<p>Has any of you done the Ivy Guaranteed Admission Program by Dave and Salley? I read about this and maybe subscribe for my son.<br>
Only thing is it is very expensive. I would like to hear from any parents or students who have done this program. Thanks</p>
<p>how come no one knows about this program?</p>
<p>I did not do this program (S got ivy aacceptance which he rejected in favor of Williams), but we did use Dave on an hour by hour basis. He was incredibly generous and helpful. We ended up spending something like $350.00 all tolled I think, may $450.00 at the most. PM me if you want more details.</p>
<p>Several people here have used the Stats Evaluation, which is quite a bargain and proved helpful.</p>
<p>We all know about this program. Most of us recognize that CC can apply this program to the pick of the litter, who likely will not need it. Many of us recognize it is not relevant to our kid. CC will tell you whether it is for yours. It is alot of money, but so is private school, SAT prep, violin lessons, soccer club, etc. If an Ivy is that important to you, and you can afford it, and you are not comfortable navigating the college app process without alot of help, then it probably is worth it.</p>
<p>You may also wish to consult your son as to whether he is interested in it.</p>
<p>Thank you all of you for your comments. My son definitly want to have the chance to have Dave's opinion. but my only concern is the cost!!</p>
<p>I've never explored the services but just took a look at the terms. The following would give me grave concerns...</p>
<p>
[quote]
14. Concerning waitlisting: If an IGAP client is waitlisted at one of his or her designated IGAP colleges (and not admitted to the other), s/he must follow College Confidential’s official waitlist-reversal procedures and submit documented proof of having executed all designated steps. If the student elects to enroll, instead, at another college, then the IGAP agreement is void and the student forfeits the entire IGAP fee. The purpose of this condition is to exhaust all possible avenues to obtain admission to the IGAP-designated college.</p>
<p>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but that seems to be saying you waive your right to a refund if your kid sends in a deposit at another school while remaining on what is most likely a futile waiting list at an Ivy. It could end up that the student has to take a gap year in order to get the $15,000 back. I'd ask for a clear interpretation on that rule.</p>
<p>thanks Momofour for that, I got to ask about this</p>
<p>Are you worried not about the "cost" = $. ??
or
Are you worried about any negative comments?</p>
<p>Our's applied to a few of "these" schools. I don't think he was really interested in them and only applied because he wanted to know if he could do it, and get accepted. He had more focus and really wanted another school which had a better reputation in his fields of study. </p>
<p>Looking back on his application days, I think the cost of applying to these IVY's was as waste of money, especially when he got into his preferred school .</p>
<p>Why "grave concerns". Sending a deposit elsewhere does not preclude staying on a wait-list.</p>
<p>thisoldman i am not worried at all about any negative comments. my son and I would gladly accept any comments both positive and negative. cost-wise worry me!</p>
<p>drb so I would not have to be concerned? If my son is on waiting list we still can make the deposite to other colleges without any penallty, thats what it means right? If he gets off the waiting list than CC has done what they guaranteed.</p>
<p>If your son wants Dave's opinion, I'd suggest that you start with the $89 stats evaluation.</p>
<p>J mom, your son would have to be ACCEPTED into the IGAP program. However, if he is not accepted into it, that doesn't mean he can't or should not apply to elite colleges. He still can and you can do a regular Senior Package (which includes many students applying to top colleges, as well as students who are not). Also, even IF he is eligible for IGAP, you don't have to go for that package if it is not affordable or desired. You could still get unlimited help with a counselor on call through your son's process by doing a regular Senior Package which costs considerably less. The regular senior package is also meant for students who could be eligible for IGAP. So, you do have options. </p>
<p>In any case, the stats evaluation is $89 and you can not only find out if your son would be accepted into IGAP, but whether he is or isn't, you'd still have advice about an evaluation of his background and suggestions of appropriate colleges and so forth from that Stats Evaluation, so you can't lose by taking that first step. You could opt to JUST do that and do the rest on your own, or sign up for some hourly counseling, or sign up for a comprehensive Senior Package, or if accepted into IGAP, consider doing that. The Stats Evaluation has no strings attached. You'd find out if your son would even be accepted into the IGAP counseling program, but also come out with a Stats Evaluation no matter what, which ought to be quite useful. </p>
<p>If you have further questions about IGAP or any of CC's counseling services, you should email Dave or Sally directly. I'm sure they also could provide references from former clients who have done IGAP if you would find that to be helpful.</p>
<p>thanks everyone!!</p>
<p>Start with the stats eval for $89. Our daughter got a great report and there was NO attempt by Dave to push her into spending more money for additional services. I was very, very impressed. By the way, she is now heading off to school and Dave was right on the money in his assessment.</p>
