God damn.

He's great. He's honest, and knows exactly what's needed to get in. And at the end of the day, he can't make miracles. A student who isn't very smart and accomplished already isn't going to get into an Ivy just because the family paid for his services.

I find his approach refreshing compared to some other "elite" private wraparound services who boast they can get anyone in. That's not true, but they're going to take your money anyway.

Stop this fear mongering. The vast majority of the kids in t10 are MC/UMC kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing this, it seems like a waste to even try to get into an Ivy

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-ivy-league-prep-ultrawealthy-30k-schools-and-resumes-2025-9

On the other hand, why do billionaires even need this kind of college counseling service when they can just use their influence and connections?

Interesting: Nguyen said that exclusive semester-away programs like The Mountain School, The Island School, and Alzar School — each costing around $30,000 or more per term — have become increasingly popular among his clients.

Kid at T10, and has met several kids who've done these semester away programs at 2 of these schools. It's VERY VERY popular and a signal to AO.

I’m surprised that those schools are considered big pluses on an application. I know kids who have gone to all three of them. I am pretty sure they did it for the experience and to gain some maturity. None are at top colleges now.

Well if they didn't have the stats, then it was moot?
I know a few from 2 of them (posted earlier) - its a self-selecting "rich" crowd. Niche interests. Helps with narrative for the right kid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing this, it seems like a waste to even try to get into an Ivy

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-ivy-league-prep-ultrawealthy-30k-schools-and-resumes-2025-9

On the other hand, why do billionaires even need this kind of college counseling service when they can just use their influence and connections?

Interesting: Nguyen said that exclusive semester-away programs like The Mountain School, The Island School, and Alzar School — each costing around $30,000 or more per term — have become increasingly popular among his clients.

Kid at T10, and has met several kids who've done these semester away programs at 2 of these schools. It's VERY VERY popular and a signal to AO.

I’m surprised that those schools are considered big pluses on an application. I know kids who have gone to all three of them. I am pretty sure they did it for the experience and to gain some maturity. None are at top colleges now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Knowing this, it seems like a waste to even try to get into an Ivy

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-ivy-league-prep-ultrawealthy-30k-schools-and-resumes-2025-9

On the other hand, why do billionaires even need this kind of college counseling service when they can just use their influence and connections?

Interesting: Nguyen said that exclusive semester-away programs like The Mountain School, The Island School, and Alzar School — each costing around $30,000 or more per term — have become increasingly popular among his clients.

Kid at T10, and has met several kids who've done these semester away programs at 2 of these schools. It's VERY VERY popular and a signal to AO.

I know three kids locally who did these programs and none are at T20 school.

I thought ultra-wealthy families don't care where their kids go to college.

Guess they do.

These kids are extreme outliers. I have two kids at T10s and they're just normal kids (we get substantial financial aid as well) I've met several of their friends who also are just average kids. I am also a teacher at a local high school that sends 2-4 kids to a T10 every year Yes, they are smart and hardworking, but they aren't rich and doing anything crazy to get into these schools.

This article is behind a paywall. Anyone want to share the content?

Most UMC kids can’t afford 90k a year so your point is moot.

The best and brightest UMC almost always attend public flagships. Highly selective privates are for wealthy and lower income families.

Is it really shocking that its an open secret and everyone is doing this.. ?

I like to think that the colleges see through a lot of this and discount some of it. Though I might be wrong about that. I have been pleasantly surprised to see plenty of "normal" kids admitted to my TT alma mater - they are obviously very bright, but they just did very well at normal things and didn't devote their entire lives to getting into college and don't have some obscure spike.

Also, remember that not all of these children of the rich and famous want to go to HYPS. I frequently see the People magazine features and a lot of celeb kids end up at "average" schools - they don't want to deal with the stress.

Anonymous wrote:Knowing this, it seems like a waste to even try to get into an Ivy

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-ivy-league-prep-ultrawealthy-30k-schools-and-resumes-2025-9

On the other hand, why do billionaires even need this kind of college counseling service when they can just use their influence and connections?

Interesting: Nguyen said that exclusive semester-away programs like The Mountain School, The Island School, and Alzar School — each costing around $30,000 or more per term — have become increasingly popular among his clients.

Kid at T10, and has met several kids who've done these semester away programs at 2 of these schools. It's VERY VERY popular and a signal to AO.

Astounded at the level of curating. I wish those kids could grow up in a normal boring flyover country suburb and do regular things.

Knowing this, it seems like a waste to even try to get into an Ivy

https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-ivy-league-prep-ultrawealthy-30k-schools-and-resumes-2025-9

On the other hand, why do billionaires even need this kind of college counseling service when they can just use their influence and connections?