Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thank you all for the feedback.

I've been doing some of the "free" stuff already (on Reddit - helping some FGLI kids as well as scholar match). Will look into other suggestions now - thank you!!

For the PP, who doubted me - how weird?
I have two kids (my own) who I've helped get into multiple T20. Through a local org supporting low-income kids (similar to B&G club), I've read drafts and completed apps for several (yes, plural) kids.

And then, yes, if you are our age, you have a LOT of friends and family who come to you once they see the success your kid has had in the process (read this, help review draft app, revise EC list, suggest summer activities to support major, develop a "theme").

My own kids actually didn't have perfect stats or profiles AT ALL - and one actually had some "flaws". I'm not even advertising here - why the HATE or disbelief? My own kids didn't have the perfect stats for HYPSM, but other friends & relatives did (and were eventually successful). Why is that hard to believe?

Anyway, to the actual helpful responders, thank you. I'll explore opportunities for application reading this summer, along with perhaps trying to get some experience with a more legit private counseling firm.

You do? Honestly and with all due respect I have never seen this happen with anyone in our large family and friend group ever. Lots of parents have kids who are admitted to top colleges who are not inundated like you say you have been. It’s just not typical. If it’s happening the way you describe, it’s because you were taking the lead other parents - not the other way around.

I literally know of no one who has ever gotten involved with any of their kids’ friends’ parents over the details of their college applications the way that you have described. Not once.

Asian parent here. Kid at T5. People we barely know ask for advice when they ask where DD attends. Like the NP at CVS minute clinic wanted to know what clubs DD had done (so her son could join those). A white ortho whose kid attends a boarding school and is legacy at T5 wanted to know which activity of DD’s made a difference. The Asian moms I meet at parties are all of a sudden interested in getting to know “me” but ask what DD did and what advice I would give their kids. I am actually advising two kids for fun! But realizing these parents just love to brag and think their kids are the BEST ever. Something about the way these kids are being raised turns me off —like whatever happened to humility? If this is what college counselors have to deal with in a regular basis, they are earning their money!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Thank you all for the feedback.

I've been doing some of the "free" stuff already (on Reddit - helping some FGLI kids as well as scholar match). Will look into other suggestions now - thank you!!

For the PP, who doubted me - how weird?
I have two kids (my own) who I've helped get into multiple T20. Through a local org supporting low-income kids (similar to B&G club), I've read drafts and completed apps for several (yes, plural) kids.

And then, yes, if you are our age, you have a LOT of friends and family who come to you once they see the success your kid has had in the process (read this, help review draft app, revise EC list, suggest summer activities to support major, develop a "theme").

My own kids actually didn't have perfect stats or profiles AT ALL - and one actually had some "flaws". I'm not even advertising here - why the HATE or disbelief? My own kids didn't have the perfect stats for HYPSM, but other friends & relatives did (and were eventually successful). Why is that hard to believe?

Anyway, to the actual helpful responders, thank you. I'll explore opportunities for application reading this summer, along with perhaps trying to get some experience with a more legit private counseling firm.

You do? Honestly and with all due respect I have never seen this happen with anyone in our large family and friend group ever. Lots of parents have kids who are admitted to top colleges who are not inundated like you say you have been. It’s just not typical. If it’s happening the way you describe, it’s because you were taking the lead other parents - not the other way around.

I literally know of no one who has ever gotten involved with any of their kids’ friends’ parents over the details of their college applications the way that you have described. Not once.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ADHD mom and I *wish* I had shared what I had known with a friend: Their son is graduating from a private high school on the west coast. The parents are educators and they have some money for college but also very real financial limitations. Their son was advised by the college advisor at his school to apply to a wide range of schools that... was heavy on out-of-state flagship public universities.

We all know where this is going, right? He got into some of the top programs in the country for his major -- and his parents had to tell him that he wouldn't be able to attend. Luckily they ended up with one (just one!) solid and affordable option, but WOW they got terrible advice from the school counselor, who was focused entirely on where he could get in and not at all on what they could afford.

