Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Independent College Counselor here.

Just want to throw in a little warning to parents about over-editing your kids' essays.

I am fastidious about grammar and punctuation on essays so I would never call something "finished" if it had grammatical errors or typos. However, not only is it inappropriate for me to re-write essays, it would very much count against the students if I were to do that. Colleges (yes, even Ivies) are wary of too much polish, which could indicate AI or a different writer. Every time I read an essay, of course I think about what I might have said differently, but it is not my essay and not my voice. I might brainstorm with a student. I might give feedback in the form of questions or encouragement to reflect on what an experience meant to a student. I might suggest that the student include a specific example here or there. But I am careful not to insert myself into the essay. If the essays are great in the end, it is because the student really took the time to write and rewrite. I think parents may not realize, though, that sometimes the little style imperfections lend some authenticity.

For what it is worth, I don't think students *need* private college counselors. I think most parents hire one for the executive function support and to preserve their relationship with their student. Just don't mess it up for them!

But wouldn't a good IEC tell a family if the essay is not at the level expected for a T20? I mean ime (two kids at T20), the essays took 4-6+ months of constant back and forth editing.

For DC2, we did hire an editor/essay counselor. That person worked for a month - going back and forth in Google Docs with the kids - comments, suggestions, rewrites - to get the essays (all of them, mind you, it's not just the personal essay) - to the standard needed for a T20. That kid had MUCH better results than DC1 without an essay editor. The kid's voice is still there.

Agree on over polish (also, what parents think is a good essay is not what actually is a good essay, but that's another story). But I think sometimes IEC don't go the extra mile on the essays and push kids to do more/do it better/go deeper.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Independent College Counselor here.

Just want to throw in a little warning to parents about over-editing your kids' essays.

I am fastidious about grammar and punctuation on essays so I would never call something "finished" if it had grammatical errors or typos. However, not only is it inappropriate for me to re-write essays, it would very much count against the students if I were to do that. Colleges (yes, even Ivies) are wary of too much polish, which could indicate AI or a different writer. Every time I read an essay, of course I think about what I might have said differently, but it is not my essay and not my voice. I might brainstorm with a student. I might give feedback in the form of questions or encouragement to reflect on what an experience meant to a student. I might suggest that the student include a specific example here or there. But I am careful not to insert myself into the essay. If the essays are great in the end, it is because the student really took the time to write and rewrite. I think parents may not realize, though, that sometimes the little style imperfections lend some authenticity.

For what it is worth, I don't think students *need* private college counselors. I think most parents hire one for the executive function support and to preserve their relationship with their student. Just don't mess it up for them!

Your feedback sounds inadequate for a paid counselor. Or do you have extra essay people on staff who do the real feedback?
That's the thing: if you are on this site, you don't need an IEC. But most kids do need someone to review their essays, ECs, and applications for a complete narrative.

I help a few kids each cycle with college applications - word of mouth only/select clients. A story from this cycle:

A family paid an expensive IEC a fixed annual rate. The kid already submitted 5 EA apps by mid-Sept.
I reviewed a PDF of the Common App, and there are typos in the EC list, extra spaces, and the formatting is off in the personal statement. This is before substantive comments (and I had a lot to say). Where was the $20k IEC? Why allow silly typos to dilute your work? It's ridiculous. The parents are irate.
And of course, now they are paying me to fix it before the next EA submissions and ED1.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Independent College Counselor here.

Just want to throw in a little warning to parents about over-editing your kids' essays.

I am fastidious about grammar and punctuation on essays so I would never call something "finished" if it had grammatical errors or typos. However, not only is it inappropriate for me to re-write essays, it would very much count against the students if I were to do that. Colleges (yes, even Ivies) are wary of too much polish, which could indicate AI or a different writer. Every time I read an essay, of course I think about what I might have said differently, but it is not my essay and not my voice. I might brainstorm with a student. I might give feedback in the form of questions or encouragement to reflect on what an experience meant to a student. I might suggest that the student include a specific example here or there. But I am careful not to insert myself into the essay. If the essays are great in the end, it is because the student really took the time to write and rewrite. I think parents may not realize, though, that sometimes the little style imperfections lend some authenticity.

For what it is worth, I don't think students *need* private college counselors. I think most parents hire one for the executive function support and to preserve their relationship with their student. Just don't mess it up for them!

Curious what you think of this essay here?
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/1223607.page

Anonymous wrote:Spent ~$15K on a counselor. We almost never talk to the counselor. I think we have talked twice in the past 8 months, and email is only between the counselor and our DS. Our DS talks regularly, and they email and text between calls. DS just updates me after each of his calls, and we chat about general strategy, workload, etc.

He's applying to over 15 schools and has completed everything except the supplemental essays for two or three schools.

