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No fewer than three Examiners covered the “shocking” New York Times story on college admissions counselors that ran Saturday. Are you outraged to find out that college admissions is big business? Check out the test prep section at your local Barnes and Noble, or call Kaplan and ask how much their SAT class costs. [Disclaimer: it’s much more than I charge for SAT Bootcamp] Did you know the New York Times article ran in the paper’s own college admissions section, “The Choice,” which it began in March of this year? Is the new section a public service or is it positioned to help the paper garner more advertising dollars?
The Times story has some fun at counselor Shannon Duff’s expense, but then goes on to quote insiders like Michele Hernandez, who defended her counseling fees. Funny…when the Times is looking for expert advice on admissions topics, it often turns to Hernandez. In this article, it appears she’s being penalized for making a living with that expertise.
Who’s surprised that in an industry experiencing astounding levels of growth, there are some less-than scrupulous players getting in the game? With the competition for admission getting steeper each year, and the need for a degree growing in many fields, the scenario reads as expected.
Finding a counselor who knows what she’s talking about, relates well with your student, and imparts useful information that makes the application process easier and more successful (and by successful I mean admittance to a school that’s the right match on a number of levels) isn’t a yellow-pages job. When you’re looking for a plastic surgeon, investment advisor, or driving school, you check credentials and ask for references. The New York Times doesn’t seem to think any of us are clever enough to do that when it comes to college counselors.
The real issue, it seems to me, isn’t whether there are some people out to get my money who don’t have much to give in return. To tell you the truth, I didn’t need to read the paper to find that out (did you?). Expand the discussion to explore whether admissions is fair—whether the playing field is truly level for every student. That’s the issue. It’s not whether someone who makes it their business to know how to navigate the admissions process should be able to earn a salary from that knowledge.
We’ve had our laugh over Ms. Duff’s college fashion show. Now let’s talk.
Comments
You are absolutely correct. All you have to do is look at the "shocking" situation involving the U. of Illinois--which is replicated in every state, no doubt--to know that government officials have had plenty of sway over admissions. Or read the tomes that have been in print for years and you'll know that the elite high schools have counselors who "blackmail" the best colleges, saying that schools fail to accept certain students this year, they won't get the best kids from that school to apply in the future.
Right on, Lauren.
I help run a college consulting shop with a few offices on each coast. (Collegewise, at www. collegewise.com) Like you, we pride ourselves on professional conduct and not promising the moon or the stars above to families. Honest day's -- well, actaully ten months or so, on average, with unlimited family meetings -- work for honest pay. Our counselors are mutliple-degreed, credentialed, very experienced professionals who love working with students and would do so for free. In factr, they often do exactly that: our company volnteers annually at College Summit and other pro bon college counseling extravaganzas.
Alex Weiner
Collegewise New York
Bless you Lauren -- it's nice to see the REAL issue brought up - college admissions is secretive and still NOT a level playing field. But why would you blame the people like me who are helping? Do you blame your accountant when you don't understand the tax code? No, you HIRE an accountant. Blame college admissions, but don't take out your anger on those who spend their lives helping kids and families. I'm glad you understand that central point. Someone had to!
Yup! I totally agree with you. I run a firm in the San Jose, Ca. What's wrong with making a living with helping families get their child into the college of their choice and save TIME AND MONEY!
No one complains paying a CPA to navigate through the IRS maze, no one complains about paying attorney fees to help through the legal system.
We are no different.
We are solution providers for families.
Manuel Fabriquer
College Planning ABC
The issue is not whether admissions is fair-it is not.
The issue is three fold:
1) Misrepresentation: People are lying about their expertise.
2) Licensing: College admission consultants are not accredited like accountants or brain surgeons to use comparisons drawn from these articles. The current state of affairs means anyone can hang a shingle and charge whatever they want. Buyer beware is simply not fair.
3) Charging money is not the issue. Charging exorbitant money is. Again it is NOT brain surgery. Charging a fair market price--I think 150 to 200 is fair for someone with real depth in the college search and admissions process (working at one university does not really qualify you until you have worked with clients applying to several different types of institutions over several years.
Full disclosure: I am a high school counselor who does some private counseling on the side. I provide free resources and information in my blog: www.internationalcounselor.org
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