I just found out that all the top kids from my school have been using private college consultants to curate their application since freshman/sophomore year. By this, I mean show them/help them get into internships and programs, and of course help write essays. It feels really discouraging as a senior and I feel really behind. My parents don’t know a lot about college, and I’ve had to seek out every experience myself. It’s not like my family couldn’t afford it either, it’s just that none of us ever knew that this is what many other families are doing. Anyone have any advice/thoughts?
We never used college consultants. You can get plenty of excellent advice here for free.
You don’t need a curated application, you need to be who you are and present it in a positive light.
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Yes organize your qualifications. Your classes, grades. List what activities you’ve done.
What year are you ?
Do you have a college list ? Have you discussed budget with your family ?
You don’t need private consultants. You can get help here if needed.
But you simply need to get organized, ensure you are taking the right classes, participate outside the classroom if schools of interest care (and most don’t), and formulate a budget.
If you’re in 9th or 10th grade, you have time. Few people overall use consultants - it’s not an issue for you.
So step back. Tell us more about yourself.
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I’m already a senior, so it’s too late for me to really do anything meaningful, and I just have to focus on my essays. But it’s just really discouraging in an already stressful process to find out that other people are in a completely different playing field that I had no idea about, if that makes sense.
Do not be discouraged. Many of the applications with curated activities, parent procured internships, etc. do not come off very well to admissions officers.
Present your accomplishments in a positive and organized manner and you will be fine.
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The VERY vast majority of college applicants do not work with college consultants.
At this point, you are who you are, and that is an authentic YOU…which I think is very important.
Perhaps do a chance me/match me thread here. Answer all of the prompts and folks can give you ideas, suggestions, feedback. We also have a group of essay readers who can give you feedback there.
Here’s the link to get essay feedback: https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/follow-these-instructions-to-get-essay-help/3640959/
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@chordsandaccords the very best thing you can do for yourself now is stop talking to your classmates and families about the college application process. Really…as you noted, do a good job on your essays. Make sure you have a list of affordable colleges…with at least a couple with an excellent chance of acceptance.
If any colleges on your list have rolling admissions…get those applications done as soon as they are open for submission.
Have you discussed college costs with your parents? How much are they willing to contribute to your college costs annually? That’s something that is well worth finding out!
We can offer advice if you do that chance me/match me thread…and you want some input.
You can’t wind the calendar backwards. So…work with what you have!
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It’s not discouraging unless you want it to be.
Some eat dinner at Outback Steakhouse. Others at Mortons or Flemings.
Your background is your background and the most important thing is you find a college that:
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you can afford
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matches or works with your profile
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fits you
If you need help there, you can do a Chance or match me.
But nothing to be discouraged about and basically you’re with the other 99.9% !!
My kids had me (and an ACT tutor). Other families have them or counselors or this board or what not. Few pay.
No reason to look back - and guess what, going to the top school ensures nothing in life, just like being a hs drop out doesn’t ensure failure.
Chin up - let’s get organized - and go from there.
Tell us about yourself or look at a chance me - and then follow that format to do one for yourself…or match me if you need names
Think of the process like race at a track meet. You are approaching starting blocks right now. Some of the kids you are racing against came to meet in fancy cars. Some of the racers have been warming up for hours with their coaches. Some of the kids have the latest $300 track spikes. Some kids have the expensive sports drink. Doesn’t matter. When the gun goes off you can still beat them with talent. Focus on your race, not how others arrived. Smoke them.
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I only know one family who spent thousand on a consultant for their oldest. Tbey thought if was a waste of money (and money was not the issue), and chose not to use one for the next 2 kids.
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OP- for every success story you hear, there are three families out there regretting how much money they spent on a private consultant so that their kid could end up at…. fill in the blank.
I know a family that bought one of the top end packages and the daughter ended up at our state flagship. It’s a fine place- but NOBODY needs their EC’s “curated” to get in there. Grades, scores, social security number. You’ll find out in two weeks if you’re in or not. The “Dream schools”- no. The target schools- all no. So off the the state flagship. The parents can’t stop talking about how much money they spent.
You do you. Most families cannot afford a consultant- and many who could, choose to spend their money in other ways (like paying tuition!) You will be fine!
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Fwiw, AOs tend to be quite good at seeing through a high school experience curated for college admissions. Could the right CC have been helpful? Possibly. Here’s how:
Helping you ensure that your course selection met the requirements of colleges. Enough FL. Enough rigor. The right science classes for an engineering application. Odds are that if you are the kind of student who likes what selective schools offer, you have done this already. And if you haven’t, there are still tons of schools that would be a great fit for you.
Encouraging you to look for schools that are a great fit for you rather than trying to fit yourself to a school. (See above on AOs seeing through profiles.)
Helping you come across authentically in your essays. See response above about essay help.
Encouraging you to engage with what you love, whether working at an animal shelter, joining the debate team, or painting sets for a play. You can still do this, and if you haven’t, ask yourself why not.
Keeping you on track with your applications. On this one, make sure you know what’s needed and by when and give yourself plenty of time for all of it - including polishing at your end.
Jsyk, some of these CCs also misdirect their clients by not allowing them to be authentic. You have not wasted any of your time in high school pursung activities to apply for a school that may reject you anyway.
TLDR: Find the school that fits you. Don’t try to fit the school. You’ve got this.
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The other students may have an advantage, but, if you have used your time pursuing your true interests, you should be fine.