It's been invaluable. The counselor helped us set expectations very early on several things, including which schools really were targets vs reaches. DS is at a public HS, so we are getting the kind of advice from the counselor that kids at private schools likely get directly from their school. Public school counselors have a lot more to worry about than getting your kid into a T20, so if you can afford it, outsourcing makes sense.

Anonymous wrote:Independent College Counselor here.

Just want to throw in a little warning to parents about over-editing your kids' essays.

I am fastidious about grammar and punctuation on essays so I would never call something "finished" if it had grammatical errors or typos. However, not only is it inappropriate for me to re-write essays, it would very much count against the students if I were to do that. Colleges (yes, even Ivies) are wary of too much polish, which could indicate AI or a different writer. Every time I read an essay, of course I think about what I might have said differently, but it is not my essay and not my voice. I might brainstorm with a student. I might give feedback in the form of questions or encouragement to reflect on what an experience meant to a student. I might suggest that the student include a specific example here or there. But I am careful not to insert myself into the essay. If the essays are great in the end, it is because the student really took the time to write and rewrite. I think parents may not realize, though, that sometimes the little style imperfections lend some authenticity.

For what it is worth, I don't think students *need* private college counselors. I think most parents hire one for the executive function support and to preserve their relationship with their student. Just don't mess it up for them!

Anonymous wrote:Our counselor gives kid work to do between meetings so there is still some reminding on my part. He is more of an average student so I’m not sure this counselor has really been “worth it”. There aren’t tons of supplements for his schools. I wouldn’t hire one again unless my next 2 kids are shooting for ivy+

Anonymous wrote:Independent College Counselor here.

Just want to throw in a little warning to parents about over-editing your kids' essays.

I am fastidious about grammar and punctuation on essays so I would never call something "finished" if it had grammatical errors or typos. However, not only is it inappropriate for me to re-write essays, it would very much count against the students if I were to do that. Colleges (yes, even Ivies) are wary of too much polish, which could indicate AI or a different writer. Every time I read an essay, of course I think about what I might have said differently, but it is not my essay and not my voice. I might brainstorm with a student. I might give feedback in the form of questions or encouragement to reflect on what an experience meant to a student. I might suggest that the student include a specific example here or there. But I am careful not to insert myself into the essay. If the essays are great in the end, it is because the student really took the time to write and rewrite. I think parents may not realize, though, that sometimes the little style imperfections lend some authenticity.

For what it is worth, I don't think students *need* private college counselors. I think most parents hire one for the executive function support and to preserve their relationship with their student. Just don't mess it up for them!

Anonymous wrote:Independent College Counselor here.

Just want to throw in a little warning to parents about over-editing your kids' essays.

I am fastidious about grammar and punctuation on essays so I would never call something "finished" if it had grammatical errors or typos. However, not only is it inappropriate for me to re-write essays, it would very much count against the students if I were to do that. Colleges (yes, even Ivies) are wary of too much polish, which could indicate AI or a different writer. Every time I read an essay, of course I think about what I might have said differently, but it is not my essay and not my voice. I might brainstorm with a student. I might give feedback in the form of questions or encouragement to reflect on what an experience meant to a student. I might suggest that the student include a specific example here or there. But I am careful not to insert myself into the essay. If the essays are great in the end, it is because the student really took the time to write and rewrite. I think parents may not realize, though, that sometimes the little style imperfections lend some authenticity.

For what it is worth, I don't think students *need* private college counselors. I think most parents hire one for the executive function support and to preserve their relationship with their student. Just don't mess it up for them!

Anonymous wrote:When the kid finally enters a competitive college, and the various types of parental/tutor support are unavailable, would that kid then struggle? Or is the secret that while it’s tough to get in, the school work is actually manageable without any extraordinary effort?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been staying on track with essays and all due to the weekly meetings with college counselor. So, that is good. But, I just read some of her supplementals, which have been reviewed and “approved” by the CC I do not like them for various reasons. I also reviewed the common app, and there are mistakes and typos. ECs should have been drafted better. It looks like I need to be involved.

Yes to staying involved. I too have found a lot of errors in counselor's work.

Anonymous wrote:My kid has been staying on track with essays and all due to the weekly meetings with college counselor. So, that is good. But, I just read some of her supplementals, which have been reviewed and “approved” by the CC I do not like them for various reasons. I also reviewed the common app, and there are mistakes and typos. ECs should have been drafted better. It looks like I need to be involved.

Anonymous wrote:… are you more or less hands off as a parent? Do you still find you have to help with the application and school list? Does your counselor help figure out good fit schools and guide DC on the nitty gritty stuff in the application? Brainstorming essay ideas?

Trying to figure out the best type of counselor and how much it costs for someone who truly helps guide DC on all aspects. (Or are parents pretty involved regardless?). Not looking for someone who writes the essays or changes DC’s voice.