I think that its unethical. They tell students to do stuff they don’t necessarily like or want to so. They provide an “unfair” advantage (especially if they were AOs before) to people that pay tens of thousands.
I haven’t needed one so far for ECs, awards, and course selection. But honestly even though I think its unethical, I know that they would provide a lot of value for when I do essays.
Not all admissions counselors are created equal. We used one, and certainly did NOT pay tens of thousands of dollars. They did NOT make D20 do things she did not like or want to do (unless you count a mock interview).
What did they do? Explain how to accurately evaluate reach/match/safety schools, help create a balanced list of schools to consider including ones we had never heard of, help determine if D was more suited to SAT or ACT testing and develop a testing strategy in terms of timing and frequency, establish a timeline with deadlines so we could make sure everything was done with plenty of time to spare, prioritize visits and interviews, proofread applications looking for spelling/punctuation/grammatical mistakes, help develop essay topics and proofread (NOT edit or write), walk us through the financial aid process including reviewing completed forms and help evaluate and compare offers, and provide us with in-depth knowledge that comes from more recent experience than 20 years ago when we went through it ourselves.
They can be terrifically helpful. They can help kids find good fits, not just by recommending schools but by talking through visits and reactions and helping kids process what they are learning about schools. It’s not about turning a kid into what Harvard wants to see. It’s about finding the best place for a kid. For those who work with kids longer, it may be about helping them explore more effectively or making sure they take the right prerequisites for the path they’re considering.
Most good ones have worked in admissions and can give feedback on essays and overall app based on how it will be read in a way someone who has not been in that role cannot.
They can be a good buffer between kid and parents and can keep the process running smoothly.
And if there are special situations, whether a health concern or disciplinary issue, they can be invaluable because they have strong networks and can find out if xyz school really can support a kid who needs it.
But if you are going to hire someone, do your homework. They have different backgrounds and different personalities. It’s almost like finding a therapist! You need to find the right person.
@helpingmom40 , can you PM me the counselor details?
Honestly, I feel that we got all the information that we needed right here, for free. Of course, kid networked with older kids who’d preceded them in the application process, and I read online, but some of the advice from others on this forum was invaluable.