<p>Hey guys,
I'm applying to basically all top 20 colleges and want to know if a paid college consultant is worth it. My goal school is UVA and maybe they have something that could help me get in. I know the lady who would be couceling me and she was the dean of admissions at Coloumbia for 20 years.
Has anyone had any experiences with these type things?
Thanks</p>
<p>It depends on your idea (or your parents) of the value of money. We received free counseling services as a job benefit two years ago and they were way off the mark. They underestimated D’s chances and suggested a list of colleges that held no appeal for her. We didn’t bother to use them for essay work or anything else. I wonder if they produce a list like that to keep their number of ‘success’ stories high.</p>
<p>Most people on this forum will tell you the information is out there, for free - this forum and your local library are good starting points. I don’t think counselors can turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse. If you’re a VA resident, your chances are different than OOS. These are all things you can learn online, no fee.</p>
<p>UVAorBust, you know more about the admissions process at UVA than anyone out there! And what you don’t already know, I am sure you will find out. I don’t think there is a counselor on the planet that can help you! And as much as you love UVA, you are just going to have to roll the dice like everyone else. The best thing you can do is focus on the things you have control of: your grades, your test scores and your essays. And spend some of your time and energy researching other schools and finding reasons to love them also, so that when decision time comes, you will have choices that you will be happy with.</p>
<p>I think it depends when you start the process. Don’t wait until junior year in hs, start earlier. A good consultant should meet with you and gauge your interests making suggestions about which courses to take, how to deepen your interests in terms of ECs. he or she should help you generate a list of schools including safties and stretch schools. As far as essays are concerned, you must write them, the consultatnt can read and perhaps suggests changes but the essays should be yours. Is it worth it? It is hard to tell. If you are getting more than from your HS guidance counselor or your own research, then yes, it is worth it. It is, of course, difficult to prove their success rate.</p>
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<p>You mean, like a trick? Or like knowing someone in Admissions? Or like knowing that the school is looking for an oboe player among this year’s class?</p>
<p>Not particularly likely.</p>
<p>If you DON’T have the grades, class rank, and test scores for a top 20 college, no amount of money paid to a college counselor will help you get in. </p>
<p>If you DO have the stats for a top 20 college, a counselor might be able to help you polish your essays, but aside from that, there’s not much for them to do.</p>
<p>A good counselor would inform you of your goal of applying to a top 20 school. Besides, what does “top 20” mean. Whose ranking system?</p>
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<p>I would not pay one dime to a counselor who thought that was a good plan. </p>
<p>We paid for a Stats Check through College Karma and it was worth every dime. Not only did the woman we work with clarify for us what was a reach/match/safety (& she was dead-on accurate), she provided a few new matches and safeties to consider. She also made sure that our son had done all the correct testing for the colleges he was applying too. </p>
<p>If you want the peace of mind of having a very experienced set of eyes look over everything, then it’s worth it. If you are looking for someone to help you get accepted and will be disappointed if that is not the end result, then it’s not worth it.</p>
<p>Excellent point pugmadkate!
Nobody can guarantee anyone admission to a true “top 20 school”, so only applying to top 20 schools is VERY RISKY. Besides, “top 20” schools may not be in the top 20 for everyone’s major. There is soooooo much more to a college experience than a ranking.</p>