@TiggerDad … accepted, but many of us weren’t thinking about college admissions when that came out (in our case we weren’t even living in the US and had no plans to). However considering it’s been all over the press very recently, it seems odd that someone aiming at Harvard for their kids wouldn’t know about it.
You betcha, @thumper1.
These apps are start-ups looking to make a buck. It’s PT Barnum. It’s no better than having a current college kid on CC (or recent grad) purport to tell you what some college looks for.
If Harvard wants solid thinkers (among other things,) don’t assume some college kid is your ticket. “Current admissions advisors” likely refers to the employee titles in their venture.
On another big name advising site, the “former [big tippy top] admissions” person did the work and left in 1993.
Your decision. No magic. Your kiddo needs to be the sort who does her due diligence.
Of course, there are legit folks. But they do not claim to “Get you into your dream school.”
I agree with lookingforward. The apps are start ups trying to make a buck. Recent Harvard grads write lots of them and work for start ups. That doesn’t mean its going to help you get what you want.
And who knows what they do with the data they mine.
@thumper1 had thought the same thing, but my daughter said her friend knows 100% that she’s working with a current Columbia ad officer. Again word of mouth and everything people are mentioning is exactly why I posted originally.
Very skeptical along with all of you so just doing some recon work, thanks for all the support and help.
@collegedad13 thank you, admittedly my fellow moms have been unhappy with their admissions consultants, which is why a few of them tried out an app and viola, I asked to see what we were possibly missing. Sounds like no one here has used any apps so now going to filter through the presumptions and give it a try.
So are you suggesting that current adcoms are moonlighting with this service? And that they can sway the admissions one way or another?
Really?
I hope not, that would be unethical, against institution rules, and a violation of NACAC’s SPGPs
https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/advocacy-and-ethics/statement-of-principles-of-good-practice/statement-of-principles-of-good-practice-spgp-with-highlights.pdf
Anxiousmom, you’re anxious. A number of us are speaking with some perspective.
There’s lots of language in life that spins the truth, masks the reality. If someone is certain it’s a Columbia officer, did they get the name? Kids don’t know whom they’re dealing with online.
Put another way, that head of xxx admissions counseling I referred to, above, tells you she has the experience. She doesn’t admit it was more than 25 years ago. In that span, Harvard’s competition for an admit place has doubled. Trends and instituional needs can change from year to year.
Don’t buy the bridge.
I could claim to be a former Harvard admissions rep. I did the admissions work for a doctoral program at Harvard 30 years ago. What did that teach me about undergraduate admissions at Harvard? Diddly squat.
Caveat emptor.
One of my kids worked in undergrad admissions…as an undergrad. Clearly, she could,say she “worked in admissions at blah blah college”.
But also clearly…she has NO influence on current admissions at the school. She had no influence on admissions when she worked there. That wasn’t her job!
We don’t even know this gal’s stats, rigor, possible major, ECs, how she thinks, what the family can afford. And those are ust the usual starting point. If it’s somewhere, Imissed it.
For all we know…this student is in middle school…
“So are you suggesting that current adcoms are moonlighting with this service? And that they can sway the admissions one way or another?”
I do know an Ivy adcom. He kindly spent an hour and a half chatting to my D a while ago. He encouraged her to apply to his university (she’s not going to though), but did mention that if she did he would be unable to be involved with any decisions on her application. I’m sure this kind of “recusal” is normal for anything that might not be seen as objective.
Or hide behind the pretense of anonymity. Crazy. Not naming them in no way confirms, “Ooh, they mus te authentic if they can’t tell me who they are.”
We’ve been through lots of this “sounds so good on their website” consultant discussions. Most don’t clearly pass the sniff test. The words are suspect. The way they try to lure you in is obvious. “Get you into your dream school?” In your dreams.
Do as you wish. Just don’t waste time assuming. Try to get your own read on what really matters, from what’s written on the web pages and shown in examples they tout. Legacy is not a guarantee.
Teams read tippy top apps. No one person has the only say. Proceed with cauton. Be informed.
The bottom line is you get what you pay for.
- Do your own research, and lots of it;
- Talk to parents of older kids who have gone through the college admin process and are from your local high schools. They have a wealth of information and insight;
- ask for several recommendations of private college counselors who are paid by the hour, not paid as a package;
- meet with and interview several local counselors before you hire one;
- come prepared with questions from your own research and due diligence;
- IMO, college admissions is very personal and cannot be done well by using an app and anonymous counselors.
What I like about D’s counselor is she knows my daughter, has reviewed her entire HS transcript, has interviewed my D (e.g. what is her intended major, what additional classes she needs to maximize her chances at certain target colleges, etc), knows her HS very well (the honors/AP classes and teachers) and admit rates for the local students and her clients. She has a pulse on college admissions in real time as she lives and breathes college admissions on a daily basis. To me, this is money well spent.
Going to a cheap online app will never be a substitute for a personal private college counselor. Just my 2 cents.
It sounds to me like you are anxious because you want your kid to go to Harvard, which you know is one of THE most competitive colleges in the country for admissions. And you want her to have THE best shot of getting accepted. A good college counselor can’t get her accepted, but can help her present herself application wise in the best light. No guarantee of admission, however.
My opinion…you will be a LOT less anxious if you can sit down and help your daughter choose a couple of colleges where she is a sure thing for acceptance or close to it…and where you can pay the costs…and where she would be happy to attend.
Get those sure thing schools chosen…in her applications, find an Early action or rolling admissions school. Have her apply early. That first acceptance really takes the edge off. If cost isn’t an issue, and she has a clear first choice (and this has to be HER choice…not yours…does she even want to go to Harvard) then early decision might come into play…or SCEA.
Harvard is an excellent university, for sure. But really…if that is your ONLY college wish…you should be anxious…because it’s not a sure thing for acceptance for anyone. Harvard will review your kid’s application along with the many others it receives…from well qualified applicants. The adcoms are building a class…so they are looking at the things on that application that will help build that class.
A real person college consultant can help that application be in the best light…but…again…guarantees of admission? NO!
“Going to a cheap online app will never be a substitute for a personal private college counselor. Just my 2 cents.”
Spot on, especially aiming at highly selective colleges.
Our counselor (who was recommended locally and who gave us a very helpful free first consult, bearing in mind neither of us parents went to college here) gave us the option of paying by the hour, or 2 different packages. We chose one of the package options and are very glad we did, it’s worked out well for us. Maybe the hourly vs package consideration varies by counselor too?
@shakepearomere ah, ok. The 2 packages our counselor offered were finite hours, one more than the other aimed mainly at those who planned to apply to a number of ivies. Our D will definitely have ended up with enough hours in her package (they are working on the last few college-specific essays atm) and we are beyond where we would have broken even on a pay-per-hour basis for her. The other counselor we were strongly considering did only offer a package now that I think of it, but I no longer remember the details.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. I think the OP got enough answers to her questions, but now the thread is attracting spammers.