<p>I think college selection is terribly complicated, because you have to compromise between fit, cost and other parameters.</p>
<p>I have found that the NPC for Case and RPI to be very promising.</p>
<p>I don’t know if a counselor will help with providing good financial suggestions.</p>
<p>I know that our HS counselors are limited that way. I can use naviance to find school where my daughter will be accepted. I can select schools known for merit.</p>
<p>Some people might think so, but might not realize how much colleges can cost these days. Given the posts around here from people who have too high an income to qualify for financial aid anywhere but feel that they cannot afford list price at the most expensive colleges, it is not too early to get an early warning about college costs. Waiting until the kid’s senior year (or worse, April of the kid’s senior year) may be too late to make the necessary adjustments to household finances.</p>
<p>We used a private counselor with oldest kid because she had somewhat unique circumstances. She was an elite athlete in an obscure sport and was on a national team. It was her only EC and it took up all of her time outside of academics. One result of that was her GPA (B+) would probably have been higher if it she hadn’t been involved in traveling for competitions. She had very strong SAT scores.</p>
<p>The counselor looked at D’s list of colleges and chanced her. He also gave advice on how to approach each application and suggested a few other colleges for her to consider. It was a one-time deal with the counselor. D felt that she could do the rest on her own. The guy was spot on–each college that he said was a long shot was indeed that. The colleges he said were likely to accept her did so. She ended up at Tufts and loved her four years there.</p>
<p>That being said–I’d use a counselor if your kid has unique circumstances. Generally, these private counselors offer good advice, but it’s not something that one can’t get from CC and other resources that are readily available for much less expense. I do think that many public high school guidance counselors (even those in excellent public schools) aren’t very creative and don’t think outside the box. They often tend to steer the kids towards the same set of colleges and universities. In their defense, most kids/parents are satisfied with that. For the kids who want something different, hiring a private counselor can be very helpful.</p>
<p>I think it depends on how much time you have to spend on college research. We know a few families with hired counselors for their kids starting 10th grade specializing in ivy league admissions. I think it’s a “thing” with high cost private high schools as those are the families we know using them. They seem quite happy with their choice but I have to say, every time they are excited to share information, it’s been stuff I already know. That said, I only work part-time and I’ve been able to spend hours researching. Not everyone gets to do that.</p>
<p>I don’t think most high school counselors have much to offer. We’ve only experienced two though. One had no idea who my daughter was after 2 years in the school (and we actually worked with her on a couple situations.) The second has a ton of information but she babies the kids, discourages them from taking chances, makes decisions on what info to share based on what SHE thinks is best for them (and it’s often not in line with the family.) We sort of work around her.</p>
<p>I don’t think it’s necessary in most cases to hire outside but I agree that if I had a kid with a special circumstance, private college counselling would seem beneficial.</p>
<p>I think that the real value in a college counselor would be to set the kid straight. No, you can’t sit around and play video games all day and still get into Harvard. No, you don’t need ten different clubs and activities; pick a few that you really love and do them well. Yes, it looks bad if you only join up with a club during junior year so you have something to put on your applications. Yes, it is fine to change a sport or an activity, but do not change all of them every year. </p>
<p>A counselor can also help to manage expectations on the part of parents and students regarding how difficult it is to get in, costs, merit aid, and how most top schools do not offer merit aid but offer generous need-based aid. A counselor can explain that yes, ten years ago, most students applied to a handful of schools: now, they apply to ten or more. Likewise, many very good schools were once safeties for top students, but are now reaches for almost anyone. </p>
<p>But if you know how to use a net price calculator, can look at how hard it is to get into many schools, and understand that your kid will probably apply to six to eight schools, then save your money.</p>
<p>A good packaging is like putting on good makeup, it shouldn’t be noticeable, but some how you just look better. It is a myth that adcoms could see through it.</p>
<p>D2’s counselor told her that a free competitive summer program trumped any paid program, so D2 competed for one of hardest programs in our state while going to an international school. She got in and wrote a great college essay about her experience. How could adcoms know it was suggested by her private counselor? D2 had to choose between two very meaningful ECs, but couldn’t do both because of time constrain. Her counselor told her which one carried more weight. Her counselor guided her, but no one could have gotten her into any those programs but herself.</p>
<p>I have friends who hired private college guidance and they’re very happy with them. The counselor keeps the students focused and also be realistic when it comes to college applications, based on their SAT scores, ECs and so on, plus essay review. Both kids are athletes and they both want to do sciences in college. The two kids are now seniors. We’ll see how things go. But so far, both families are very happy and think the money is well spent.</p>
<p>I have friends that hired counselors that packaged their kids a little too well. I’m not talking top 20, but not too far below. The result was a bad fit and unhappy kids.</p>
<p>The kids are actually supposed to write the essays themselves (I know, I know…) . Anyway, go with what you are comfortable with. Is it more important that your child get into a “reach” school or one that is appropriate for them? This is an individual decision as we all know what levels our children are likely to step up to. I’m not in favor of one over the other, just in favor of reality.</p>
<p>DS had DD’s counselor freshman year. Then the hs added a 4th counselor the next year and redistributed the alphabet. So at one of the teacher conference nights, we stopped by to meet him. He was very friendly and asked if we thought DS would be intending to go to college. It was pretty obvious he did not yet know DS by name. DS was almost 2 years into the pre-IB program with straight A’s, and he later went on to be NMF.</p>
<p>My D had three different counselors in four years. I met with them regularly as we were transitioning her from an IEP to a 504.
