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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]We spent $8K on a consultant for our DS and he got into every school he applied to.  She didn't have him aiming too high- no real reaches[/b].  She got him to focus, write his essays and get everything done and submitted in a 30 day period.  We didn't use her for DD- it seemed like too much $ for what would have likely been the same results.  DD wrote her essays- we spent $100 to have them reviewed by a writer and then she submitted all her apps.  She too got into all of the schools she applied to except for one.  I don't think a consultant is needed- the online applications are pretty straight forward and there are a bunch of good youtube videos that demonstrate completing applications, essay writing, etc.  I do think that having essays reviewed is worth spending money on because sometimes the writer (and parents) don't see grammatical mistakes, etc.  [/quote]

The colleges have no way of checking on this, but they would disapprove if they knew for sure an application was substantially influenced by a paid professional.  It's a mini-scandal, but not on the order of the blatant bribery scandal in the news the last couple of days.[/quote]

[b]Why would a college care whether it was  a parent. guidance counselor or paid consultant got him to focus and write his essays[/b][/quote]

[b]they wouldn't, but that's not what the consultants do. You are being disingenuous.[/b]  [/quote]

Then what real value do college counselors offer?  That's really the only thing they could do that might help a kid get into a college that they otherwise might not get into.  Outside that they're only facilitating the process of having kids apply to schools that they are already matches for. [/quote]

[b]They "polish" the essays, they "perfume" the essays - haven't you been reading the threads here on this?  Presumably they have some valuable insider knowledge as to what the colleges are looking for or they wouldn't be able to command these high fees.[/b][/quote]

Ok, but to what extent do they "polish" these essays?  I have been reading the threads. [b] You have parents insisting that the counselors are doing nothing more than simply editing or providing basic advise. [/b] If that is true, there's really no value.  If it's not true and they are more actively involved in the essay writing, it offers value, but it's unethical.  So which is it? And if they are providing enough help on the essay to make it valuable albeit unethical, can't you simply pay for that service alone?  Why pay for the whole $5,000 plus package that doesn't provide any other advantage. [/quote]

Well look at your own words. What does "editing" mean?[/quote]

I don't know.  What does it mean?  You have parents who use college counselors who claim that the essay help given is all rather innocent.  If that is true, what's the point of paying big bucks for it?[/quote]

To put it another way.  If private college consultants are really providing a service that helps kids get into schools that they most likely wouldn't have gotten into, they are doing something unethical.  If they are simply taking care of the paperwork involved for getting a kid into a college that they would have gotten into otherwise, then let's not kid ourselves, how many people would pay a significant amount for that.  These companies are either doing something unethical or they are overselling their value.  [/quote]

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