Paid college consultant - ethical and fair?

Parents Forum
1

<p>I was upset hearing a parent mentioning that he paid over 15K to the college consultant who helped her daughter prepared all her college applications including writing the essays. She did manage to get in all the prestigious schools and was recently interviewed with those 8-year combined Medical Scholar program. Yet, kids with similar (or better) academic background in the same high schools applying same schools got declined, and wait-listed. </p>

<p>I wonder how careful are these admission officers in screening applications, and how fair it is if there are paid consultants beating the system not to mention the time they save...(I recall seeing my son labored over the essays for his college applications from Summer until January) With every schools claiming 20% increase in applications, his numerous wait-list and rejection notices sure are demoralizing!</p>

<p>Care to share your thoughts and opinions.</p>

2

<p>I don’t have a problem with people paying college consultants. I’m jealous I can’t afford it. But finding a good consultant is not easy either. You pays your money and takes your chances. </p>

<p>Two of my kids went to a private school where hiring a consultant for the college process was common. It was not encouraged by the school at all, but a lot of families did it. A lot of murmuring and complaints about the consultants too, and not all kids who had them got into the schools they wanted. But I don’t doubt for a moment that getting a good consultant doesn’t help with the packaging, proof reading, the schedule, advice, etc. </p>

<p>When I went to college, only the wealthy and those with very solicitous parents studied for the SATs. I was not aware of any courses for those tests, and the word was that preparing for them was a waste of time. Now days high schools send home info on test prep courses and urge kids to get help. Some schools even provide it. A private college counselor is already de rigeour in some circles, and I’m sure it will make the trickle down.</p>

<p>As for college admissions officers screening these applications, though I have heard some posturing that they can tell if something is too packaged, I can tell you that the kids who had this advantage did not do poorly at all in their admissions. Maybe some apps are given the heave ho because the scent of paid help is there, but looking at the results, I don’t think it;s the norm.</p>

<p>Fair? Well, is it fair is a kid has a well informed parent involved, or over involved? Is it fair if the school is actively involved in the admissions process? At what point does it become unfair? There is a statement that most apps have that require the student to sign that the essays and app are the student’s own work, and if the student did not do the work but paid for someone else to do it, it is cheating, plain and simple. Just like paying someone to do a term paper or take the SAT for you. How to catch this is a whole different story. </p>

<p>My opinion is that most of these counselors are above board in what they do. They assist and advise. They may make suggestions on the essays and work with the student, but they do not do the actual work. That’s not to say you can’t find someone who will do that for you, but for someone who wants to make this an ungoing profession and get a good rep to out and out cheat is taking a risk. </p>

<p>The other thing is that the items that are the most important in getting a kid in a select school are not something the paid advisor can give. The class rank is very important. The difficulty of the courses and the curriculum is important. The test scores are important. The school counselor and teacher’s recs are important. Any extracurriculars that benefit a college or are of national caliber will make a difference. These are the most important things in an application. The essay is supposed to show a personal side to the applicant, and it would take a skilled writer with insight on the kid to come up with that sort of essay. I don’t know where you can buy that kind of essay. And it isn’t the big deal breaker on app most of the time anyways.</p>

3

<p>We have a paid consultant. I am grateful that I can afford it and grateful for her help. She did not write my daughter’s essays, just helped with ideas - they bounced around ideas, what an adcom might like… She also helped her with what schools were reaches/matches, what scores she would need, etc. And she gave her timetables so I didn’t have to be the one badgering her. This is my oldest, so it was great to have someone help us through the process. Will I need her for all my kids? Probably not. I don’t even think my daughter would have let her edit her essays, as she’s a writer and very particular about her own words. I understand people’s frustration if kids are getting accepted because they are “packaged” but I don’t think everyone with a paid consultant is a false representation. I think this year is insane - seeing all these extremely bright kids being rejected or waitlisted! There are just so many competitive students for so few spots. My consultant was just telling me that she has students that are having trouble getting into our state u.</p>

