<p>How does one vet a college counselor when most don’t provide references because of confidentiality? (Even if the counselor was recommended by someone, that is only one person and their circumstances may be different than yours, and if one finds the name on the organization websites then there are no references at all.)</p>
<p>Input? Thanks!</p>
<p>I’ve known of parents hiring college advisors but I have yet to hear of any of any amazing results. In fact I think they sometimes backfire by making the student appear too well packaged. </p>
<p>Ask again April 1 and I can tell you more based on feedback from my personal circle of parent-friends. </p>
<p>Hm. I provide references, as well as testimonials. There is no confidentiality problem there. Confidentiality belongs to the client, and the client can decide to talk if she wants to. If this is important to you, there are certainly advisors out there who will let you speak to a former client or two.</p>
<p>However, if there’s someone you really like, and you would hire them but for the lack of references, ask to work together for a couple of hours on an hourly basis so that you/your child can make your own judgment. Good advising isn’t just about the results in April. It’s about making you/your child feel confident and comfortable during the process. It’s the advisor’s job to build that trust. Good luck!</p>
<p>post error. Sorry</p>
<p>Cannot imagine why anyone would pay $$ for this service when all the info you need is right here on CC. 
</p>
<p>^^^There may be a lot of information on this site, but how does a parent new to the process figure out which
anonymous poster knows what they’re talking about?
Anyone who feels they need some guidance shouldn’t feel bad because they are seeking it out. Some parents work full-time and can’t devote hours it takes to do the research or sift through the information on CC and would gladly pay someone for their knowledge- just like in any field. </p>
<p>Hanna has very good comments, above. If I were looking for a college consultant for my child, once I did the initial background vetting of certification, education, etc., I’d want to interview them with my kid present, and let my kid do the picking. The relationship and chemistry between the counselor and your child is probably the most important aspect to the success of the outcome, imo.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There is a long answer to that rhetorical question. But here is the short one: There is a lot of medical information on the web, but most people facing a tough illness will still seek the help of a reputed specialists, if one can afford it. Especially when the “subject” is a loved one. </p>
<p>There is indeed a wealth of information on College Confidential, but the target is to complement (and often entirely replace) the abysmal state of guidance in most high schools. One, however, needs to recognize that the anecdotes are representing an individual case that might not apply to a general population. In so many words, the great advice lacks the most important facet: the individual evaluation and, perhaps, the individual corrections needed. </p>
<p>Lastly, speaking about strict economics, consider the highest of “quoted” fees that might reach $40,000 for a full high school term "counseling) and compare that to the total expenses paid for K-12 and … the 4-6 college years. For some, the cost of private schools might be 300,000 to be followed by a similar number for college. So what it a few thousand dollars more? Does it make sense for an attorney or doctor who charges 600-750 dollars per hour to scout the web for college advice? It might nbe cheaper to hire the right “assistant” and, as a bonus, set aside the responsibility and potential blame … in case it did not work out! </p>
<p>Again, people who face a nasty divorce will seek the best attorney possible. Sick people the best medical advice that money can buy. Athletes will seek to join the best programs. And the list goes on. </p>
<p>PS Hanna is right. The best counselors (or most known) will not hesitate to share testimonials and provide details about their results. Fwiw, it is NOT always about getting into that elusive Ivy League school, Stanford, or MIT. It is all about finding the schools that match the student the best. For some getting into a very competitive state school requires just as much work. </p>
<p>PPS Considering the success of the well-connected private counselors, it is obvious that the adcoms have not refined their skills in ferreting the “packaging” out. Remember how Kat Cohen got Kavvya through Harvard? And that is “e pluribus unum.”</p>
<p>Thank you for this valuable input. Xiggi - I was quite surprised to see that you support college counseling in certain situations even though I think (maybe I’m wrong here) that you feel that SAT tutors don’t necessarily add value versus prepping oneself. I agree with everything you wrote. </p>
<p>I don’t know the story of Kat Cohen and Kawya (although I just Googled someone’s Linkedin with a similar name so this may be to whom you were referring) and am curious if anyone can enlighten me.</p>
<p>Thanks again to all!</p>
<p>Okay, I found the reference - had forgotten about that whole thing. I guess it’s nice that the college counselor was connected enough to get the kid a book deal, but I’m not sure it was even part of her “packaging” as it happened after she was admitted. But yes, obviously some very highly paid NYC counselors also happen to have a lot of connections…although I feel like if your parents have the kind of money that Kaavya’s did, then connections can be generated any number of ways. </p>
<p>Lots of reasons for hiring experts for many things in our life.</p>
<p>While there is often excellent advice on these forums, you are basically seeking advice on one of the most expensive financial outlays of your life…and may be getting advice from kids who have not even gone through the process! You may also be getting advice from parents about what worked for their kids, but they may not be like you. </p>
<p>Other family’s situations are not necessarily like you own, either. </p>
<p>Most college counselors will have at least a few clients/parents whom are willing to talk to prospective clients about their services. I find that the best clients in my field are by word of mouth, and have already been vetted that way. The few I get through other means will either hire me, or won’t. </p>
<p>College Confidential has it’s place, but it’s not perfect. Not everything you read here is 100% accurate. </p>
<p>I totally agree with xiggi. If you are fortunate to have the means to hire a private counselor, do so. If you are satisfied with the persons credentials and outcomes (they should be able to provide references), then there is no reason not to pay for what you can afford. With the state of public school counseling these days (and even some private schools…) it is worth it to get as much help as possible. CC is a great tool with many wise people sharing their experiences. I have learned a great deal from so many wonderful people. If I could, however, I would hire a private counselor in an instant!</p>
<p>I got D2’s college counselor through my brother. We met with him to make sure D2 liked him, asked about his staff, his success rate. Our relationship was over 2 years. His business was smaller when we first met him and it grew a lot over 2 years, so I felt D2 was getting less attention over time. Lets just say I had to keep him focused on D2. Since college counseling maybe a long term relationship, who you hired in the beginning may not be the same after a while, so it is important to monitor it closely.</p>