- child vs parent relationship
- teen who finds other adults more credible than their own parents

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the job coach my honey used when he was unemployed. Nothing new learned, that he did not know from the internet.

Exactly!

I think college coaches are good for people who are:
- lazy, and not willing to read / research the process together with their child
- disorganized, and need someone to keep the track of all the deadlines
- have anxiety or other mental issues that makes all the college application a nightmare for both, child and parent.
- I can’t think of any other reason why would anyone waste their money on college coach.

Otherwise, if you are a normal average person who can read English, you don’t need a coach.

Sounds like the job coach my honey used when he was unemployed. Nothing new learned, that he did not know from the internet.

I think I’ll get into this business. Seems to be easy money.

For those who can’t afford it - you don’t need it. I honestly believe it is a waste of money, but you have to do your homework. We went through the college application two years ago. The kid is very smart and was very involved into the application process. But, caving into the peer pressure I insisted for us to go to the coach just to double check that we are on the right track. The coach was recommended by the mom from my kids school, they’ve been using this coach for several month ( I know, crazy), and were very happy with her. Long story short, I paid for the three hours for her to sit with us, to review the essay, and the list of colleges to make sure we are not out of touch with the reality. It was a total waste of money. She didn’t tell us anything new that we already knew from the internet, especially from the college confidential. My kid got admitted to three Ivy Leagues ( didn’t got into the top choice though) with no hooks. The family who used this coach for several month ended up in UVA ( and they are happy about it).

we hired a tutor who just kept us out of it and her on deadlines. we never saw her applications or essays. got in where she wanted and it wasn't expensive, most was done via google docs and facetime.

Aunt Becky

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those looking for one, check your work benefits package. Seriously. My work pays for a service that will review your kid’s college list, make additional suggestions and also review and critique up to 15 essay drafts. Not the handholding of the private counselors, but still useful.

Seriously, what kind of industry do you work in? Law, higher education, medicine...?

Insurance. But the company that my employer contracted with has many clients. I know that other financial services companies are among them. It’s under work/life resources, and when I talk to my co-workers, very few realize that it’s available for free. Two of my friends also “discovered” it in their benefits after I told them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just more evidence how this process has been rigged to favor the wealthy.

Op, my senior has done everything herself, too.

It’s mostly a DC thing.

It’s mostly a dumbs thing.

Anonymous wrote:For those looking for one, check your work benefits package. Seriously. My work pays for a service that will review your kid’s college list, make additional suggestions and also review and critique up to 15 essay drafts. Not the handholding of the private counselors, but still useful.

Seriously, what kind of industry do you work in? Law, higher education, medicine...?

For those looking for one, check your work benefits package. Seriously. My work pays for a service that will review your kid’s college list, make additional suggestions and also review and critique up to 15 essay drafts. Not the handholding of the private counselors, but still useful.

Good grief! Your child must have at least one friend with an older sibling. Ask that parent who they used. And all the other parents with older kids. You'll get plenty of names. Not just for the rich- for anyone who can save up. Just because you choose not to, or cannot afford something, is not a reason to put it down. Eg, I will never afford a Ferrari but I don't say negative things about people who have them.

Anonymous wrote:Just more evidence how this process has been rigged to favor the wealthy.

Op, my senior has done everything herself, too.

It’s mostly a DC thing.

Anonymous wrote:No one here has hired one? I found out in the last couple of weeks that three families we know hired coaches. One of them hired the coach back when their DC was in 9th grade.

It is usually done at the end of 8th grade or before the beginning of 9th. We were surprised that DS could not get into his 1st choice classes at Wilson even though the teacher told us there was room in the class. Had we gone with a private coach things would have been much smoother.

Probably the single best value at our Not A Big 3 private is 4 years of college counseling.