Hiring a College Advisor/Counselor Servcie

[Landomatic 3813]

Step daughter is a Junior in high school and really ramping up the college process this semester.  Anyone used one of these advisors or counseling companies that you loved?  Pricing appears to be all over the place...anywhere from $2K to $8K.

I’d like someone with an emphasis on UT as I’m hearing it’s getting harder and harder to get in if you’re not in top 6% (she is not - goes to Highland Park in Dallas).  TIA for any info.

[Guest]

They seem like lighting your money on fire to me.

Your kid is either qualified for certain schools/ schollies, or is not.

What fucking difference is dropping $8k gonna make?

[NeverMarryAStripper 22030]

Just give the 8k to the UT admissions officer

[Nice Guy Eddie 13551]

Bet these counselors make a ton off parents at schools like highland park.   What’s $8k to ensure Susie gets her foot in the door of a school that will chart the path of the rest of her life.   Without it why not just send her to a community college so she can live in a double wide for the rest of her life.

seriously a friend used one of these guys to help his son.  If anything it provided them with realistic expectations on schools he could attend given his grades, planned degree, budget and likes/dislikes.   He also learned more about financial aid options given he has 2 more kids that will quickly follow.    

My college planning in the late 80s was taking the SAT without preparing and just getting over the number that allowed me auto admittance into UT.   Easy in those days.

[BottleRocket 647]

I agreed to use one for our son just so my wife would quit freaking out about fucking up junior's future by filling out some paperwork wrong.  Money well spent just to keep her off of my back.  But seriously, they found some money for junior's college that we wouldn't have pursued otherwise. All in all a win.  I agree with Nice Guy Eddie, I just took the SAT and filled out the back of the form with three target colleges.  A few months later I got an acceptance letter from one of them.  Those days are over.

We are in Austin and used College Funding Specialists  https://collegefundingspecialiststx.com/Home_Page.html

[TwiceHorn 31689]

A bit late, but for some reason, my Mom signed me up for this.  https://www.aimstesting.org/faq/

It's an aptitude testing service and I found it helped me sort out what I wanted to do.  Doesn't help with admissions, but gives some insight on what you are naturally wired to be good at.

[52-80 19281]

i'll do it for $7999, but ill bill you $15000 for your tax deductions

[marriedup 72]

Just finished this process.  Wife did most of the work and it was like a full time job.  However the results were equivalent (if not better) to her peer group who used crazy expensive counselors to do the app work.  My daughter (no pics) was not remotely close to top 6% and did not have a crazy high ACT score but she did get into UT.  Granted she is accepted into general studies and not McCombs,  but dont be intimidated by the top 6% stuff. In fact here is a slide from the high schools college night presentation.  Was surprised that nearly 50% of the kids from her HS who applied to UT in 2018 were accepted equaling about 25% of the total class being accepted as a whole. Was also shocked that the "holisitic" admissions process really worked in our case as I had thought that was bs.

 

 

 

Edited January 31, 2019 by marriedup

[HouTex 1901]

I should post this in the embarrassing things thread or in the wives thread (the wife insisted we had to do it or our kid would be scarred forever), but we did it for one of my kids and it was a colossal waste of money.  My kid got into several universities on her test scores alone and she liked none of the schools recommended by the advisor.

[orange dream 1262]

I like the idea of the aptitude testing that  might help uncover some programs you might not otherwise consider based on that aptitude more than paying someone to help navigate the murky waters of college admissions.

Double that if it the primary goal is just to get into UT.  Your daughter will either have the test scores / rank hurdles met or not, the $$$$ to a college guidance service won't influence those factors unless they somehow guarantee National Merit level scores the next time she take the SAT / ACT.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13551]

What are the results from aptitude testing?  Back in my day, we actually had a computer program (surprisingly) in high school that asked you a couple hundred questions to match you to the perfect career.  Basically it went on the concept that you should do what you love.  I think almost everyone was told to be a teacher, marine biologist or a vet.   It was a colossal waste of time but so was much of my senior year.

I assume aptitude testing is more mature now.

[Landomatic 3813]

35 minutes ago, orange dream said:

Double that if it the primary goal is just to get into UT.  Your daughter will either have the test scores / rank hurdles met or not, the $$$$ to a college guidance service won't influence those factors unless they somehow guarantee National Merit level scores the next time she take the SAT / ACT.

This is completely false according to every single person I’ve talked to about UT admissions today.  In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite of reality.  Your theory holds true for top 6% but outside of that has a ton more factors than just GPA and SAT/ACT.

[TwiceHorn 31689]

7 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

What are the results from aptitude testing?  Back in my day, we actually had a computer program (surprisingly) in high school that asked you a couple hundred questions to match you to the perfect career.  Basically it went on the concept that you should do what you love.  I think almost everyone was told to be a teacher, marine biologist or a vet.   It was a colossal waste of time but so was much of my senior year.

I assume aptitude testing is more mature now.

Well, I took it in the 80s.  For me it identified a great deal of spatial aptitude, which indicated mechanical engineering, among other things.  I also had a lot of verbal ability (lots of incipient diarrhea I suppose).  And, it probably wasn't all that different from the testing you did.  I do remember the part of the test where they showed two or three views of an object and you had to answer with the third or fourth or unable to determine.  I hadn't really seen any testing on that before or since.

[horn4life 3819]

Some up to date Data- A&M accepts 70% of applicants, Texas accepts 36%, again proving that Texas is twice as desirable as A&M.Top value schools in Texas

I also want to say that most of the stuff the counselors will tell you for $8K you can find out yourself with a tall glass of Johnny Walker Blue every night for a month and still have  enough money for a week al inclusive for you and the wife in Mexico. 

