Curious about college admission counselors ... - Page 2

epiphany · 07-21-2008, 01:15 PM

My sentiments exactly. Gap year was almost the choice of a young man I know. At the last minute, he decided to accept a safety enrollment with a guarantee of a transfer to a reach. Those initial apps had been due early, though they were not "Early" rounds.

Oh, for the "good ole days" when you could apply, LOL, in summer after graduation for many/most colleges. Very, very ancient history.

JHS · 07-21-2008, 02:07 PM

epiphany, I don't think any private counselor should be guaranteeing success. But I am perfectly good at getting my kids to resist suggestions and to insist on doing things I don't think are good ideas. My skills at that are excellent! And I don't charge me anything to do it, either.

If I want my kids to ACCEPT suggestions, and NOT to do stupid things, I might well be willing to pay someone who was better than I at making that happen. I would think that anyone who makes a living educating teens -- and that includes independent college counselors -- ought to have those skills in their toolboxes. It won't work every time, of course, but it better work a lot of the time or they won't be making a living that way for long.

epiphany · 07-21-2008, 02:12 PM

I don't disagree with you, JHS. The problem is getting the student to articulate what he or she does not know yet. An awareness problem or a decision conundrum is very different than expressing a goal optimally. (The student I mentioned, admitted after decisions were in, "Now I know what I really want to do.")

d101parent · 07-21-2008, 04:16 PM

Friend of son hired a college counselor for like $4000, and is getting advice on where to go to school...and i don't think it is a well thought out plan....Is the counselor getting a kick back from the school??? No of course not, but it reallly doesn't seem like a good fit for him (son's best friend, I've known him his whole life). The kid is buying it 100%.