographic. Leaving this thread.

5-25k is nothing when you are targeting people who spend 250k on high school, 250k on college and 250k on professional school.

Exactly. I spent $25k in a week just randomly on an impromptu five night trip. The demographic for this kind of thing is very different than the people who sit on this site day and and day out.

Even if you’re not super rich, if you are the type who spent thousands on prepping your kid to take the test to get into a selective high school, spent thousands on SAT prep and cram schools, etc., it makes sense to spend another few thousand making sure essays and applications look good.

I’m sure I’m going to get flamed for this, but here goes:

If your child needs all that support (essay writers, test prep, people to apply for them), SHOULD they be going to these colleges?

The answer is no, they shouldn’t.

I don't agree. The colleges have done wrong here by turning this into a ridiculous game, benefitting those who know how to play it. The fact that the kids need help navigating reflects a broken system, not their lack of qualification. (I'm just talking about college app advice generally, not folks writing their essays for them)

I mean, if they wanted to do it by merit, they'd have all the HS seniors show up for testing day and test their writing skills. But they don't want that, so people buy support for essay writing and rich kids slide in on "holistic" merits (water polo anyone?)

Don’t hate the player. Blame the game. The system.

Join in - otherwise you’ll be stuck. On the outside at some flagship.

Athletes > test takers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I realize there are many parents like OP who want to turn a buck based on what they learned micromanaging their own kids through the college process, but IMO a number of the recent college grads on instagram selling their expertise would probably do a better job than most of these adults. Just my two cents.

OP here. I'm not a parent, nor am I the age of the typical high school parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counselors are for people who don’t want to help their kids (like we all did). You guys are so dense. Most people I know don’t research or spend time here.

There are so many of them and spending $5-10-15-25k is not a big deal. Your demographic is not the target.

I guess you’re correct. I just can’t imagine spending $5-25K on something we can do ourselves, especially something as important and personal as college admissions. Of all things, that doesn’t feel like it should be outsourced.

So I’m definitely not the demographic. Leaving this thread.

5-25k is nothing when you are targeting people who spend 250k on high school, 250k on college and 250k on professional school.

Exactly. I spent $25k in a week just randomly on an impromptu five night trip. The demographic for this kind of thing is very different than the people who sit on this site day and and day out.

Even if you’re not super rich, if you are the type who spent thousands on prepping your kid to take the test to get into a selective high school, spent thousands on SAT prep and cram schools, etc., it makes sense to spend another few thousand making sure essays and applications look good.

I’m sure I’m going to get flamed for this, but here goes:

If your child needs all that support (essay writers, test prep, people to apply for them), SHOULD they be going to these colleges?

The answer is no, they shouldn’t.

I don't agree. The colleges have done wrong here by turning this into a ridiculous game, benefitting those who know how to play it. The fact that the kids need help navigating reflects a broken system, not their lack of qualification. (I'm just talking about college app advice generally, not folks writing their essays for them)

The vast majority of kids don’t need paid help. Stop normalizing this because you have more money than sense and then blaming the colleges.

You and I are on the same page. This isn’t a “need” at all.

I’d love to go back to the idea of OP volunteering these services for students who could most benefit from this type of help, like students who will be the first in their families to go to college. Now that would be beneficial work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Counselors are for people who don’t want to help their kids (like we all did). You guys are so dense. Most people I know don’t research or spend time here.

There are so many of them and spending $5-10-15-25k is not a big deal. Your demographic is not the target.

I guess you’re correct. I just can’t imagine spending $5-25K on something we can do ourselves, especially something as important and personal as college admissions. Of all things, that doesn’t feel like it should be outsourced.

So I’m definitely not the demographic. Leaving this thread.

5-25k is nothing when you are targeting people who spend 250k on high school, 250k on college and 250k on professional school.

Exactly. I spent $25k in a week just randomly on an impromptu five night trip. The demographic for this kind of thing is very different than the people who sit on this site day and and day out.

Even if you’re not super rich, if you are the type who spent thousands on prepping your kid to take the test to get into a selective high school, spent thousands on SAT prep and cram schools, etc., it makes sense to spend another few thousand making sure essays and applications look good.

I’m sure I’m going to get flamed for this, but here goes:

If your child needs all that support (essay writers, test prep, people to apply for them), SHOULD they be going to these colleges?

The answer is no, they shouldn’t.

I don't agree. The colleges have done wrong here by turning this into a ridiculous game, benefitting those who know how to play it. The fact that the kids need help navigating reflects a broken system, not their lack of qualification. (I'm just talking about college app advice generally, not folks writing their essays for them)

The vast majority of kids don’t need paid help. Stop normalizing this because you have more money than sense and then blaming the colleges.

You and I are on the same page. This isn’t a “need” at all.

I’d love to go back to the idea of OP volunteering these services for students who could most benefit from this type of help, like students who will be the first in their families to go to college. Now that would be beneficial work.

Why would anyone random base their life decisions on what you’d want?
Focus on by your own family.

What a d-bag - as if OP cares what you “love”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize there are many parents like OP who want to turn a buck based on what they learned micromanaging their own kids through the college process, but IMO a number of the recent college grads on instagram selling their expertise would probably do a better job than most of these adults. Just my two cents.