4

<p>I have a friend who paid a handsome sum to a consultant to help their son get into a prep school. Even with all the “packaging” the very well paid consultant couldn’t take the SSAT for the kid and he didn’t get into any of the schools they wanted. I agree with cpt that these “packaged” kids would have a good shot whether they had a consultant or not.
I offered to get one for our D and she declined the offer. She wants to make it on her own merits and if she gets rejected from a “top” school she figures she wasn’t meant to attend!</p>

5

<p>I believe the game has changed. I am aware of this practice years ago, I have the mean but refuse to do this. Besides, my two sons who are too independent and righteous will not go along. (I now having slight doubt)</p>

<p>Couple years ago, my older son who is top student at his school got accepted into every schools he applied including some Ivies. So I thought with that experience, my younger son who is also top student with even more competition awards would have a easier time. Not at all, it is getting extremely competitive.</p>

<p>I now pretty much think that college admission is almost like lottery, I don’t really believe grades/scores/extracurricular-activities decide the outcome any more. His essay? he won money in writing competitions, he is also a soloist in performance arts winning big money in state competitions. With the wait-lists and rejection notices, I don’t know what to think other than what I haven’t done. </p>

<p>One thing for sure, I know he will do great regardless where he will end up, I am just hoping these set-backs are not too demoralizing for him.</p>

6

<p>Much of life is unfair, and some people are privileged enough to enjoy more inherent advantages than others. I think it’s more appropriate to argue that huge disparity in education quality between the best and worst high schools in the country poses even greater difference in opportunity for students than how some families can afford private college consultants or individual SAT tutoring classes. Those of us who don’t have the advantage simply compensate by doing more work and self research instead, saving the money at the same time. It does matter how an application is packaged, but you can understand some of that just by reading CC itself, which is free.</p>

7

<p>One more thing – the girl mentioned is a good student (straight As), and her parent did say that person wrote all the essays with her input. All I am saying was that with that extra help, she is getting a slight edge in this intense competitive freshman application.</p>

<p>Note again that in my son’s math team, science team and robotics team, the competing team members are all straight A students, most are musicians, some are newspaper staffs/editors, some are star athletes, star performers…all have SATs over 2300.</p>

<p>This year, the admission decision news so far has NOT been nice. Even the state schools are getting a lot tougher and harder.</p>

8

<p>The way high schools are now assigning the college essays in class, having counselors and teachers read and correct it , advising changes to it, giving instructions on what and how to write, I don’t know how many of those essays are straight from the kid. There are also essay workshops abound, and many families have a talented writer, or someone in some admissions job edit the essay. Or the parents edit it themselves. It would be interesting to compare the SAT1 Writing sample essay to these pieces of work that are submitted after many changes, opinions, rewrites. </p>

<p>Right now I am finding that there is a sharp upturn for merit awards around here that was not as prevalent with my older kids. With the cost of college what it is, the state schools and those offering some merit money are getting a lot of attention. The most selective schools seem to be as selective as ever, but the bottom line price is entering the picture ever so more. Schools often use those funds for enrollment management and diversity in many different areas as well as “buying” top students. The competition there seems to have really sharpened.</p>

9

<p>Good heavens … $15k for one kid??? I need to go into business for myself!!!</p>

10

<p>All that a college consultant can do is present a student in the best light. They can’t make up grades or test scores that aren’t there, and while they probably edit heavily, they don’t usually write the essay for the student. Who’s to say that girl couldn’t have done all of that without the consultant (and saved her parents plenty of cash). Every year people post on here about how X child got accepted when Y child didn’t even though Y child got better scores and it must be a travesty. The truth is, there are a million little things that go into an admissions decision, stats are just one of them, and no one knows for sure what makes or breaks an application. </p>

