FAQs
Q: I didn't use a college admission consultant when I applied to college. Why should I use one for my child now?
A: The world has changed tremendously since the parents of today's students applied to college. Most parents remember paper applications being typed out on word processors or electric typewriters and sent to the admissions office via snail mail. It is not that world anymore and specifically, the world of college admission is changing year after year! As a working professional, it is difficult for parents to stay on top of all of the changes and provide their child with the best information and resources possible.
For example, one of the world's best universities recently made a significant change to its admissions process. It now requires that applicants specifically demonstrate aspects of community service and volunteerism during his/her high school career. This same university also recently made significant changes to its financial aid policy, allowing more working-class and middle class families access to aid.
With all of life's demands, both students and parents can barely keep up with such changes, if they are keeping up at all. A college admissions consultant's job is to keep up with all of the changes happening in post-secondary education and communicate them to the client so, together, they may chart the best course of action.
A: The world has changed tremendously since the parents of today's students applied to college. Most parents remember paper applications being typed out on word processors or electric typewriters and sent to the admissions office via snail mail. It is not that world anymore and specifically, the world of college admission is changing year after year! As a working professional, it is difficult for parents to stay on top of all of the changes and provide their child with the best information and resources possible.
For example, one of the world's best universities recently made a significant change to its admissions process. It now requires that applicants specifically demonstrate aspects of community service and volunteerism during his/her high school career. This same university also recently made significant changes to its financial aid policy, allowing more working-class and middle class families access to aid.
With all of life's demands, both students and parents can barely keep up with such changes, if they are keeping up at all. A college admissions consultant's job is to keep up with all of the changes happening in post-secondary education and communicate them to the client so, together, they may chart the best course of action.
Q: Are there payment options to make working with The Ivy Edge affordable?
A: Yes. Financing options are available to make working with The Ivy Edge affordable. Many clients see the services of The Ivy Edge as an investment in their child's future. Since graduating from a top-tier college may result in increased earning power over time, many families see the investment of hiring an independent college admission consultant as an investment in their child's future collegiate success as well as an investment in their child's opportunity for increased employment options and social mobility.
Families also find that working with an independent college admissions consultant can actually save money in the short-term. Expert knowledge on the college admissions process saves clients time--countless hours spent on the internet researching schools, scholarship options, financial aid policies with no clear focus and direction. Working with a college admissions consultant also saves clients from making costly mistakes, such as incorrectly filling out financial aid forms, missing scholarship deadlines, or missing the fine print and/or changes to financial aid policies.
A: Yes. Financing options are available to make working with The Ivy Edge affordable. Many clients see the services of The Ivy Edge as an investment in their child's future. Since graduating from a top-tier college may result in increased earning power over time, many families see the investment of hiring an independent college admission consultant as an investment in their child's future collegiate success as well as an investment in their child's opportunity for increased employment options and social mobility.
Families also find that working with an independent college admissions consultant can actually save money in the short-term. Expert knowledge on the college admissions process saves clients time--countless hours spent on the internet researching schools, scholarship options, financial aid policies with no clear focus and direction. Working with a college admissions consultant also saves clients from making costly mistakes, such as incorrectly filling out financial aid forms, missing scholarship deadlines, or missing the fine print and/or changes to financial aid policies.
Q: Who is a typical Ivy Edge client?
A: There is no such thing as a typical client. Ivy Edge students have varied academic interests and a desire to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities at the nation's most selective institutions. There are some things, however, that Ivy Edge students have in common.
They have achieved some level of academic success in high school. They have standardized test scores that are consistently in the upper range (550 or above for each part of the SAT, 27 or above for the ACT). They have also demonstrated leadership abilities in some capacity and are possessed of an intellectual curiosity. They have participated in extracurricular activities or work a part-time job while in school. They have been involved in some aspect of community service and are very passionate about a particular subject matter.
Such students are strong candidates in any applicant pool. An independent college admissions consultant's job is to make sure a student's academic strengths, passions and extracurricular pursuits are presented in the best possible light. It is also a consultant's job to ensure that students and parents think strategically about a student's high school career and are making choices that further strengthen the student's profile. The work of an admissions consultant is to help students be as competitive as possible in any applicant pool.
A: There is no such thing as a typical client. Ivy Edge students have varied academic interests and a desire to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities at the nation's most selective institutions. There are some things, however, that Ivy Edge students have in common.
They have achieved some level of academic success in high school. They have standardized test scores that are consistently in the upper range (550 or above for each part of the SAT, 27 or above for the ACT). They have also demonstrated leadership abilities in some capacity and are possessed of an intellectual curiosity. They have participated in extracurricular activities or work a part-time job while in school. They have been involved in some aspect of community service and are very passionate about a particular subject matter.
Such students are strong candidates in any applicant pool. An independent college admissions consultant's job is to make sure a student's academic strengths, passions and extracurricular pursuits are presented in the best possible light. It is also a consultant's job to ensure that students and parents think strategically about a student's high school career and are making choices that further strengthen the student's profile. The work of an admissions consultant is to help students be as competitive as possible in any applicant pool.
Q: Why should we work with The Ivy Edge instead of our child's high school guidance counselor?
A: You absolutely should work with your child's high school guidance counselor! The more people your child has on his/her team as support, the more that support will translate into a successful college application process. A high school guidance counselor is a key relationship in this equation. S/he will provide the official transcripts and recommendations to the colleges, so it is important that your child has a strong and positive relationship with him/her. Also, as a matter of note, good admissions consultants should be willing to work with your child's high school guidance counselor to make sure the best possible college applications are presented.
