I have a family friend who is a retired lawyer who does this not as a way to make extra money, but on a volunteer basis for an organization that helps first generation, underprivileged kids. While perhaps the market to make some extra cash might be saturated, services like this are really necessary for kids who are from families who are not aware of how to navigate the system. In addition to essay help and test prep, what is really helpful is:

1) Expanding their awareness of school possibilities. Beyond the fact that many don't even know that ivies are fully need-based, there are a number of really high quality private liberal arts colleges (think Amherst, Reed, Bowdoin, Oberlin, Haverford, etc.) that provide need-based financial aid. A lot of kids from first generation, underprivileged backgrounds don't realize this. They also don't realize how great the education can be at some of these schools that are less known by the public, and more known by the academic community and those from upper middle class backgrounds.

2) Helping them navigate all the fee waivers for SATs and application fees if that is really a concern for their families. It's a lot of paperwork for an 18 year old to handle.

3) Helping them with the FAFSA and CSS profile. Again, if their families are not financially savvy, this can be daunting for a 18 year old without any guidance.

4) Helping them understand the various options for student loans...which ones can be consolidated, how government programs like IBR work and how to enroll in them, understanding interest rates, etc.

5) Understanding early admission vs. early action vs. SCEA vs. rolling admissions vs. regular admissions.

6) Making them aware of SAT II subject tests and the timing thereof. My husband, for example, who grew up in a rural area and went to a regional school wasn't even aware they existed until grad school.

Again, volunteering isn't a way to make money, but if you are looking for an outlet to make some meaningful change in people's lives, it might be worthwhile.

I wouldn't hire someone with a Master's Degree in Education to do this work because it is the easiest degree to get. Why do you think you could insult an Ivy League person Ms. Mater's in Ed?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an educational consultant, and I am rather insulted with this discussion. I hold a Masters in Education, with a specialization in college admissions counseling, and now I have a stay at home mom without a background on the topic hanging out a shingle.

I have suggested to our professional organizations, that like Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, Cosmotologist and countless others that we license this field so people can not do this. No only you taking away our livelihood, but you are taking away from the students you serve. I just had a mother who was frantic two months ago learn that with taking the advice from a person similiar to this mom, that her son is on graduation day from college face $ 80,000 in debt all because of bad advice.

I just talked to our senator, and to our national organizers. I hope we put you out of busi ness-- or in the alternative you take 50K and go back to school to get trained.

Why did decide to reactivate a two year old thread?

Wow pp, just wow. Go get a life.

Because someone with just a Master's degree in education thinks they are better trained than the OP and doesn't want her as competition.

If someone doesn't have experience working in a school in the actual office that deals with college planning or admissions, they shouldn't be putting themselves out there as an expert.

Anonymous wrote:I am an educational consultant, and I am rather insulted with this discussion. I hold a Masters in Education, with a specialization in college admissions counseling, and now I have a stay at home mom without a background on the topic hanging out a shingle.

I have suggested to our professional organizations, that like Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, Cosmotologist and countless others that we license this field so people can not do this. No only you taking away our livelihood, but you are taking away from the students you serve. I just had a mother who was frantic two months ago learn that with taking the advice from a person similiar to this mom, that her son is on graduation day from college face $ 80,000 in debt all because of bad advice.

I just talked to our senator, and to our national organizers. I hope we put you out of busi ness-- or in the alternative you take 50K and go back to school to get trained.

Why did decide to reactivate a two year old thread?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an educational consultant, and I am rather insulted with this discussion. I hold a Masters in Education, with a specialization in college admissions counseling, and now I have a stay at home mom without a background on the topic hanging out a shingle.

I have suggested to our professional organizations, that like Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, Cosmotologist and countless others that we license this field so people can not do this. No only you taking away our livelihood, but you are taking away from the students you serve. I just had a mother who was frantic two months ago learn that with taking the advice from a person similiar to this mom, that her son is on graduation day from college face $ 80,000 in debt all because of bad advice.