<p>IMO, getting a consultant is overboard, but for parents that want to spend the money, I don’t think it’s that much different than attending an prep school or private high school that provides heavy support to seniors to help them get into good colleges. Admissions officers can’t discount those applications just because the students’ parents can afford schools with more rigorous college application prep, and similarly they can’t discount applications that were prepared with the assistance of a consultant. </p>

<p>Don’t let it upset you. Just be grateful your kid doesn’t need all the extra help. More money to put towards tuition.</p>

11

<p>I have a big concern if it involves the actual preparation of anything required for admission (i.e. essay). To me, that is fraud. If it is just a consulting role whereby they give suggestions of schools to apply to, timeframes, etc. I have no problem with that.</p>

12

<p>Paying someone to ghostwrite your essay is fraud. No doubt about it. However, a bright, interesting kids who is truly material for the top schools generally is the best person to write his/her own essay. I cannot imagine being able to find someone who could craft an essay better than such a person. Heavy editing, yes, but to actually write an essay that is as good as kid who is a fresh, talented 18 year old…um…I know some good writers, but to carry off that voice well would be risky. Also kids of that caliber have some sense of pride of ownership of that essay. I can’t imagine too many who would want someone to write that essay for them. </p>

<p>The category of kids who need to have an essay written for them are generally applying to schools where the essay is the least of the issues and those kids have other issues much more problematic than the essay.</p>

<p>My son is a good student with very average SAT (1500) SAT scores. For the schools that he selected, I don’t think the essays are any big deal. His essays are very much what one would expect from an 18 year old, and I doubt if any made any difference in his admissions.</p>

13

<p>Most college coaches will not write the essay at all. However, they vet the topics with the student, make corrections and suggestions and keep the process moving along in the given time frame. They may start the process by providing sample essays. All of this help can and is done in school by English teachers in September of the senior year. Now in public school, the amount and quality of help depends on the teacher and how many students are in the class, naturally. In private school, the English teacher acts in the capacity of the college coach; very comprehensive instruction in essay writing. (have one S in each)</p>

<p>As for the really important parts of “packaging” such as course selection and timing, EC’s and the commitment to them, summer schedules, dual enrollment in college course(s) competitions- academic and athletic (summer show cases) - all of this a parent who is focused on the process can do very effectively. But parents are often in real struggles with a developing teen who discounts the stupid parent. However, if a college coach or private school counselor (who is assigned the student freshman year and rolls him right out the door 4 years later all packaged to maximize that students attributes, which is a large part of what the privates offer) the parent has just “hired out” the difficult process of directing an emerging adult in the right direction. Waiting for the student to "get it’ 1/2 through JR. year is no longer an option- the ship has left by then.</p>

<p>Someone writing the essay? Well, that can be done anyhow, by older sibling, parents or other interested educated adults- so that really is not the problem the college coach presents. What you may be troubled by is the guidance which really starts in 6th grade (advanced math placement=honor’s and AP tract in math and science from freshman year on) and than it is off to the races. A college coach and private school GC can get the kid on the highest academic tract according to ability in 9th grade, but after that it is hard to be competitive.</p>

<p>So, the “packaged” student is not a product of a college coach, and BTW one hired in the 11th hour can only do so much anyhow. The packaged student is a function of the uber competitive college admission process - period. Who and how they are packaged really doesn’t matter. It is the same as hiring a tutor for academic subjects, or private trainer for a athlete. The advanced kids are aware of this on their own by 10th grade- they compete with each other. Plenty of help on the internet and many books on the subject.</p>

<p>How this is equalized is- admissions judge the student in the context of the school, the district, and the zip code. So, in schools/areas that can not afford these assists, it is assumed none of the students are benefiting and lessor stats/EC’s students get accepted too. I know people who have their student transfer from private K-8 to a high school that is Urban and lower ranking, and than they have the kid do alternative school within the urban school. So, when they apply to college they are rated in the context of the urban lower rated school and do get an advantage. But, that is real engineering and is really only done by highly motivated and tuned in parents who lives in urban areas-not a % to worry about, but none the less, that IS working the system.</p>

