Do College Admission Consultants Really Earn the Money They Charge?

Recently, a parent asked whether two Bs on a high school transcript would prevent their child from getting into college. The answer is a resounding no, especially for the most competitive institutions. Furthermore, high school guidance counselors, while often well-meaning, typically do not provide much individualized help, leaving the burden on the students and their families.

In-Depth Analysis

Two B's on your transcript do not disqualify you from any colleges, especially not the most competitive ones. High school guidance counselors rarely provide substantial help. In the majority of high schools, they offer general guidance for students who are unsure about college and the admissions process, but they simply don't have the time to work individually with students aiming for top-tier universities.

Unless you are in a private or special magnet/prep school, don't expect much help from your school counselor. Their role primarily revolves around preparing and submitting supporting documents on your behalf, such as transcripts, secondary school reports, and recommendations. The responsibility for tracking deadlines and ensuring everything is submitted lies on the student.

Furthermore, if you attend a very competitive public high school, the guidance counselors will be extremely busy. They may not be able to provide all the necessary information on a short notice. Therefore, it is crucial that you stay proactive and on top of your responsibilities.

Where to Find Information

All the information you need for the college admissions process is available on college admission websites. Many colleges go beyond simply listing requirements and deadlines and also include QA sections and relevant blogs. For example:

Best of the Blogs - MIT Admissions: This site talks about student life at MIT and also has posts about different aspects of the admissions process.

If you have any questions, you can always call or email the admissions office.

Personal Experiences and Insights

My son graduated from a highly ranked public high school where several students each year get accepted into top universities. However, I've never heard any parents mention hiring a college consultant, and I can say with certainty that we are fortunate to live in an area where such help is not common. This saved us a significant amount of money.

On a serious note, if I lived in an area where everyone hired a consultant, I honestly don't know what I would do. Although I want to think that we would be able to resist peer pressure and manage without a consultant, I can empathize with parents who might feel their child could be at a disadvantage if they don't have a good consultant.

The experience with paid college counselors varies greatly from student to student. Those who paid several thousand dollars and got accepted to their top-choice school will likely say it was worth every penny, while those who did not get accepted will say it was a waste.

Quora discussions

The following discussions on Quora might be of great help to you and your parents:

Do college admissions consultants really boost your chances of admissions into highly selective universities? Should we hire help for college admission for my daughter?

These resources can provide valuable insights and help you make an informed decision about whether to seek the assistance of a college consultant or manage the process independently.