I just talked to our senator, and to our national organizers. I hope we put you out of busi ness-- or in the alternative you take 50K and go back to school to get trained.

Nice how you denigrate the "stay at home mom" and then need to retreat to licensing rather than competence. Tell us what special skills you think your training has given you.

And I'm sure your "senator" really doesn't give a rats ass.

Anonymous wrote:I am an educational consultant, and I am rather insulted with this discussion. I hold a Masters in Education, with a specialization in college admissions counseling, and now I have a stay at home mom without a background on the topic hanging out a shingle.

I have suggested to our professional organizations, that like Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, Cosmotologist and countless others that we license this field so people can not do this. No only you taking away our livelihood, but you are taking away from the students you serve. I just had a mother who was frantic two months ago learn that with taking the advice from a person similiar to this mom, that her son is on graduation day from college face $ 80,000 in debt all because of bad advice.

I just talked to our senator, and to our national organizers. I hope we put you out of busi ness-- or in the alternative you take 50K and go back to school to get trained.

Nice how you denigrate the "stay at home mom" and then need to retreat to licensing rather than competence. Tell us what special skills you think your training has given you.

So, your only real qualification is having done admissions interviews for your alma mater?

Anonymous wrote:I am an educational consultant, and I am rather insulted with this discussion. I hold a Masters in Education, with a specialization in college admissions counseling, and now I have a stay at home mom without a background on the topic hanging out a shingle.

I have suggested to our professional organizations, that like Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, Cosmotologist and countless others that we license this field so people can not do this. No only you taking away our livelihood, but you are taking away from the students you serve. I just had a mother who was frantic two months ago learn that with taking the advice from a person similiar to this mom, that her son is on graduation day from college face $ 80,000 in debt all because of bad advice.

I just talked to our senator, and to our national organizers. I hope we put you out of busi ness-- or in the alternative you take 50K and go back to school to get trained.

I'm sorry, but if soneone is about to graduate from college with $80K in student loan debt, that is no one's fault but their own. Just because someone gives you advice doesn't mean you have to take it..

I am an educational consultant, and I am rather insulted with this discussion. I hold a Masters in Education, with a specialization in college admissions counseling, and now I have a stay at home mom without a background on the topic hanging out a shingle.

I have suggested to our professional organizations, that like Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, Teachers, Cosmotologist and countless others that we license this field so people can not do this. No only you taking away our livelihood, but you are taking away from the students you serve. I just had a mother who was frantic two months ago learn that with taking the advice from a person similiar to this mom, that her son is on graduation day from college face $ 80,000 in debt all because of bad advice.

I just talked to our senator, and to our national organizers. I hope we put you out of busi ness-- or in the alternative you take 50K and go back to school to get trained.

How did you market your business?

Hello, OP here.

I've gotten some great feedback from prospective parents and am close to launching my service.

For those who've used outside counselors, did they charge you by the hour (and if so, how much) or was it a flat price situation (and if so, how much)?

Thanks for any input out there.

Good luck OP. I would say to find a niche w/in the college app process. We paid for SAT Prep (a lot thru Princeton Review). Then, we just bought books off of the Internet on the process...turned out great -- kid was an Ivy athletic recruit.

Thanks for all the great input (except for the one snarky post). I put my "shingle" out there and already have two clients who are looking for affordable help to navigate the process. I really appreciate the constructive comments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi. I am the OP. Thanks for all the comments.

For those who have employed such individuals, can any of you comment on my other questions (e.g. costs paid, services rendered, etc.)

Thank you.

All of this is on the internet. It sounds like you haven't done any research at all, and that you are taking the easiest path (as opposed to what PP suggested of looking into training, traveling to schools, etc . . .) I don't mean to be snarky, but how can you consider starting your own business if your asking anonymous strangers on the internet for this info, instead of looking for it yourself.

You don't mean to be snarky, yet you are. The OP is looking for constructive input.