<p>Decided to start a new thread here. Is this “fair?” Would admissions officers at colleges be happy to hear from a paid consultant, even if he is a former headmaster?</p>
<p>Forgot the link- here’s a quote from that article in the New Canaan (CT)Advertiser:</p>
<p>“For students involved in athletics, performing arts, student government or any other activity that might put them over the top, Whitcomb-Haney will compile a DVD as part of an extracurricular package. Each will be accompanied by a student profile and phone calls to coaches and regional directors of admissions.”</p>
<p>I think we are all living in LaLa Land if we don’t think much of this is de rigour.</p>
<p>Sad, but true.</p>
<p>Here’s what the admissions deans at Georgetown and UVA have to say:</p>
<p>"What do you think of the trend of hiring consultants to advise families on applying?</p>
<p>Deacon: Not much. I dont talk to them. Were famous for not being willing to talk to those folks.</p>
<p>Blackburn: The people who hire consultants usually have their kids in the best schools in the country. I think its just to buy a little peace for themselves. Others may do it just for the little edge it might give them. But Im not sure that it does. I havent seen it make any difference in our process."</p>
<p><a href=“Getting In To Top Schools - Washingtonian”>Getting In To Top Schools - Washingtonian;
<p>Yep, I know someone who hired one of these folks. The goal was not to get into a top tier school. The student was unmotivated, very average, and the parents just did not want to deal with daily nagging, nor investigating “fit”. The family is wealthy, so they can well afford a consultant. The consultant worked 1:1 with the student for both applications/essays (made suggestions), and in finding schools where he will fit and be likely to be admitted. He had a lot of success with the consultant, but not better than he would have had if he researched, and had the fortitude to apply without hand holding. They are a full pay family at mediocre private college.</p>
<p>A little googling locates the article. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.acorn-online.com/news/exec/search.cgi[/url]”>http://www.acorn-online.com/news/exec/search.cgi</a></p>
<p>This seems to be two pleasant, underemployed fellows looking to do something they like, and try to make a few bucks in the process. They’ll probably get a few takers, but I seriously doubt their results will end up being much to write home about for the cliients, or much to fret about for those who don’t use them. </p>
<p>They only thing in the article that seems particularly useful is the idea of having the kids apply someplace that will admit them. Not sure how much that ought to cost, but if you can’t figure it out on your own, then it clearly has some value. </p>
<p>As for the DVD, anyone can do that anyway. Whats important is whether you have any worthwhile content to put on it. If you do, you don’t need the DVD. You’ll have a good transcript, good scores, and (as Harvard might put it), distinguishing excellence in some academic or extracurricular area. Don’t need a movie to explain most of the distinquishing accomplishments we see on these boards.</p>
<p>I think the UVa / Georgetown interview and reaction is telling. It has to be a negative to have some unkown hired advocate calling the place for you, particularly at the selective schools. I don’t think that this is a service that makes much sense for students looking to a top 50 school. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over its “fairness”.</p>
<p>That’s a good perspective, DadX. Anyone else?</p>
<p>I don’t know about fair. I do know that I have family members (not my immediate family so don’t bash me please :)) who go to an elite private east coast HS. Their headmaster and guidance counselors have long term relationships with certain adcoms. Their prodding/calls/etc. do have some weight. If someone like that were to retire and become a consultant I would guess they might have some advantage for their clients.</p>
<p>My experience in the upper-tier schools is that it would be more common for the college AdCom to phone the high school GC to check in (or check out) on prospects, than the other way around.</p>
<p>The only incident I am aware of in which a private consultant successfully got through to an AdCom after a decision had been made, was to clarify the appeal process. Even with personal affiliations, most college AdCom’s will not discuss a specific student with a private consultant, since the consultants do not have unbiased access to the students’ classroom performance.</p>
<p>College counselors at many private schools work and nuture these relationships with admissions at top colleges. I know at my son’s private school, his counselor called the adcom at each and every school to which he applied to “sell him” to their school.</p>