<p>I am bumping this thread because of the current discussions of safeties, matches, and reaches. Our son did the stats evaluation last August for both a reality check and to get the opinion of a non-parent on his chances at a school my husband and I thought was too much of a reach. </p>
<p>Dave's evaluation was right on with his suggestions for schools that would be a good fit throughout the safety to reach range. This affirmed our thoughts on son's list. He also gave practical suggestions for our son to improve the presentation of his information. (I gleaned similar information from parents on this site; however, because our son heard this from someone else, he finally took it to heart. THIS MADE THE $89 FEE VERY WORTHWHILE.) Included with the evaluation is an opportunity for a follow-up email question and answer. Son used this about a month later to get an opinion on his resume and to finalize his decision to apply ED to his high match school and establish Plan B in the event he was not admitted. He ended up getting in ED to the school that husband and I were originally not going to fly him to visit because we thought it too much of a long shot. (Son now felt the fee was very worthwhile as it gave him the edge in convincing his parents.)</p>
<p>A good time to use a stats evaluation would be in the early to mid summer after one has their June ACT and SAT scores, their final Junior GPA and rank, a solid writing sample, and a good start on their school list.</p>
<p>Best of luck to all those entering the admissions process in the next round.</p>
<p>DS did not do any program. Accepted to an Ivy. Two schoolmates used a college coach for (what to me) was a lot of money. They both got into very good schools (Hamilton and Davidson). I don't know that the coach helped as they are both in the top ten of their class. Impossible to know the outcome without the coach.</p>
<p>We did the stats eval four years ago and it was right on the money. I think that additional help from the CC folks would be especially useful if:</p>
<p>1) the interaction between you and your kids were likely to end badly if you were on the do-it-yourself plan</p>
<p>2) you don't have the HOURS and HOURS to devote to researching the situation carefully (and your HS counseling department is not, shall we say, the A team)</p>
<p>3) you think the stress of the do-it-yourself plan isn't worth it</p>
<p>Another point is that it is a lot easier to evaluate a situation if its not your kid you are looking at. </p>
<p>Best of luck with whichever route you take.</p>
<p>MomofNewP....</p>
<p>The purpose of a college counselor is not to get you INTO college, nor is it to get you into a "better" college than you could have without the counselor. We don't get kids in. That is not the advantage of using a counselor. </p>
<p>Ohio Mom mentioned some of the benefits (and there are others) of why someone might want the guidance of someone with college admissions expertise. </p>
<p>Just in terms of college selection itself (which is only ONE facet a counselor helps with), I can tell you that I observe countless students and parents who craft VERY unrealistic college lists. A lot follows from one's list in terms of a successful outcome. </p>
<p>It is possible to do all of this on your own. Some find the guidance of someone who knows the ins and outs of the admissions process to be helpful and it can also alleviate some of the stress of this overwhelming process. Some don't have time to explore it all in depth. Some find that an adult working with their child is helpful as it is different than a child's listening to (or not) or working with their own parents. A counselor is more objective. A counselor may have strategies of how to craft a better presentation on the application. </p>
<p>The counselor doesn't get your kid in or isn't about getting he/she into a school that they could not get into without the counselor's guidance. There are guidance counselors at school for a reason too. Typically a school counselor, however, has far too many students to be able to give anywhere near the kind of one on one help that an independent counselor gives or has responsibilities besides college admissions in his/her job. In some cases, a GC may not have the expertise in the kinds of colleges a student may be pursuing (ie., elite college admissions, or specialty college admissions such as performing arts).</p>
<p>But comparing where Johnny got into college who used a counselor with where Susie got in who didn't use a counselor is not really what this is about. Also, contrary to what some believe, not all who work with private counselors land at "top colleges". I have had MANY students who have fairly weak profiles. Those students also need help. If I told you where certain students landed at college, it appears you might think...."wow, no name school" but we work with all types of students who are seeking all types of colleges and we help them to find appropriate schools for THEM and to achieve successful admissions outcomes. Successful outcomes are not measured in terms of how prestigious the schools are that these students get into who worked with counselors. I have had students go onto elite colleges but I also have students who are seeking and are suitable for colleges that are not on the radar on CC. All types of students and families may seek help from a college counselor, not just those seeking Ivy admissions.</p>
<p>For a few kids I know that have used private counselors (not CC), the counselors underestimated their chances. All were accepted into schools that the counselors said were huge reaches. It suggested to me that the counselors' good track record was a function of "their selection" more than their help.</p>