<p>College admissions is competitive, and I don’t know of anyone- student or parents, who don’t feel others have an unfair advantage during applications. It is the nature of the beast. None of it feels fair…and than after the acceptances, next angst is FinAid!!!</p>

<p>I think you just have to try to put all your ducks in a row, commit to your plan and follow through as much as possible without getting swept up and start throwing $$$ you don’t have at the whole “arms race”. Especially when it comes to college selection. Because, IMO in most cases, “Good” is good enough for UG- once a parent gets perspective! That IS the trick.</p>

14

<p>"It would be interesting to compare the SAT1 Writing sample essay to these pieces of work that are submitted after many changes, opinions, rewrites. " </p>

<p>I think it would be interesting if colleges ONLY took the SAT1 writing sample as the admission essay. </p>

<p>“Good heavens … $15k for one kid??? I need to go into business for myself!!!” </p>

<p>I was thinking the exact same thing and I could undercut that fee by 20% ha ha ha</p>

15

<p>I think it’s fair, in the sense that you can do the same thing. And it’s mostly ethical; however actually writing the essays for the kids, as opposed to reading & commenting on them, is over the line and unethical in my opinion.</p>

<p>I don’t think it’s particularly necessary, helpful or smart either, in many cases. If the kid has the academic horsepower for a top school in the first place, they should be able by now to write a decent essay, and in a more genuine voice than a third party professional can feign.</p>

<p>Yes, money offers certain advantages in this society, what else is new. Fortunately, these admissions results, whatever they may be, do not doom someone to a life of misery.</p>

<p>And, as #10 pointed out, there’s only so much a consulltant can do, they can’t by themselves change the grades or the test scores. (Though they can influence which courses, which tests, and preparation for them).</p>

<p>We have good friends who paid the $15k for their kid. He is now attending the same college he would have attended without the expenditure, IMO.</p>

16

<p>Most college coaches will not write the essay at all. However, they vet the topics with the student, make corrections and suggestions and keep the process moving along in the given time frame. They may start the process by providing sample essays. All of this help can and is done in school by English teachers in September of the senior year. Now in public school the amount and quality of help depends on the teacher and how many students in the class, naturally. In private school the English teacher acts in the capacity of the college coach; very comprehensive instruction in essay writing. </p>

<p>As for the really important parts of “packaging” such as course selection and timing, EC’s and the commitment to them, summer schedules, dual enrollment in college course(s) competitions- academic and athletic (summer show cases) - all of this a parent who is focused on the process can do very effectively, however, they are often in real struggles with developing teen who discount the stupid parent. Now, if a college coach or private school counselor (who is assigned the student freshman year and rolls him right out the door 4 years later all packaged to maximize that students attributes, which is a large part of what the privates offer) the parent has just “hired out” the difficult process of directing an emerging adult in the right direction. Waiting for the student to "get it’ 1/2 through JR. year is no longer an option- the ship has left by then.</p>

<p>Someone writing the essay? Well, that can be done anyhow, by older sibling, parents or other interested educated adults- so that really is not the problem the college coach presents. What you may be troubled by is the guidance which really starts in 6th grade (advanced math placement=honor’s and AP tract from freshman year on) and than it is off to the races. A college coach and private school GC can get the kid on the highest academic tract according to ability in 9th grade, but after that it is hard to be competitive.</p>

<p>So, the “packaged” student is not a product of a college coach, and BTW one hired in the 11th hour can only do so much anyhow. The packaged student is a function of the uber competitive college admission process - period. Who and how they are packaged really doesn’t matter. It is the same as hiring a tutor for academic subjects, or private trainer for a athlete. The advanced kids are aware of this on their own by 10th grade- they compete with each other.</p>