Main things are be ready to apply on the very fist day.  Have an excellent essay, NOT touting your accomplishments, but as more telling a compelling life story that brought you to your application point.  Fill out FAFSA if you want any money other than your own involved... There you go... Just saved you $8K  

Edited January 31, 2019 by horn4life

[woohorn 1131]

I heard of a guy who can get your kid a PWO spot at Texas for $8k...

[BottleRocket 647]

csb/  In the '90's my (now ex) wife was applying for a Phd program at UT.  I had a friend working as a data input clerk at admissions at the time.  When he got my ex's application he changed her ethnicity from Caucasian to black in hopes that it would increase her chances.  Didn't work. / 

[CooterBrown 18096]

I heard of a guy who can get your kid a PWO spot at Texas for $8k...

Years ago I knew someone who did this at aggy. Her grades were shit, even for aggy, but was good enough to get the track coach to have her be a PWO so she only had to meet the minimum NCAA requirements for admission. Once she got accepted, that was the end of her athletic career.

[phdhorn 6224]

17 hours ago, Landomatic said:

This is completely false according to every single person I’ve talked to about UT admissions today.  In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite of reality.  Your theory holds true for top 6% but outside of that has a ton more factors than just GPA and SAT/ACT.

I've written in threads like this a few times, mostly along the lines of this, from personal experience.  I can't stress enough how, if you do well on the essays (be creative, give a good personal account of yourself) and take it seriously, you have a great shot to get in.  In fact, the competitive schools (Business, Engineering, etc.) really like to see these things, because otherwise their admissions departments would just rubber stamp and really have no reason to exist (people do understand I guess that there's the General University admissions office, then departmental admissions offices).  I've seen a number of 6%ers who don't get into their desired college's (department's) school because they were an auto-admit to UT but took their admissions application too lightly.  I mean 4.0 kids who were rejected.  They mean that shit - do a thorough job on the admissions stuff, especially take the essays seriously - they are often the key to get you in.

Anyway, this is absolutely, 100% the case - as long as your grades are in the ballpark (B or above, below that maybe not), you have a great shot of getting in - even into the competitive schools - if you put some work into your admissions process.  

[Js1 85765]

I am so glad I was at the tail-end of the top 10% auto-admit rule. 

[orange dream 1262]

22 hours ago, Landomatic said:

This is completely false according to every single person I’ve talked to about UT admissions today.  In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite of reality.  Your theory holds true for top 6% but outside of that has a ton more factors than just GPA and SAT/ACT.

I guess I didn't really convey my meaning well in my first message.  My daughter went through this process last year.  Competitive high school in Dallas area, she was in the 15-20% class rank and had good grades and test scores (those are the hurdles I was referencing, NOT the 6% auto admit limit).  My wife and her were both convinced she had no chance due to the top 6-7% issue and wanted to go down the pricey college advisor route, etc.  Her counselor at school and I both just said  focus on the essays and let it ride.  She got her acceptance letter into the program of her choice in January 2018 (not business or engineering mind you).  I think it was that I had her add "Hook 'em!!" at the end of her essay.  She remains convinced it had nothing to do with it.  YMMV.

Good luck to your daughter and your wallet.

[gmr548 16641]

I guess I didn't really convey my meaning well in my first message.  My daughter went through this process last year.  Competitive high school in Dallas area, she was in the 15-20% class rank and had good grades and test scores (those are the hurdles I was referencing, NOT the 6% auto admit limit).  My wife and her were both convinced she had no chance due to the top 6-7% issue and wanted to go down the pricey college advisor route, etc.  Her counselor at school and I both just said  focus on the essays and let it ride.  She got her acceptance letter into the program of her choice in January 2018 (not business or engineering mind you).  I think it was that I had her add "Hook 'em!!" at the end of her essay.  She remains convinced it had nothing to do with it.  YMMV.
Good luck to your daughter and your wallet.

FWIW, this basically describes me in 2010 when it was top 10 percent and there was no cap on the proportion of the class that was auto admits. I was top 15-20 percent at a big DFW HS, though not one I'd call "competitive." Made up for it with good essays, a high ACT, and sports/student govt. Probably didn't hurt that I was from a poor, single-parent HH. Hell, I wrote one of my essays about the need for a college football playoff. I've heard some similar stories. I think UT really means it when they say they take the holistic approach with in state kids that aren't auto admits.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[freyguy 4326]

So uh, yeah....rereading this thread is interesting.

[bluto 4947]

On 1/31/2019 at 2:53 PM, woohorn said:

I heard of a guy who can get your kid a PWO spot at Texas for $8k...

 

On 1/31/2019 at 4:52 PM, CooterBrown said:

 

Years ago I knew someone who did this at aggy. Her grades were shit, even for aggy, but was good enough to get the track coach to have her be a PWO so she only had to meet the minimum NCAA requirements for admission. Once she got accepted, that was the end of her athletic career.

 

🤨😑

[DoobieWah 1476]

On 3/12/2019 at 6:00 PM, freyguy said:

So uh, yeah....rereading this thread is interesting.

 

Yup.  😉🤘💲👮‍♂️

[gyroprotagonist 2595]

i am hoping by 2029 they will have my son submit a twitch feed of him playing fortnite and commenting on why he will lead the UT's defending international title team to victory again the next year after he is admitted.  other than that, the world needs ditch diggers too.

[mdleast 8390]

My oldest is still a freshman so I'm just replying for Tapatalk "participated" thread purposes so I can be thinking about this kind of stuff in the meantime.

 

Also, here is a somewhat related pic of some BBQ so I can feel like I added something of value: