Reply to Did you try a college counselor or advisor, and was it worth the money?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Thanks all.  This is OP.  You confirmed what I thought - not worth the money.  No, DC didn't clean latrines in Guatemala.  We're pretty normal.  And no, not hung up on Ivy, just was trying to present a picture of what DC is without giving too much info.  In-state is probably where we will end up.  I also want the best fit for DC, which may not be an Ivy.  But when facing some SLACs at $65K a year x 4 or 5 years (as in the case of another DC), which is a huge investment, I just wanted to make sure I had done a proper job of preparing for the application process.  If someone had a magic person who was reasonably priced I might consider it - going through the process with another DC was hell.  But I'm not getting back any real positive recommendations or suggestions so thanks all for the input.[/quote]

Well, start with the idea of fit first. What type of environment suits your DC? Small, medium, large? Rural, suburban, urban? A more STEM or professional focus or liberal arts? Close to home or is distance not a factor? Visit some local colleges to help DC get a flavor.

Use the Fiske Guide to Colleges or one of the on-line college search engines to start a list based on these (and other) fit factors. College Navigator is a great one. Use the admissions information to help sort your list into reaches, matches, safeties. Pay attention to the mid-range of SAT/ACT scores--this will give an idea of where your DC falls compared with enrolled students.

Now think about money. What can you afford? Is money no object? Or is it a factor? Note which colleges on your list meet financial need only versus offering merit aid. If you need financial aid, make sure you are seeking it from schools that are generous with it. Likewise, if your family could benefit from merit aid, don't bother with schools that offer only financial aid. Run the net price calculators on college's websites. If money is a factor, make sure safeties are not just likely to admit your DC but likely affordable for your family as well.

I really like the book and blog The College Solution.
[b]
What was hellish about your experience with DC1?[/quote][/b]

Thanks for the response.  DC1 was SN in Fairfax public schools.  Choices were self-limiting and the college counselor was overwhelmed with 550 seniors, 550 juniors, etc.  We did all the work ourselves and ultimately made the right choice and found the right fit but it wasn't an easy go of it.[/quote]

[b]Ah. Yes, that sounds difficult. I do think outside advice can be really helpful when looking for colleges for kids with SNs. I bet you will find this go-round easier.[/quote]
[/b]

Thanks, yes, we're dealingi with an entirely different kettle of fish this time so basically are starting from scratch[/quote]

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