<p>How this is equalized is- admissions judge the student in the context of the school, the district, and the zip code. So, in schools/areas that can not afford these assists, it is assumed non of the students are benefiting and lessor stats/EC’s students get accepted too. I know people who have their student tranfer from private K-8 to a high school that is Urban and lower ranking, and than they have the kid do alternative school within the urban school. So, when they apply to college they are rated in the context of the urban lower rated school and do get an advntage. But, that is real engineering and is really only done by highly motivated and tuned in parents who live in urban areas-not a % to worry about, but non the less, that IS working the system.</p>

<p>College admissions is competitive, and I don’t know of anyone student or parents who don’t feel others have an unfair advantage during appications. It is the nature of the beast. None of it feels fair…and then after the acceptances, next angst is FinAid!!!</p>

<p>I think you just have to try to put all your ducks in a row, commit to your plan and follow through as much as possible without getting swept up and start throwing $$$ you don’t have at the whole “arms race”. Especially when it comes to college selection. Bcause in most cases “Good” is good enough for UG- once a parnet gets perspective!</p>

17

<p>OlympicLady: LOL when I see all these mentioned, the competitions, the academics, the fun raising…yep, my son was/is extremely busy, we were hoping him to apply one more (such as Northwestern or Pomona), but he needed his sleep. That said, even if we can afford the SAT boot-camp, he couldn’t spare the summer and the 8hrs/week to attend, hence he didn’t and the scores turned out fine.</p>

<p>I wasn’t stressed 2 years ago when my older son was applying, hence, I didn’t even read CC. I am stressed now due to the set-backs from my younger son’s admission decisions. I am merely venting. Just 2 years, and all of sudden huge increase in early applicants on EA and ED, and record breaking applicants for RD. I stop to wonder what is the average number of schools each senior applies this year.</p>

18

<p>CC has been my college counselor. My guidance counselor has been absent this whole process, and it absolutely not worth paying 1k, let alone 10k on a “private” counselor…</p>

19

<p>"It would be interesting to compare the SAT1 Writing sample essay to these pieces of work that are submitted after many changes, opinions, rewrites. "</p>

<p>I recall reading that some adcoms do that very thing to validate the essay’s authorship.</p>

<p>The only person I know who used a comprehensive consultant wound up at a school that he left after one semester, citing a poor fit.</p>

<p>As to something mentioned above, I would hope that paying someone to mind the timetables is way down on the list of assigned tasks. I think the student is better served by attending to such details (or missing them, if that happens) him/herself.</p>

20

<p>College admission to top schools is not as complicated as what I’m reading here.</p>

<p>Great grades and College Board scores are requirements. As a parent, just make sure your student applies sound time management skills. If not, teach it. NOT studying for tests, standardized or not, is simply foolish.</p>

<p>Recommendation letters are basic stuff. I’ve never heard of a “bad” recommendation letter.</p>

<p>Essays should be from the heart, written AND edited by the student – parents should say when the editing is done – we all went through this when “approving” when the dishes and laundry were done correctly. Essays are also used by the Adcoms to estimate “fit”, so this is nothing to trust to a consultant, even if one is able to pay the price. The last thing loving parents want for their kids is for them to attend a college that is a bad fit (academically or intellectually).</p>

<p>ECs: this one just kills me. You can be a star athlete in a tiny school, but that will not translate into an admission unless you are a recruited athlete. Unless you like math and science clubs, why bother with them? Unless you figured that traveling to Haiti was more useful than donating the travel dollars to those in need, why would you do it? ECs are supposed to be about what YOU like to do when not in school! Why on earth would you think that showing what YOU REALLY LIKE to do . . . would not be “good enough” for the schools you are considering? You are who you are! Be proud of it!!!</p>

<p>My DD did not have any of the advantages discussed in this thread. None. Yet, just being who she is, and presenting that . . . was enough.</p>

<p>DD has received nothing but acceptances and LLs (so far).</p>