Anonymous
01/31/2025 23:03
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So many parents pay 25-50k for private college counseling and the kids aren’t getting into Michigan. Or Wisconsin.
A friend showed me her DC app. Whoa.
The major choice sucks.
The essays are not distinguishing enough.
The activity lists are generally blah.
Why are people paying this?!? For these results? Is this year an anomaly?
It’s shocking.
I haven’t paid a stand-alone counselor and DC has gotten into both OOS.
I thought the whole point of a college counselor was to avoid having to send a kid to Michigan.
omg
Anonymous
01/31/2025 22:42
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
I’m helping a kid this year for free. Worked major choices and essays/activity list. With a month, has interviewed with each of HYPSM. There’s good ones out there. Don’t hire someone to get your kid into HYPSM if they have 0 clients who have got in!
Anonymous
01/31/2025 22:36
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:You can get a fantastic private counselor for a fraction of that amount.
+1. I couldn't imagine paying that sum of money. We worked with Dave Bergman for our oldest and plan to enroll our second once 10th grade wraps up. We'll spend less than $25k on both combined.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 15:49
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if counselors always recommend a major. My ds did not list one as he is undecided, and got in everywhere he applied (top 50 to 100 so didn’t have huge ambitions) He also wrote a sport essay which was really his most authentic topic to describe who he is.
My kid also said undeclared and got into a top 10. Declaring would have been an issue because her Hs transcript and ECs were all basically something she had decided she didn’t want to pursue, and she wanted to study something she really hadn’t done in HS. She specifically looked for schools that let you float a little as freshman. (Which used to be all schools except engineering, really.)
Anonymous
01/31/2025 11:18
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:I would not assume so many parents pay that much, because as you said, that's just nuts.
+1. DC picked a counselor who is by the hour. Richard Montauk. Total bill was $3,000 and worth every penny. She's now using him. again for advice on law school apps.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 11:09
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Perhaps take a critical eye to anything someone “sells” you. Do your own research, even if you hire someone.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 11:07
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:HYPSM independent education consultant scholarship research
Huh?
Anonymous
01/31/2025 10:59
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Your friend showed you her child's COLLEGE APPLICATION? That's bonkers. These poor children.
+1. What an invasion of privacy.
OP here. My friend shared it with me. She's shocked by the subpar results so far and my kid (without a counselor but I do hang out here, subscribe to App Nation, and listen to a TON of podcasts) has had incredible results, given test optional.
It's one of my closest friends. I adore her kids. The positioning was just all off.
It's almost like the counselor just let the kids do what they wanted.
She's paying A LOT (higher end for what was quoted here). She had no idea the common app was poorly done.
PP here. There's so much more to this entire process than a critical review of a single application by another gloating mom, even if a supportive friend.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 10:57
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Skip the private counselor. Evaluate your kid's story. Look at your school's Naviance/SCOIR, get an essay coach. Especially if you're in one of the large publics in the DMV, the private counselor can't do much to influence results.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 10:55
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:So many parents pay 25-50k for private college counseling and the kids aren’t getting into Michigan. Or Wisconsin.
A friend showed me her DC app. Whoa.
The major choice sucks.
The essays are not distinguishing enough.
The activity lists are generally blah.
Why are people paying this?!? For these results? Is this year an anomaly?
It’s shocking.
I haven’t paid a stand-alone counselor and DC has gotten into both OOS.
What is your kids test scores, AP classes and GPA? maybe those kids who are doing the private college counseling need help with that? I paid for private one-on-one testing but it was nowhere near that amount. Also, college is so much different than when we went to school.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 10:18
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Your friend showed you her child's COLLEGE APPLICATION? That's bonkers. These poor children.
+1. What an invasion of privacy.
OP here. My friend shared it with me. She's shocked by the subpar results so far and my kid (without a counselor but I do hang out here, subscribe to App Nation, and listen to a TON of podcasts) has had incredible results, given test optional.
It's one of my closest friends. I adore her kids. The positioning was just all off.
It's almost like the counselor just let the kids do what they wanted.
She's paying A LOT (higher end for what was quoted here). She had no idea the common app was poorly done.
WHAT ABOUT PARENTING? "Let the kids so what they want" How about the parent steps in and says - this list may be over ambitious. This is blaming a consultant for parents being uninvolved.
Also your self-congratulatory tone is gross. Because YOU read some articles and listened to podcasts you are suddenly an expert? Your daughter did great because of YOU? Check yourself, lady.
Kids need help with applications for varying reasons - ADHD, dyslexia and other L.D's among them. One of my kids needed help for that reason and I didn't blame the counselor if he did not get into school X or Y.
ALSO Counselors can only do so much with delusional kids and parents. You seem to be under the impression the counselor gets kids in. This is not the case. They are there to advise and yes, help their application shine. But I know for a fact, from having three kids of my own go through the process- the ultimate results are often random. Some of the best applicants don't succeed and some weird acceptances work out.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 09:46
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
HYPSM independent education consultant scholarship research
Anonymous
01/31/2025 09:45
Subject: Re:Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think there’s a wide range in quality and price (and not necessarily correlated). I posted in another thread about DC’s independent education consultant who helped them get into HYPSM early this cycle plus multiple fully funded scholarship/research opportunities throughout high school. We paid the IEC 22.5K over the course of 4 years, and it was well worth it for our family. I’ve heard of others that cost hundreds of thousands or even 1MM+!
Did you post the name?
I did not, as I don’t wish for my posts to be misconstrued as advertisements.
I know DCUM can be quick to make that claim, but there are some of us who would really like to know about good college consultants so please consider posting who you worked with.
Anonymous
01/31/2025 09:44
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:We used a counselor for DS. Spent about $12k from beg of Soph year to the end and she managed to get him into UVA and W&M with a 1300 SAT and ok GPA.. his ECs were non existent at the time. Crafted a whole plan for ECs, projects, etc….
Was this a local person or someone from a national company? Either way, would you mind sharing the contact?
Anonymous
01/31/2025 09:20
Subject: Wake up call about private counseling
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Your friend showed you her child's COLLEGE APPLICATION? That's bonkers. These poor children.
+1. What an invasion of privacy.
OP here. My friend shared it with me. She's shocked by the subpar results so far and my kid (without a counselor but I do hang out here, subscribe to App Nation, and listen to a TON of podcasts) has had incredible results, given test optional.
It's one of my closest friends. I adore her kids. The positioning was just all off.
It's almost like the counselor just let the kids do what they wanted.
She's paying A LOT (higher end for what was quoted here). She had no idea the common app was poorly done.