<p>And the counselors who are able to charge the high fees that make the sensationalist news with regularity are NOT tageting legions of parents. Part of the mystique (there was a great college admissions books with a similar title) is the rarity and exclusivity of the services sold. And, they stay in business through results and their ability of being able to select their clients in the first place. </p>
<p>The reality is that services are not meant to be for everyone, but for a number of people delegating the process is a lifesaver as it avoids conflicts and plenty of screaming teenagers. After all, for some, it is easier to earn more money at the office than trying to become an advisor. People with the means would not hesitate to recruit the best attorneys or doctors when ill. They simply make a similar decision for their children. </p>
<p>My own history is one of complete DIY as I grabbed all my information from sites such as this one, and sought the advice of people in the know with relentless abandon. This helped me realize that it was important to bypass the GC’s office (even at a private school) and find the answers by culling the collective wisdom of people who knew. Along the way, one has to realize that the “people in the know” are the same who get criticized for charging high fees. </p>
<p>Yes, one can find plenty of information in a seminal book such as A is For Admissions or … hire the person who wrote the book. For some, spending 20 dollars is hard and for others … shelling tens of thousand dollars is a no-brainer. </p>
<p>I don’t see anything wrong with it, myself. I wouldn’t spend tens of thousands, personally, but if other people want to – well, it helps the economy and it’s no skin off my nose.</p>
<p>It depends on the goals families and students have with regard to the admissions process. I don’t think it was particularly hard to find a great match school for my daughter. But, while there was an ivy or two on her “short list,” getting into the most prestigious school possible was not her goal or ours. With proper “packaging” and a four-year plan focused on creating a resume that would appeal to elite admissions departments, she probably could have “done better” in the eyes of some. But I also know that she probably would have been miserable at Harvard or even someplace like JHU and missed out on some great high school experiences on the way. I think students and families are being ill-served by advisors who are grooming kids for schools that they are not particularly well-suited to. </p>
<p>Although I won’t pretend to know how every advisor works when hired, I happen to think that their success depends from actually finding the schools that are BEST suited for their clients – and often in direct contradiction to the usually absymal “advice” from the adults in the life of the students. Professional counselors who are successful tend to pick students according to the abilities of the students and the often directly proportional abilities of the students. </p>
<p>The work is not as much to groom someone beyond his or her capabilities but to help focus on which ability translates into something the schools are (currently) looking at. Their existence relies on knowing when to abandon the trip to Africa, the endless schlepping to Suzuki classes, or trying to get Book Awards from XYZ school. I think that the image of getting blood out of turnip is mostly mythical. High prized counselors earn their living making great kids look even greater. While it might and should work with kids with very humble backgrounds, it remains that the activities and schools attended by the well-off offer a much more fertile soil to pick and choose from. </p>
<p>In the end, adjusting the objectives to real outcomes is what make a counselor worth its price. </p>
<p>“The somewhat known figure is that 26% of “high achieving students” hire an independent counselor. That number has been published in numerous articles over the last 2 years.”</p>
<p>No way in the world. I don’t even think it’s 26% in Manhattan. </p>
<p>Speaking as an independent counselor, you’re describing our wildest dreams. Maybe we’ll get there someday.</p>
<p>A while back on the BS forum, someone posted about the use of IECs by parents with children who attend elite NE boarding schools. Schools that have been in the business of preparing students for and personally guiding them toward great schools for centuries. After paying north of $200K for high schools precisely in this business, you still feel your snowflake needs MORE help? My head exploded.</p>
<p>I wasn’t making this statistic up. Google the phrase “26% of high achieving students use college (or independent ) counselors”. Whether or not you believe the number, it is THE statistic used…even Dean Furda at the University of Pennsylvania has quoted that number. I am not defending the number; just pointing out that it is what is quoted repeatedly in the news. </p>
<p>We hired a private college counselor. It wasn’t to help get them into any particular school but rather to get me out of the process. She set dates when thing were due. Helped brainstorm ideas. Etc… She’s known I our town as the counselor for kids who want to do their own work. She edits but in no way does the writing for them. I could have done all of this but it would have led to battles and since the money is not an issue it was well spent to keep the whole process from being an issue. The counselor also came up with a choice that we never would have thought of on our own and it’s probably where my younger daughter will go. </p>
<p>Repeat something enough and it just might become true. Or so does an association that finds an obscure question buried in an oblique report worthy of quoting both ad nauseam and … out of context obviously think! Chances are the few hundreds responders did NOT understand the definition of paid counsellors or did not know how to answer.</p>
<p>When it comes to that 26% statistic, I think the “of high achieving students” is important. Depending on how they define “high achieving”, that number could actually be pretty small.</p>
<p>We did not hire anyone and used the school’s college counseling department for D who is currently in the process. But agree that it can be money well spent just for the purpose of taking the parents out of the process as far as getting things done. May reconsider with next child 18 months from now.</p>
<p>“it speaks volume about the counsellors association to misuse it with such glee.”</p>
<p>What counselors’ association? “Premier College Advisors” is a company. There are two associations for professionals in this field: The Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Neither has endorsed this statistic or research conducted by this method.</p>
<p>It is hard to tell what percentage of college students use a college consultant. At our high school they send out a survey every year asking seniors about what the college application process. However, the students know that the GCs take it as an insult if you used a college consultant, and that it is frowned upon. </p>
<p>I would say that about half of my daughter’s friends used a consultant, but they all said that they did not on the high school survey because it is not anonymous. </p>
<p>I addressed the source of the “data” reported by IECA. It is an obscure and out-of-context data point. As far as being the “other” large reputable organization, I am afraid that such as statement falls short. Quite short, indeed. </p>
<p>The few people whom I know used private counselors did not get their kids into Ivies. Just saying, I don’t observe the advantage, nor usage rate, claimed by those who want to sell their services. As with any service, caveat emptor. I’d assume they push forward their success stories, and don’t talk about their failures.</p>
<p>I learned an interesting and effective tip from a friend who did use one of those expensive counselors successfully. It didn’t matter, though, because my kid was unwilling to do what was recommended. He did just fine in the admissions process (he went to a large public U and is now employed in his field - I could not have asked for more), but no one was going to tell him not to be the true him - which is oftentimes part of what the fancy counselors recommend!</p>
<p>“I learned an interesting and effective tip from a friend who did use one of those expensive counselors successfully. It didn’t matter, though, because my kid was unwilling to do what was recommended.”</p>
<p>What helpful tip would have prevented your kid from being the “true him”?</p>
<p>Hanna,
As I mentioned last week, GOOGLE “ieca 26% of students.” and you will see more links than you can imagine. It has been widely reported for several years. Whether or not you believe the data is one thing, but that is the number that is repeatedly given. In my daughter’s small public magnet school, 30% were accepted into the Ivy or MIT/Stanford and at least 50 % of them used counselors ( although different ones ) I’m not saying they got in because of counselors. … all very bright accomplished kids. I am simply stating the facts. </p>