Suggestions - College Counseling - CT or NY

Parents Forum
1

<p>Hi Parents – My son, a soph, will soon start looking at colleges. I am looking for suggestions for a College Counseling firm that will help with:</p>

<li>Suggestions for a good college fit - my son is a 3.7 GPA student in a private boys H.S in Fairfield, CT</li>
<li>Help/Suggestions on what SAT tests to take</li>
<li>Help/Suggestions on a good SAT tutor</li>
<li>Help with Essay.</li>
<li>Help with EC’s</li>
</ol>

<p>As we live in Stamford, we can go to NYC, Greenwich, Darien, Westport for a good firm. </p>

<p>Has anyone had a good experience.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>If he is attending a private school, I suggest that the school's guidance department would be the place to start. You are paying for it and no other counseling firm will have better first hand experience with college prep and admissions success.</p>

<p>As far as the EC's go, forget the fake resume building and have your son identify outstanding opportunities to expand his primary interests outside the classroom and the school. In admissions jargon-have him pursue his passion!</p>

3

<p>You are in an area that is filled with counselors with national reputations. Just gotta get a list and start calling and interviewing for a good fit and acceptable price range. As ORiginaloog says, the school counselors are important in this process and will have info that no one you pay will have, especially since they are the ones who are going to be writing the school rec for him and know where everyone else in his class is in the process and the details of the school's experience with kids like him in the college admissions game. Based on the courses he has been taking and the school's experience on the SATs, they can recommend timing and subject SATs. They may have a contract with an SAT program or tutor where your son can fit it around his schedule. Many schools have test classes and practice test session right there on their grounds at a discounted price.
Finding a private counselor is like trying to find a psychologist, cleaning lady, doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant. You've got to look around and find the best fit, talking to those who are like you and getting their recs.</p>

4

<p>You can find a list of college admissions consultants in your area at the Independent Education Consultants Association website - <a href="http://www.educationalconsulting.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.educationalconsulting.org&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Check also nacacnet.org for information on what to look for in an independent college consultant.</p>

<p>And remember the services offered by College Confidential - they are good, and they know the process.</p>

5

<p>Hesitating to publicly post the name of my favorite group ... but they are local to Fairfield County. PM me and I will tell you. We did not use a private counselor, but I know this man and his firm personally and they are very well thought of. He gave me <em>great</em> and <em>valuable</em> free advice -- and then called to congratulate me and my son on his ED acceptance.</p>

6

<p>Double the college confidential suggestion! Your son can do it all from school or home via the computer, phone etc.</p>

7

<p>CDI, welcome. You’ve come to the right place at the right time. It’s hard to start the college selection and application process, but you just have to plunge in and educate yourselves. Counselors can be helpful but it’s critical to understand the system as no one can be as invested in your child’s future as you are.</p>

<p>My guess is that your son’s school has an active and aggressive college counseling department. A good place to start would be to make an appointment with a counselor and find out what kind of help they offer. Don’t be disappointed if the counselor immediately names colleges that you’ve never heard of and puts the brakes on Harvard – it’s a big world out there and there are lots of options.</p>

<p>Secondly, I’d get a hold of some books that explain the whole process. It’s infinitely complicated and fraught with all kinds of illogic and unfairness, but you can avoid it so you may as well understand it. There are plenty of choices, but I especially like the Gatekeepers. I’d also get a copy of USNews College Issue to better understand the selectivity and ratings.</p>

<p>Third, I’d take your son on some visits – to big, small and medium colleges. To city, suburban and rural campuses. To big name universities and some of those lesser known schools.</p>

<p>Fourth, and this may be the most important of all, you MUST be very clear on your families financial situation and how this relates to your son’s college choices. Four years at a private college will cost in the area of $180,000 or more. If you’re not prepared to pay this, there are many ways to get funding, but like everything else surrounding college admissions it’s extremely complex. Begin learning about it.</p>

<p>If after you’ve done all the above you still feel you need a paid counselor, then I’d recommend the services of College Confidential. They are knowledgable and accessible and will involve the whole family.</p>

<p>Your son’s high school should be able to help on establishing a schedule for the SAT and/or ACT. As a sophomore, he could stand to wait a bit on the official tests but he should take the PSAT now. There have been many threads about tutors versus self-studying.</p>

<p>Don’t worry about the essays, just yet.</p>

<p>EC’s are very important as colleges are looking for interesting kids who do interesting things. He should follow his inclinations to pursue pastimes that appeal to him. He doesn’t need a long list – just two or three that he sincerely cares about.</p>

<p>Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>

8

<p>I found the book "Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean" most helpful.</p>

<p>Don't put the whole process in someone else's hands. It's fine to get help, but you need to have a clue yourself or you won't know if you're getting good advice.</p>