<p>Did anyone else read this article? I was a bit surprised to read this article. I didn't realize that there was such a demand for this type of service. It seems quite exorbitant given the price of colleges (especially selective colleges) nowadays. Are these type of services just for the rich? </p>
<p>Yes, I read the article. If parents are willing to pay, why not? I couldn’t afford it but I would never judge other families who can. I believe Ivy Wise offers a college admissions weekend workshop. They charge $14,000 for the 2 or 3 days. </p>
<p>I was mistaken, Admission Assurance charges $15,000 for the 2 day weekend workshop. </p>
<p>Honestly, though, I’d like to see what you’d learn at that workshop that I haven’t been able to glean from lurking on CC for the past three years…for free. </p>
<p>Many of those firms employ ex-admission people from those colleges. I don’t think any of us here would have that insight. We only have our kid’s college process experience/</p>
<p>I know there are parents who would pay private counselor a bonus of 6 figures (on top of what they pay for counseling) to get their kid into a top 20 school, and a sliding scale as you go down the ranking.</p>
<p>I never realized that people would pay this much to get their students into a selective college. But, I guess if you have the money (and perhaps not enough time/ or know what to do), it can only help. </p>
<p>Hmm, well between the application fees, two test prep books, the college board testing fees, sending test scores and transcripts, maybe $100 per school?</p>
<p>Well, college research and applying takes time and energy no matter where you are looking. And of course it helps to understand the process, but does it really take more time because it’s an “Ivy”? </p>
<p>That article was a train wreck. Amherst is a fine, selective, liberal arts college. It’s not a member of the Ivy League. Yale doesn’t offer early decision. The Amherst applicant–and her parents–need to talk with a family therapist, not a education consultant. I’m sure the consultants cashed the check. </p>
<p>For all the numbers cited in the article, it lacked the most important figures. Just how many parents hire these consultants? The article reads very much like free advertising for the services to me. It would help to know if we’re discussing a common choice or the lunatic fringe.</p>
<p>I think there are more people doing it than they are willing to admit. It is kind of like getting a cosmetic surgery, when asked, people usually say, “I look better now due to my healthy living.”</p>
<p>I have seen posts here on CC by members who have enlisted these types of services. A few on the Parents of high school students 2014 as a matter of fact. Not sure what the outcome was but each family paid quite a bit. The TODAY show did a segment on the IEC industry. I wonder if they would have done a segment if it weren’t so popular. </p>
<p>I have read that SAT PREP classes/studying for standardized tests were unheard of 25-30 years ago. Look at that industry now. Who would have ever imagined the rise in the test prep industry 30 years ago? </p>