Interesting viewpoints

Expected to see more I guess.

Parent of a junior, but DC’s private school starts meeting with families at the end of 10th. Obviously we don’t have the full experience yet, however.

1. How helpful is your school's CCO (regardless of location)?
- So far, and from what we’ve heard from parents with older kids, it’s great. We’re very happy.

2. What makes them good or bad? Is there something that you think is differentiating?
- The CCO advisor is assigned (alphabetically) to entering freshman, and helps students with course selection for all 4 years. This means they really get to know the students, their strengths, their interests, etc, *before* the college process even starts. We also appreciate that they really focus on helping kids figure out what they want and what the best fit is. The CCO seems to have no agenda — no need to push elite schools to make the HS’s outcomes better, for example.

3. Are they available over winter break?
- To their seniors, yes. Although they try to minimize the need — barring unexpected events, students are expected yes to have all apps in by November 15 at the latest (even if they are RD’ing). They work to minimize last-minute applications.

4. And for applicants with surprising or disappointing early outcomes, do they help with pivoting, strategy, or other post-mortem counseling?
- No experience with this, but I would expect so.

5. Do you know if your CCO makes advocacy calls to schools in the spring on behalf of students?
- No idea, but I don’t think that’s really that much of a thing at any but the most elite of elite privates, if even there. I certainly wouldn’t expect it.

The more I read about private school CCO, the more I'm glad my kids don't go to private with all the controlling and manipulating and gatekeeping.

My unhooked DD from public got in ivy early.

1. Poor advice on lists - focused on admission over fit and school reputation above all

2. Unavailable over break

3. No engagement mid process

4. Advocacy exists but is not broadcast. They advocate for a handful of top students at a handful of schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I learnt this year:

They did a lot of steering in early stage. That seems to be their main focus. I guess they want to make sure the hooked kids get in. In a way the process is not equitable to unhooked kids.

Advices on college list appear to be quite off. Schools they thought are reaches turned out to be acceptance with merit.

DC ends up with too many safties and targets. Will RD to his original ED school.

Was kid deferred? Or did they dissuade kid from ED?
How is the rest of the class doing? Do you have a meeting set up this month to discuss?

The original ED school is a reach for sure. DC didn't take their recommended ED schools as we consider those as targets. Ended up no ED.

Anonymous wrote:What I learnt this year:

They did a lot of steering in early stage. That seems to be their main focus. I guess they want to make sure the hooked kids get in. In a way the process is not equitable to unhooked kids.

Advices on college list appear to be quite off. Schools they thought are reaches turned out to be acceptance with merit.

DC ends up with too many safties and targets. Will RD to his original ED school.

Was kid deferred? Or did they dissuade kid from ED?
How is the rest of the class doing? Do you have a meeting set up this month to discuss?

What I learnt this year:

They did a lot of steering in early stage. That seems to be their main focus. I guess they want to make sure the hooked kids get in. In a way the process is not equitable to unhooked kids.

Advices on college list appear to be quite off. Schools they thought are reaches turned out to be acceptance with merit.

DC ends up with too many safties and targets. Will RD to his original ED school.

Interested in responses.

Some older threads that might be of interest here:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1261881.page

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1173137.page

A few questions about your private school's college counseling office (CCO).

1. How helpful is your school's CCO (regardless of location)?
2. What makes them good or bad? Is there something that you think is differentiating?
3. Are they available over winter break?
4. And for applicants with surprising or disappointing early outcomes, do they help with pivoting, strategy, or other post-mortem counseling?
5. Do you know if your CCO makes advocacy calls to schools in the spring on behalf of students?