My friend is kicking herself for not getting a second opinion and for so thoroughly trusting this highly-regarded private school professional. But just didn't know what she didn't know, and felt that she was already paying for this service and should have been in good hands.

Anyway, she didn't want to second guess a fellow educator, and I didn't want to drop unsolicited advice. But... man. Just because people get paid to do a professional job of things or have certain credentials really doesn't mean they know what tf they're doing, and that some of us couldn't really provide valuable service.

For what it's worth, I have a friend who does this on the west coast and does very well. SHe also got into it after her first two teens successfully (on their terms) went through the application process. She came at it from a background first in personal fitness coaching, and then in small business coaching. So while the knowledge base came later, she had a solid foundation of working with with clients to develop clarity on their own goals, priorities, challenges, etc. And because she has that experience and focus, and not just a tendency to default to some generic "what's best," people love working with her and her business is thriving.

Look, with all due respect, sure you did a nice job with your kids, but it makes you an expert on nothing. Many people do a nice job with their kids. It’s all about economics. Recognize your privilege. Unless you’re talking about doing this for poor kids for free, you’re not adding anything of value that isn’t already there.

NP. Look, with all due respect, stop yucking someone else's yum. Four-year-olds can get that; I'm not sure why you can't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ADHD mom and I *wish* I had shared what I had known with a friend: Their son is graduating from a private high school on the west coast. The parents are educators and they have some money for college but also very real financial limitations. Their son was advised by the college advisor at his school to apply to a wide range of schools that... was heavy on out-of-state flagship public universities.

We all know where this is going, right? He got into some of the top programs in the country for his major -- and his parents had to tell him that he wouldn't be able to attend. Luckily they ended up with one (just one!) solid and affordable option, but WOW they got terrible advice from the school counselor, who was focused entirely on where he could get in and not at all on what they could afford.

My friend is kicking herself for not getting a second opinion and for so thoroughly trusting this highly-regarded private school professional. But just didn't know what she didn't know, and felt that she was already paying for this service and should have been in good hands.

Anyway, she didn't want to second guess a fellow educator, and I didn't want to drop unsolicited advice. But... man. Just because people get paid to do a professional job of things or have certain credentials really doesn't mean they know what tf they're doing, and that some of us couldn't really provide valuable service.

For what it's worth, I have a friend who does this on the west coast and does very well. SHe also got into it after her first two teens successfully (on their terms) went through the application process. She came at it from a background first in personal fitness coaching, and then in small business coaching. So while the knowledge base came later, she had a solid foundation of working with with clients to develop clarity on their own goals, priorities, challenges, etc. And because she has that experience and focus, and not just a tendency to default to some generic "what's best," people love working with her and her business is thriving.

Look, with all due respect, sure you did a nice job with your kids, but it makes you an expert on nothing. Many people do a nice job with their kids. It’s all about economics. Recognize your privilege. Unless you’re talking about doing this for poor kids for free, you’re not adding anything of value that isn’t already there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ADHD mom and I *wish* I had shared what I had known with a friend: Their son is graduating from a private high school on the west coast. The parents are educators and they have some money for college but also very real financial limitations. Their son was advised by the college advisor at his school to apply to a wide range of schools that... was heavy on out-of-state flagship public universities.

We all know where this is going, right? He got into some of the top programs in the country for his major -- and his parents had to tell him that he wouldn't be able to attend. Luckily they ended up with one (just one!) solid and affordable option, but WOW they got terrible advice from the school counselor, who was focused entirely on where he could get in and not at all on what they could afford.

My friend is kicking herself for not getting a second opinion and for so thoroughly trusting this highly-regarded private school professional. But just didn't know what she didn't know, and felt that she was already paying for this service and should have been in good hands.

Anyway, she didn't want to second guess a fellow educator, and I didn't want to drop unsolicited advice. But... man. Just because people get paid to do a professional job of things or have certain credentials really doesn't mean they know what tf they're doing, and that some of us couldn't really provide valuable service.

