<p>i heard...
i know of many students that paid a whole lot of money for college advisors who supposedly who had many contacts in the industry. Many of these students ended up getting admitted not only to their top choices but almost everyone of them hit their first or second choice, and I am talking about places ranked in the top 10 by US News. In fact, I know one student who honestly admitted to me he had a college advisor well conntected in the business and he was later admitted to every ivy (i mean every one) minus H and Y, he got into MIT as well. Nothing special about him, typical 1510 SAT, good grades, apart of math team, mock trial, etc.. very smart. He was an intel semifinalist but this came out kinda late, idk how big of an effect it was for him.</p>
<p>I had friends with similar stats who ended up at places like Tufts and NYU b/c they didnt use a private advisor.</p>
<p>My question, are these advisors worth the enormous costs they charge and how well connected are these ppl, can they really call up an admissions office and be like, hook me up with student x...</p>
<p>Is filet mignon worth the premium price? Your question is all relative to disposable income. Is a cab better than a private limo or discount airline better than NetJet? You aren't actually asking what you want to know. I think you are wanting to know if paying a large sum of cash will get your kid into the school of your/kid's dreams.</p>
<p>that is the question of the hour, thanks for articulating it so well</p>
<p>Will paying a large sum of cash for an advisor get your kid into the school of your/kid's dreams to a college advisor very conntected and how big of an influence can these "advisors" have.</p>
<p>How much money do you have? How connected are you to the school of your kid's dreams? Many people are connected, the kid has the goods and the parent who is a high achiever is too busy......or doesn't want to strain the relationship w/ child over apps. The reasons why some folks clean their own bathrooms or do their own shopping is quite variable. Fee for service is what makes a market. A buyer and a seller. If there were not a buyer these folks would not be in business. Does your Toyota drive better than your Ferrari?</p>
<p>i guess my simple question is that how powerful can college advisors be (the ones that charge like 200-500 dollars an hour for their "valuable" time). I did some research and I am trying to learn more about this. I know that they call up schools and are like, i am calling on behalf of student x. My question what gives them the ability to do this and how does this take place....and trust me, these ppl can charge this b/c they know what they are doing and they get these kids admitted. I am not saying that these students are donating money..</p>
<p>How good can a top surgeon be or a top broker or a top lawyer. People command big bux because they have achieved whale status in their industry.</p>
<p>For lots of folks who are more than happy without a stretch to fork over $200k for sonnyboy's college education, the extra $30k is pocket change. </p>
<p>Is it worth it? (Shouldn't the question really be - does it work? I mean there are those of us who would question whether HYP etc. is really worth a premium, or a significant one, over 40 or 50 other places to begin with.) Who knows? Can't do a doubleblind experiment. But then the risk of $30k for those who can afford it is really relatively minor to begin with.</p>
<p>Value is in the eye of the beholder. But then....</p>
<p>Here is a thought. If you yourself are a $500/hr lawyer or whatever, then the time YOU spend helping your child with the college application process has significant "cost." There are people I know who have actually stopped working for a year or whatever to 'help' their child with the process.</p>
<p>So, then the question for these people might not just be in the incremental value of HYP...it might be the incremental value of their own time as well.</p>
<p>sorry to say this but i would appreciate if ppl could specifically address my question. When a college advisor has a contact, how does this work, that is my name. if they know someone at school x, what goes on?></p>
<p>hazmat,
The only econ I am taking is value assessment that comes with paying full ticket for 2 private colleges. My professional time does, however, does have value and as such I pay people to do a range of things that while I might do, are not good time investments- I 'throw money at the problem'...that said, no big bucks were shelled out to college advisors, only United Airlines and Avis.. A parent might easily place themselves at arm length's distance from this, and just write checks, I suppose, but it was never a consideration for us- financially or philosophically (not studying that either).</p>
<p>hazmat, ru like a philosophy major, b/c u like don't answer anything directly, everything is around the bushes, i mean i commend you for the high level of thinking you display....</p>