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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Independent College Counselor here.

Just want to throw in a little warning to parents about over-editing your kids' essays.

I am fastidious about grammar and punctuation on essays so I would never call something "finished" if it had grammatical errors or typos. However, not only is it inappropriate for me to re-write essays, it would very much count against the students if I were to do that. Colleges (yes, even Ivies) are wary of too much polish, which could indicate AI or a different writer. Every time I read an essay, of course I think about what I might have said differently, but it is not my essay and not my voice. I might brainstorm with a student. I might give feedback in the form of questions or encouragement to reflect on what an experience meant to a student. I might suggest that the student include a specific example here or there. But I am careful not to insert myself into the essay. If the essays are great in the end, it is because the student really took the time to write and rewrite. I think parents may not realize, though, that sometimes the little style imperfections lend some authenticity.

For what it is worth, I don't think students *need* private college counselors. I think most parents hire one for the executive function support and to preserve their relationship with their student. Just don't mess it up for them!

[/quote]

Your feedback sounds inadequate for a paid counselor. Or do you have extra essay people on staff who do the real feedback?
That's the thing: if you are on this site, you don't need an IEC. But most kids do need someone to review their essays, ECs, and applications for a complete narrative.

I help a few kids each cycle with college applications - word of mouth only/select clients. A story from this cycle:

A family paid an expensive IEC a fixed annual rate. The kid already submitted 5 EA apps by mid-Sept. 
I reviewed a PDF of the Common App, and there are typos in the EC list, extra spaces, and the formatting is off in the personal statement. This is before substantive comments (and I had a lot to say). Where was the $20k IEC? Why allow silly typos to dilute your work? It's ridiculous. The parents are irate.
And of course, now they are paying me to fix it before the next EA submissions and ED1.[/quote]

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