That said, high school guidance counselors are notoriously overworked. College admissions is only one aspect of their job and they simply do not have the bandwidth to provide individualized support. They also might not necessarily possess any specialized training in the college admissions process. They are also trained to operate exclusively in a high school environment. Even at the most well-funded high school programs, a high school guidance counselor has to manage dozens of students applying to college in any given year.
Independent admissions consultants provide dedicated primary support to your child in the college application process and can do things that high school guidance counselors sometimes can not, such as hours of essay revisions, one-on-one interview coaching, research on the best programs at each college, etc. Independent admissions consultants are the "bridge" relationship to help your child transition from high school to college. Clients hire admissions consultants because they want to work with an expert who has a process that has a proven track record of success.
A: You absolutely should work with your child's high school guidance counselor! The more people your child has on his/her team as support, the more that support will translate into a successful college application process. A high school guidance counselor is a key relationship in this equation. S/he will provide the official transcripts and recommendations to the colleges, so it is important that your child has a strong and positive relationship with him/her. Also, as a matter of note, good admissions consultants should be willing to work with your child's high school guidance counselor to make sure the best possible college applications are presented.
That said, high school guidance counselors are notoriously overworked. College admissions is only one aspect of their job and they simply do not have the bandwidth to provide individualized support. They also might not necessarily possess any specialized training in the college admissions process. They are also trained to operate exclusively in a high school environment. Even at the most well-funded high school programs, a high school guidance counselor has to manage dozens of students applying to college in any given year.
Independent admissions consultants provide dedicated primary support to your child in the college application process and can do things that high school guidance counselors sometimes can not, such as hours of essay revisions, one-on-one interview coaching, research on the best programs at each college, etc. Independent admissions consultants are the "bridge" relationship to help your child transition from high school to college. Clients hire admissions consultants because they want to work with an expert who has a process that has a proven track record of success.
Q: Some college admissions counselors guarantee that they can get my child into his/her first choice school. Can you guarantee that you can get my child into his/her first choice?
A: Absolutely not! And if you meet any college admissions counselor who says that they can guarantee your child admission to any school, run away from them as fast as possible!
Admission consultants make sure that your child presents him/her/them self in the best possible light in his/her college application and help students and families think though all of the moving pieces of the process. All aspects of a college application are reviewed through an expert's lens and clients will have all of the pertinent information to make the best decision possible. The only thing The Ivy Edge guarantees is do everything possible to position your child to achieve the best possible results.
A: Absolutely not! And if you meet any college admissions counselor who says that they can guarantee your child admission to any school, run away from them as fast as possible!
Admission consultants make sure that your child presents him/her/them self in the best possible light in his/her college application and help students and families think though all of the moving pieces of the process. All aspects of a college application are reviewed through an expert's lens and clients will have all of the pertinent information to make the best decision possible. The only thing The Ivy Edge guarantees is do everything possible to position your child to achieve the best possible results.
Q: How involved should parents be in this process?
A: Parents should be partners with their child in the college application process. Children create the strongest applications possible when they have their parents support in the process. This is a delicate transition process for the child into adulthood and there should be sensitivity around that. The most successful stories are when the child is allowed to drive the process and the adults provide the proper information and support. As overwhelming as the process is parents, it is even more so for students, even if the students are not always communicating this fact.
Experienced college admissions consultants are the objective voice in the conversation as well as provide the emotional support needed to make the experience as empowering as possible for student and families alike. Parents should absolutely be present in the initial consultation, if possible. It may even be necessary for parents to have a separate conversation with the college admissions consultant so that they have a safe space to communicate their own fears and concerns.
Parents know their children best and leverage a consultant's expertise to support the parent-child relationship. While parents are welcome to attend any and all sessions, at times, there are things students wish to share in the college applications that they may not yet be ready to share with their parents. This is a part of their transition into adulthood. College admissions counselors are able to provide a necessary sounding board for students and act as a trusted advisor as students undertake this exciting journey!
A: Parents should be partners with their child in the college application process. Children create the strongest applications possible when they have their parents support in the process. This is a delicate transition process for the child into adulthood and there should be sensitivity around that. The most successful stories are when the child is allowed to drive the process and the adults provide the proper information and support. As overwhelming as the process is parents, it is even more so for students, even if the students are not always communicating this fact.
Experienced college admissions consultants are the objective voice in the conversation as well as provide the emotional support needed to make the experience as empowering as possible for student and families alike. Parents should absolutely be present in the initial consultation, if possible. It may even be necessary for parents to have a separate conversation with the college admissions consultant so that they have a safe space to communicate their own fears and concerns.
Parents know their children best and leverage a consultant's expertise to support the parent-child relationship. While parents are welcome to attend any and all sessions, at times, there are things students wish to share in the college applications that they may not yet be ready to share with their parents. This is a part of their transition into adulthood. College admissions counselors are able to provide a necessary sounding board for students and act as a trusted advisor as students undertake this exciting journey!
Q: Do you work with students outside of your local area?
A: Yes! Students and families from any place in the world are able to work with The Ivy Edge! Most of the services are delivered virtually, so as long as clients have an internet connection and video conferencing capabilities, the same level of service will be provided to students in any location that is provided to in-person clients.
A: Yes! Students and families from any place in the world are able to work with The Ivy Edge! Most of the services are delivered virtually, so as long as clients have an internet connection and video conferencing capabilities, the same level of service will be provided to students in any location that is provided to in-person clients.