OP here. I'm not a parent, nor am I the age of the typical high school parent.

That’s actually relevant. Are you closer in age to seniors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize there are many parents like OP who want to turn a buck based on what they learned micromanaging their own kids through the college process, but IMO a number of the recent college grads on instagram selling their expertise would probably do a better job than most of these adults. Just my two cents.

OP here. I'm not a parent, nor am I the age of the typical high school parent.

That’s actually relevant. Are you closer in age to seniors?

I'm halfway between the seniors and most of the parents. Mid 30s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can definitely get $150/hour and word of mouth should help. Or you could volunteer to speak at local school PTA meetings, which will get you exposure and clients.

OP here. Thanks! This is helpful--The kids I currently work with (friends' kids) for free are pretty involved in travel sports and church so I think they would definitely spread the word in those circles. Most of them are really happy with the experience and their outcomes.

To be useful, you'd have to have connections to admissions offices or have worked with a university admissions. You have to know recent stats and trends. This isn't a side hustle position, IMO.

I wouldn't have hired you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Reached out to some contacts who know my work and have my first payment and contract.

I'm charging a little less than the PP above, but in range.

I think you're only thinking about half the job - the application part. A good part of the work is putting together an appropriate list for a student and that can be hard, especially if the parents (and students) have outdated or unrealistic expectations.

You need a really expensive knowledge of colleges around the country. IECs spend some time on the road visiting colleges so they can advise clients about them.

NP… while this is good, not everyone wants an IEC to make a balanced list for them. And if we’re talking demographics that you don’t share, your list can be way off!

Op here—I have worked with a lot of kids who have a certain profile in NOVA and NYC suburbs (where I am from) and they all allow me to share their data w/others with the same profile.

The kids I work with also tend to apply to a small set of schools I’m very familiar with.

I have a lot of success with kids with a certain profile (who know that a lot of kids are similar to them on paper) and that’s who I’m targeting.

Congrats!! That’s a huge part of it.
Come back in a year and let us know how your business is going!

Thank you! Most of the kids I have worked with attend a handful of high schools, want the same 2-3 majors, and target the same 25 or so schools. I have pretty detailed notes and get consent to share information in my circle, so sometimes I’m also able to do things like set up meetings with kids who are applying with current students who I know are similar (I’ll buy them lunch as a thank you when they come back home), that sort of thing.

So you aren't a counselor at all or you'd be finding those kids schools that actually fit their needs instead of the same 25 colleges that everyone targets.

Good luck.

Exactly. LOL. I love that she wants to buy them a lunch as a thank you. Just what every 19yo wants!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can definitely get $150/hour and word of mouth should help. Or you could volunteer to speak at local school PTA meetings, which will get you exposure and clients.

OP here. Thanks! This is helpful--The kids I currently work with (friends' kids) for free are pretty involved in travel sports and church so I think they would definitely spread the word in those circles. Most of them are really happy with the experience and their outcomes.

To be useful, you'd have to have connections to admissions offices or have worked with a university admissions. You have to know recent stats and trends. This isn't a side hustle position, IMO.

I wouldn't have hired you.

You aren't the target market.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The response has been extremely positive. Many of the people in my professional circle who know me have kids applying to college this coming fall. Some of them are willing to pay multiple people to help with different aspects of their kids' applications, and, based on their knowledge of me and my background, have picked out specific areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize there are many parents like OP who want to turn a buck based on what they learned micromanaging their own kids through the college process, but IMO a number of the recent college grads on instagram selling their expertise would probably do a better job than most of these adults. Just my two cents.

OP here. I'm not a parent, nor am I the age of the typical high school parent.

I actually think someone older than the students but younger than the parents can be seen as a good role model/coach figure.

There's probably a sweet spot in age where you are young enough to not seem like a parent to the kids but you are old enough to be seen as credible and current by the parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can definitely get $150/hour and word of mouth should help. Or you could volunteer to speak at local school PTA meetings, which will get you exposure and clients.

OP here. Thanks! This is helpful--The kids I currently work with (friends' kids) for free are pretty involved in travel sports and church so I think they would definitely spread the word in those circles. Most of them are really happy with the experience and their outcomes.

To be useful, you'd have to have connections to admissions offices or have worked with a university admissions. You have to know recent stats and trends. This isn't a side hustle position, IMO.

I wouldn't have hired you.

But a lot of people will if the OP has the right connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can definitely get $150/hour and word of mouth should help. Or you could volunteer to speak at local school PTA meetings, which will get you exposure and clients.

OP here. Thanks! This is helpful--The kids I currently work with (friends' kids) for free are pretty involved in travel sports and church so I think they would definitely spread the word in those circles. Most of them are really happy with the experience and their outcomes.

To be useful, you'd have to have connections to admissions offices or have worked with a university admissions. You have to know recent stats and trends. This isn't a side hustle position, IMO.

I wouldn't have hired you.

But a lot of people will if the OP has the right connections.

And by that I mean client connections, not admissions connections. The person who said upthread this is like selling any other high end product is right.