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[quote=Anonymous]My kids were/are at a top private NYC school with 1 counselor for every 25 kids.

We didn't get an independent counselor, but I'm sure others did, although they kept it on the down low. I found the school counseling to be .. okay. The original list had places like Richmond. My kids both ended up at t10 schools, one at HYP.

I really did a lot of the work myself. I listened to a ton of podcasts.

- Create a story/soundbite - not good enough to be interested in medicine, has to be language of giraffes niche-y. And you can do that on your own. 
- Send a brag sheet to guidance counselor with sentences that are begging to be cut and pasted. You want to add to the story from an outsiders POV. How Shelly didn't just do research at the zoo, but started a legacy - there are now 4 sophomores doing their own research at the zoo. That kind of thing. Shows impact on her community. 
- Secure LOR from the people with a good track record. There are favorite teachers and then there are teachers who can write great LORs. They're not always the same. 
- Naviance or similar for privates is a gold mine. You'll know which schools are on the table and which are not. 
- Every application takes a lot longer than you or your kid is expecting. Take NOTES on visits for the why us essay. 
- Worry about ED strategy last. Get list first. Don't ED2 - that's a panic move and leads to a lot of regrets IME.
- Add paid work to your activities section. if your kid has no paid work, get babysitting now. Babysitting is a great EC to have. Anything that shows a kid who will work for $20 an hour. There are a large number of kids who won't and colleges dont need more of them on campus
- Our HOS was able to write letters in the waitlist round which were impactful. IF you get to this stage, have kid reach out to HOS directly as early as possible to see if this is an option.

if you want an outside counselor, I know two families at public school who hired someone for 6k starting in beginning of Junior year who were very happy. They review testing strategy, lists, reread essays. Sorry I dont know the name, they're not in NYC. If you want, just get someone for the essay. Don't pay more. Don't need to pay NYC prices either - the world if flat. This idea that "they won't know our school" is outdated. [/quote]

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