<p>It’s “nice” this kid had custom mentoring that got him into Syracuse and with some successful college skills. But how does that show us this company can get a kid into an Ivy or other elite?</p>
<p>Most college counselors, imo, end up managing expectations, maybe altering them. The straw they spin into gold isn’t that they can get a nearly expelled kid into “the ivy of your choice.” In this example, the magic may be that they turned Syracuse into the desired “win.” </p>
<p>It takes way more than a million to really exert pull to get a kid into an Ivy. And the process is more than just giving the money- a development rep will have a relationship with the donor that allows him or her to ease the parent away from the expectation they can buy the kid’s way in- if the kid is not qualified. It happens. </p>
<p>ALP, when you package small private companies to sell, I assume you work to know, quite clearly, what the right potential buyers want and what this seller can offer to meet those needs. What tells us Ma knows what adcoms want? </p>
<p>Looking</p>
<p>These outfits hire a LOT of ex Ivy adcoms as staff, so they know what colleges want. They are not hiding their staff composition either, their advertising proudly announce their “wares”. </p>
<p>Things change fast in the admissions world, even over very short periods of time-- what kids bring to the table, the ways they present themselves, the new opportunities in hs and local communities, or with enrichment programs, etc. Plus what the college needs. And no one can predict, from year to year, what the various common strengths will be among the competition. In a sense, Ma is looking back, not at any present pool. </p>
<p>Can that be effective? Sure, in some ways. But the competition is still there and fierce for “the Ivy of your choice.” For every turnaround tale, there are plenty of other applicants who never needed to turn anything around, were always on track. Can Ma influence their actual self presentations (how they complete their apps?) Yes. But he cannot promise they will get an admit. Hence the offer to return some of the money spent. I don’t doubt he provides some service. And that a kid can be thrilled to get into Syr or whatever. </p>
<p>On the web site, I see lots of degrees for the consultants and no mention of admissions experience. Maybe I missed it? Nor do the job openings ask for admissions experience. Correct me, if I’m wrong.</p>
<p>Looking</p>
<p>I know things change but the principals and general directions do not vary much. Besides, since these adcoms have old colleagues to talk to they can keep the changes abreast. </p>
<p>I did say “outfits” and I saw many competitors of MA advertise with adcom credentials. I really did not follow MA’s business closely. </p>
<p>In our business, changes are more frequent than in schools. You just have to adapt, it can be done. </p>
<p>"If I’m the owner of a billion dollar private company, I can hand the company to whoever I want to. "</p>
<p>I am not sure if you are there or not, if you are not, how do you know that? I advise less than 100 million dollar companies, they even care the CEO education background, their employees care as well. My business is to package those companies so they can be acquired by Private Equities. Same theory, different audiences."</p>
<p>I stand by my statement. Handing a company down to an heir and packaging it to be acquired by someone else (or taking it public) are different things. </p>
<p>The private companies I know of are in the fashion, retail and manufacturing industries. Things like the largest privately-owned wholesale t-shirt company in the US. Their clients want good quality at low prices. They don’t GAS if the owner went to college at all, frankly, much less where. Get real. </p>
<p>It just gets the insecure more insecure and the rest of the people nothing. Yawn!</p>
<p>600k is a bargain! The parents at my son’s prep school had to cough up 8-figures to buy a building.</p>