Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Utter waste. We did. Did it to backstop bad CCO we have at our Big 3 which doesnt even show us naviance data. The outside added some structure but nothing more.

Next kid, I'm using my own research
-CDS data
-Harvard westlake data (if they update it)
-outside essay advisor

That's it. Nothing more needed. The process was horrible and I feel $6k lighter with outside person who was very pleasant but added nothing

College counselor here. What you receive at a Big 3 is very different than what is offered in publics. That's typically where the value is felt most.

Anonymous wrote:Alot of these prices sound crazy. I thought we paid too much. Paid $4500 package; did not use enough to justify it. Should have done $250/hour. Was helpful on essays (brainstorming topic; editing suggestions) and answering some questions we needed another opinion on. Not helpful on college list; did not know my kid well enough + did not seem to have much insider info about any of them. I found out more on line/asking around.

Anonymous wrote:Hired one and NO.

Anonymous wrote:Utter waste. We did. Did it to backstop bad CCO we have at our Big 3 which doesnt even show us naviance data. The outside added some structure but nothing more.

Next kid, I'm using my own research
-CDS data
-Harvard westlake data (if they update it)
-outside essay advisor

That's it. Nothing more needed. The process was horrible and I feel $6k lighter with outside person who was very pleasant but added nothing

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i spent $14k and have mixed feelings. All the prep and admin work are absolutely doable by a parent. Checking common app, spell checking etc. They wanted to do all of that and I found it a waste of my money. What I did think was helpful was the work they did brainstorming essay ideas, guiding and prompting child to get those done. ED1 to a top 25, so a good result. But I have no idea if that essay was worth 14k.

LOL I can tell you no.

But what was worth that 14k was the "brainstorming essay ideas, guiding and prompting child to get those done"

If you can afford that easily, then it was worth it.

Anonymous wrote:Poor experience with College Bound. Told DS his resume, essay were great but in realty had errors that the counselor missed. Knew nothing about colleges. Seem to fly by the seat of their pants and full of BS. Applications DS submitted were completely different than what counselor approved. You are better off flushing your $ down the toilet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What year is your child currently? If you are grabbing one in their junior year, I would say absolutely not, waste of money. Is your son or daughter in 8th or 9th? It may be worth navigating the next 4 years with a college coach/counselor.

This is not accurate unless you are seeking a surrogate parent.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Pretty much. The system is so rigged in favor of the rich.

~1330 and ended up with a 1520. Took practice SAT, had 4 sessions with the private tutor that focused on the areas needed for improvement. Next practice test my kid scored a 1510. Then did 1 hour of tutoring after each practice test (targeted on specific tricks, topics my kid needed to work on, my kid did 2-3 hours of their own work then took another practice test). We did 4 practice tests after the intake. But my kid's score hovered around 1510/1520 each time. So they took an actual SAT, got 1520 and we were done. So 8 -10 hours of tutoring, 5 Practices SATs, 15-16 hours my kid worked outside on their own, and we were done. IN reality, we could have been done after 4 hours of tutoring and 4-5 hours of outside studying.
My kid is independent, focused but I'm smart enough to know that their scores would not have gone up as much with just "independent studying". So with only $500-600 we could have arrived at our results. But many cannot afford that (in $$$ or time commitment if kid has to work or take care of family/siblings).

Please share information about the private tutor. Many thanks

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:Private counselor helped my niece to Duke and nephew to UChicago (different sides of the family and on opposite coasts but used same counselor) this year in the early round. I'll be hiring the same person for my DC next year.

Anonymous wrote:

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?

PP Here no, my high stats Big 3 kid was applying to a liberal arts, non stem major. You are incorrect in saying "Plenty" of high stats kids at are getting accepted. Some high stats kids the top private schools are being accepted and they are all one or more of the following.
1. alum
2. donor
3. urm or 1st gen
4. athlete

This is the reality. NOT ONE totally unhooked smart kid got in ED. Some were deferred and may get in regular decision. But if you think what I am saying is untrue you are kidding yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Pretty much. The system is so rigged in favor of the rich.

~1330 and ended up with a 1520. Took practice SAT, had 4 sessions with the private tutor that focused on the areas needed for improvement. Next practice test my kid scored a 1510. Then did 1 hour of tutoring after each practice test (targeted on specific tricks, topics my kid needed to work on, my kid did 2-3 hours of their own work then took another practice test). We did 4 practice tests after the intake. But my kid's score hovered around 1510/1520 each time. So they took an actual SAT, got 1520 and we were done. So 8 -10 hours of tutoring, 5 Practices SATs, 15-16 hours my kid worked outside on their own, and we were done. IN reality, we could have been done after 4 hours of tutoring and 4-5 hours of outside studying.
My kid is independent, focused but I'm smart enough to know that their scores would not have gone up as much with just "independent studying". So with only $500-600 we could have arrived at our results. But many cannot afford that (in $$$ or time commitment if kid has to work or take care of family/siblings).