For what it's worth, I have a friend who does this on the west coast and does very well. SHe also got into it after her first two teens successfully (on their terms) went through the application process. She came at it from a background first in personal fitness coaching, and then in small business coaching. So while the knowledge base came later, she had a solid foundation of working with with clients to develop clarity on their own goals, priorities, challenges, etc. And because she has that experience and focus, and not just a tendency to default to some generic "what's best," people love working with her and her business is thriving.

Look, with all due respect, sure you did a nice job with your kids, but it makes you an expert on nothing. Many people do a nice job with their kids. It’s all about economics. Recognize your privilege. Unless you’re talking about doing this for poor kids for free, you’re not adding anything of value that isn’t already there.

Anonymous wrote:I'm the ADHD mom and I *wish* I had shared what I had known with a friend: Their son is graduating from a private high school on the west coast. The parents are educators and they have some money for college but also very real financial limitations. Their son was advised by the college advisor at his school to apply to a wide range of schools that... was heavy on out-of-state flagship public universities.

We all know where this is going, right? He got into some of the top programs in the country for his major -- and his parents had to tell him that he wouldn't be able to attend. Luckily they ended up with one (just one!) solid and affordable option, but WOW they got terrible advice from the school counselor, who was focused entirely on where he could get in and not at all on what they could afford.

My friend is kicking herself for not getting a second opinion and for so thoroughly trusting this highly-regarded private school professional. But just didn't know what she didn't know, and felt that she was already paying for this service and should have been in good hands.

Anyway, she didn't want to second guess a fellow educator, and I didn't want to drop unsolicited advice. But... man. Just because people get paid to do a professional job of things or have certain credentials really doesn't mean they know what tf they're doing, and that some of us couldn't really provide valuable service.

For what it's worth, I have a friend who does this on the west coast and does very well. SHe also got into it after her first two teens successfully (on their terms) went through the application process. She came at it from a background first in personal fitness coaching, and then in small business coaching. So while the knowledge base came later, she had a solid foundation of working with with clients to develop clarity on their own goals, priorities, challenges, etc. And because she has that experience and focus, and not just a tendency to default to some generic "what's best," people love working with her and her business is thriving.

Anonymous wrote:U-Miami is looking for a seasonal part-time reader.

https://careers.miami.edu/us/en/job/R100087740/File-Reader-for-Undergraduate-Admission-Domestic-Applications-Temporary-Position-%C2%A0

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sounds great!

I would chart out a three year plan:
year one - get a job as a reader, any college
year one - volunteer as a college counselor for under resourced kids. there are several national orgs, maybe some local two

year two - get a job as a reader, but try for prestige this time
year two - continue working with kids as a volunteer

year three - same and same and post on Facebook. try to get 3-4 private clients at low-ish rates.

then it's off to the races. I'd try to add 5 kids a year, increasing rates til you get to market rate

I think this is good advice!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also -- PP here -- for those who assume that we support our kids by micromanaging them, my big flex was doing NOTHING with child #2 college-related until like October of senior year, when all of a sudden, she came to ME. THEN it was hands on. But just a freebie for ADHD parents: Sometimes the best way to support is through mild disengagement. Which is crazy-making, but with some students it is really the best way for them to make the process work for *them*

Ok sorry just wanted to brag for a moment lol. feel free to resume trolling now y'all have at it

Supporting your kids (in a variety of ways) is normal and wonderful. What is odd to the point of being almost unbelievable is saying you've helped 4 others through the process and credit yourself for ensuring they picked good schools (based on their stats) to apply to. How does this organically come about?

Anonymous wrote:Also -- PP here -- for those who assume that we support our kids by micromanaging them, my big flex was doing NOTHING with child #2 college-related until like October of senior year, when all of a sudden, she came to ME. THEN it was hands on. But just a freebie for ADHD parents: Sometimes the best way to support is through mild disengagement. Which is crazy-making, but with some students it is really the best way for them to make the process work for *them*

Ok sorry just wanted to brag for a moment lol. feel free to resume trolling now y'all have at it