It was frustrating to put in so much groundwork to build a relationship and then see them leave for suburban/private schools.
Admittedly, it is a very challenging school & the counselors work their tails off, although I volunteered a great deal including in the counseling office which made us more of a known quantity.
One of the counselors even chaperoned the students on a trip to west Africa, where he is Chief of a rural village.
Im slightly embarrased to admit it now, but I met with one of the counselors before D started high school, as I wasnt sure it was the right fit for her. ( she was going from a very small alternative school & this school not only was much larger, but " inner city" with all the challenges that entails)</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the helpful replies, especially the examples of specific situations where<br>
independent counselors were beneficial. This information will be very useful in making a decision about when and if to hire a counselor for our son!</p>
<p>Also wanted to thank newjersey17 for the private message. I tried to reply, but it looks like it may not have gone through because I don’t have enough posts to PM??</p>
<p>There is so much information available online, we have been better able to target the right colleges for our kids than their high school counselors were able to. We hired help for private SAT prep and application essays. Not to have someone write the essays but for them to guide the topic choice and writing style while reflecting the students’ voice. Essays and SAT prep are the most nerve-wracking part of process for me as a parent so a neutral third party has been much appreciated by my kids and by me.</p>
<p>Some families hire private counselors hoping to get admitted to prestigious schools. Other do it to find the right fit and/or good value via college scholarship opportunities.</p>
<p>One thing you can do since your son is in 9th grade is to follow these forums for a year. You will see the usual pattern:</p>
<ul>
<li>Early fall: high school students trying to figure out where to apply to, new college students moving in.</li>
<li>Late fall: high school students making last minute applications.</li>
<li>Spring: admissions and rejections.</li>
<li>April: students and parents choosing among admissions.</li>
</ul>
<p>Some mistakes will seem common after reading the stories here:</p>
<ul>
<li>Not figuring out cost constraints before making the application list (some students have to remake most of their application list in late fall after figuring out that most of their original list is unaffordable – or worse, some students get admissions in April, but none affordable).</li>
<li>Not using the net price calculator on each school’s web site (many students just assume financial aid; others ask here “does ____ give good financial aid?” instead of using the net price calculator).</li>
<li>Not choosing the safety school first (many students are scrambling for a safety in late fall after choosing their reach level dream schools; a few get shut out in April).</li>
</ul>
<p>My bestfriend’s D went to a great public school and though her daughter was an exceptional student, they just didn’t feel confident enough to navigate through the admissions process on their own. For them, spending several thousands for an independent counsel was well worth the peace of mind. This girl was a first generation so the professional help was invaluable as she was able to meet with her counselor met several times; and, as I understand, the counselor would assign her tasks to complete and report back to her her progress. </p>
<p>The result was phenomenal as she was admitted into every one of her dream schools and ultimately chose Cal which has been an amazing fit for her, she’s really thriving there. If I could afford it, it would be worth it for me!</p>
<p>Unlike many on these boards, my D14 is NOT a compliant, self-motivated, driven, type A girl with stratospheric stats. She’s a typical (even, horror of horrors, average) teenager who spends too much time chilling in front of a TV or on the phone with friends rather than studying. </p>
<p>After a rocky 3.2 UW GPA start in 9th grade, we hired a private gc. BEST decision, bar none. Having someone other than her parents to be accountable to made all the difference. Her grades in HS skyrocketed and she couldn’t wait to show her counselor her progress. </p>
<p>He suggested which classes to take, which schools to consider based on projected stats, desired major, geographic preference, etc. They offered 28 hours of essay writing in the summer to help minimize fall stress.</p>
<p>It’s been a great experience so far and I’ve recommended them to many. Not every family needs or wants a private counseling service to help. But, not all kids and families are the same and what works for one, may not work for another. YMMV.</p>
<p>Hello- My daughter sounds exactly like yours- I am a single mom and feel that I need to delegate alll of the college admission stuff. Can you tell me who your daughters counselor was? How did you select them?</p>