Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes!

Hired CC during DC's sophomore year - and where they were most helpful was in advising about course load, ECs and creating DC's narrative over the course of sophomore-senior years (including summers). One area in particular which set DC a part from classmates was the international independent research study/paper DC's undertook which resulted in their being published in a prestigious international scholarly journal. DC would have never known the current trend of colleges valuing these research papers nor how to navigate which research study programs to apply to w/o college counselor.

PP Here. To give context - DC accepted EA at top 25 school, accepted significant merit w/merit money at several good schools, and deferred at three other top 25 schools - still waiting to hear outcome on those. Very happy with results. DC DEFINITELY has had better admissions results than classmates with similar GPAs. I credit DC's strong ECs (president of several clubs related to DC's interest in business/finance and said published research paper which was written under the mentorship of a renowned Cambridge economics professor) as well as DC's strong SATs score.

What HS students writes a paper under the mentorship of a renowned Cambridge economics professor? How would a HS student meet such a professor?

Admissions officers are familiar with pay-to-play research opportunities, which I'm guessing this was.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes!

Hired CC during DC's sophomore year - and where they were most helpful was in advising about course load, ECs and creating DC's narrative over the course of sophomore-senior years (including summers). One area in particular which set DC a part from classmates was the international independent research study/paper DC's undertook which resulted in their being published in a prestigious international scholarly journal. DC would have never known the current trend of colleges valuing these research papers nor how to navigate which research study programs to apply to w/o college counselor.

PP Here. To give context - DC accepted EA at top 25 school, accepted significant merit w/merit money at several good schools, and deferred at three other top 25 schools - still waiting to hear outcome on those. Very happy with results. DC DEFINITELY has had better admissions results than classmates with similar GPAs. I credit DC's strong ECs (president of several clubs related to DC's interest in business/finance and said published research paper which was written under the mentorship of a renowned Cambridge economics professor) as well as DC's strong SATs score.

You can pay for mentorship with professors. I haven’t heard of an Cambridge professors doing that but I wouldn’t rule it out.


What HS students writes a paper under the mentorship of a renowned Cambridge economics professor? How would a HS student meet such a professor?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes!

Hired CC during DC's sophomore year - and where they were most helpful was in advising about course load, ECs and creating DC's narrative over the course of sophomore-senior years (including summers). One area in particular which set DC a part from classmates was the international independent research study/paper DC's undertook which resulted in their being published in a prestigious international scholarly journal. DC would have never known the current trend of colleges valuing these research papers nor how to navigate which research study programs to apply to w/o college counselor.

PP Here. To give context - DC accepted EA at top 25 school, accepted significant merit w/merit money at several good schools, and deferred at three other top 25 schools - still waiting to hear outcome on those. Very happy with results. DC DEFINITELY has had better admissions results than classmates with similar GPAs. I credit DC's strong ECs (president of several clubs related to DC's interest in business/finance and said published research paper which was written under the mentorship of a renowned Cambridge economics professor) as well as DC's strong SATs score.

What HS students writes a paper under the mentorship of a renowned Cambridge economics professor? How would a HS student meet such a professor?

Anonymous wrote:

The reaches for a child like ours seem impossible these days.

But, plenty of high stat kids are getting accepted. Were other students at your kid's HS accepted to top schools? Is your kid applying for a highly sought after major?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes!

Hired CC during DC's sophomore year - and where they were most helpful was in advising about course load, ECs and creating DC's narrative over the course of sophomore-senior years (including summers). One area in particular which set DC a part from classmates was the international independent research study/paper DC's undertook which resulted in their being published in a prestigious international scholarly journal. DC would have never known the current trend of colleges valuing these research papers nor how to navigate which research study programs to apply to w/o college counselor.

PP Here. To give context - DC accepted EA at top 25 school, accepted significant merit w/merit money at several good schools, and deferred at three other top 25 schools - still waiting to hear outcome on those. Very happy with results. DC DEFINITELY has had better admissions results than classmates with similar GPAs. I credit DC's strong ECs (president of several clubs related to DC's interest in business/finance and said published research paper which was written under the mentorship of a renowned Cambridge economics professor) as well as DC's strong SATs score.

Anonymous wrote:We hired an independent consultant 3 years back and he made our life (parents) much easier and most importantly brought new perspectives to the table.
DD was struggling with SAT and reached plateau at one point. He suggested to try ACT. So DD changed her course and focused on ACT. DD got a 36 on ACT!! We were so relieved.
His wife was a journalist, and reviews/comments on all essays and writings.
DD had a less stressful cycle and now a Junior at a T20 school. The consultant charged $3,500 per cycle. Unlimited essay review. calls, email, text. Meet in person monthly (if I remember correctly). He was quite responsive too.

I think he is now retired due to health issue. Finding the right consultant does help the process.

Anonymous wrote:We found the person we hired to be invaluable. Her insight into what schools to look at and what those schools want in an applicant was far beyond what our private high school counselor could offer. And, her help with the essays really produced incredible narratives. Results: My son only applied to six schools because he got in ED1 to his top choice. He immediately withdrew the other five. He actually heard from a second school -- he received a huge merit scholarship.

Anonymous wrote:

Do you have or can set up a throwaway email address you can post here? If so, I’ll send her contact info to you privately. Like the other PP’s counselor, this one only takes 10 students per year.

Anonymous wrote:We found the person we hired to be invaluable. Her insight into what schools to look at and what those schools want in an applicant was far beyond what our private high school counselor could offer. And, her help with the essays really produced incredible narratives. Results: My son only applied to six schools because he got in ED1 to his top choice. He immediately withdrew the other five. He actually heard from a second school -- he received a huge merit scholarship.

But, plenty of high stat kids are getting accepted. Were other students at your kid's HS accepted to top schools? Is your kid applying for a highly sought after major?

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think they are needed if one or both parents is willing to play the role, but some adult needs to assist the student in most cases. I have twins and one barely needed assistance but the other has needed help every step along the way and then some. Even the with it kid needed help, albeit only a small amount and mostly just project management type assistance.

If you don’t have a parent or adult willing to handle in your house, I can see how an hourly consultant would be worth it, particularly for essays.

Special shout out to DCUM: we are our own counselors when it comes to creating the list of schools! If you put out basic info about your student, kind people are here to help suggest a list (if you can cut through the mean comments without getting upset).

The reaches for a child like ours seem impossible these days.

Anonymous wrote:Anyone that thinks getting rid of SAT/ACT moves the equity needle should read this thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was College Bound detrimental? A few posters mentioned that. I understand waste of money but how were they detrimental?

Not advising of deadlines, not responding to questions then trying to cover, skimming essay responses and saying they were good when they weren’t, making suggestions based on zero experience, not being organized.