<p>Here is a recent personal experience that may or may not shed some small light: I teach writing to the gifted. One of my students had an ACT tutor who apparently drums up business by telling her clients at the start that their writing is terrible and will get their applications tossed in the trash. I know this to be untrue in his case because he has been in my course and is a good writer who has recently won a national essay contest (with a monetary award, to boot). I have volunteered to read and critique (NOT rewrite) his essays for nothing because I think he has been abused by this "tutor." She led him to doubt himself terribly.</p>
<p>I have no way of knowing how many such people are out there, but it seems clear that this one is an example of what is to be avoided. It never occurred to me before he told me about what had happened to him that this COULD happen. Just know that it can and be watchful.</p>