cost of college essay coach

Dear Ms. Merion, I want to thank you for your expert advice and suggestions for my college essays last fall. I feel like I am often misunderstood, so it really helped that you took the time to get to know me, to ensure my voice was shining through with enthusiasm, visual imagery, and clarity in my writing. I was fortunate to be accepted to Harvard, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, Caltech, and my top choice, MIT — and I’m sure my essays and your guidance played a part in this. I am beyond excited to move to Cambridge this fall to study at MIT. Thanks again, and I hope you continue to share your talents with kids like me. –R.T. MIT Class of 2022

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Anna’s weekly rate is $875 (includes daily coaching and revisions). This weekly rate applies to students who register prior to Sept. 15th. The Common App personal essay is completed within 3 weeks.

If starting after Sept. 15th, there is a flat fee per essay. To keep costs down, Anna works with students to identify strong “super essay” topics from their lives that will stretch to fit multiple supplemental prompts.

Additionally, there is a one-time setup fee of $300 to cover the cost of preparing a college research spreadsheet and essay tracker . The first sheet tab is admissibility info and the second tab is an essay organizer. If you’d like us to research pricing and merit aid data, the total setup fee will be $500 instead of $300.

The process is the result of 20 years of experience and is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The cost would be less if Anna offered a round or two of edits, spruced up the words, and called it a day. The result would be a perfectly well-written and error-free essay. Shouldn’t that be enough?

The reality is that superficial editing can do more harm than good. Getting a powerful story from a student in his or her authentic voice is the secret to Naked Essay’s success, and it doesn’t happen overnight. Read more about Anna’s time-tested process . If it seems like overkill, consider the New York Times article “The Almighty Essay” :

The more exclusive the college, the more weight the essay is given. … In fact, these colleges give more weight to the essay than grade-point average. Let me restate that: one writing assignment is more critical to a high school senior’s chances of getting into many top colleges than his or her average grades from four years of high school.

I do not take this responsibility lightly!

My guarantee to you:

All Naked Essay students produce engaging, insightful, and effective essays—guaranteed. Whether you’re a gifted creative writer looking to take your work to the next level, or a future engineer who would rather chew on scrap metal than pour out your heart to an admissions committee, tutoring is tailored to your unique strengths. As a result, I am able to offer a money-back guarantee. I see it as one more way to make your application process less stressful.

Ivy Coach College Admissions Blog

"Way to tell it like it is, Ivy Coach" - The Dartmouth

Fees of College Consultants

This is an evening view of Dartmouth Hall on Dartmouth College's campus.

Originally Published on May 13, 2018:

With more and more students turning to private college counselors, one might wonder about the typical cost of enlisting such services.

“You can’t put a price tag on getting into your top college. Or maybe you can. With competition among college applicants as fierce as it has ever been, some students are doing whatever they can to get a leg up — no matter the cost. That’s where private help comes in. A growing number of college counselors offer their expertise — for a price,” writes Jessica Dickler in a piece on private college counseling for CNBC entitled “To get in to an Ivy League, more families turn to expensive private consultants.”

While it should be no surprise that private college counselors offer their expertise for a price, just as it should be no surprise when a dentist takes your payment after cleaning your teeth, let’s zero in on the typical fees of private college counselors.

How Much Do Private College Counselors Cost?

Back in 2018, a survey conducted by a college counseling organization discerned the mean college counseling fees across the nation ranged from $850 to $10,000, with average prices in the $4,000-$6,000 range.

But, like in any industry, there are excellent and poor as well as inexpensive and expensive practitioners. There are private college counselors based in Lincoln, Nebraska, and private college counselors based in New York, New York. The cost of an iced latte in Lincoln is not the same fee as the cost of a latte in Manhattan.

In the United States, businesses can charge what they wish. In 2019, Ivy Coach’s managing partner, Brian Taylor, defended capitalism, offering up the “ Quote of the Day ” to The New York Times : “If someone wants to pay a fee that you command, they have that right.”

The Fees of Ivy Coach, the World’s Leading College Consultancy

The fees of Ivy Coach , perhaps unsurprisingly due to press attention over the years, are significantly higher than this purported range for private college counselors.

Yes, Ivy Coach’s fees for college consulting have been featured in The New York Times , on the cover of a Sunday edition of The New York Post , and even the subject of commentary on CNBC .

That said, Ivy Coach’s fees, which tend to increase yearly and are based on the firm’s track record built over the last three decades, are not always reported correctly. While the charge is $1.5 million for families to work directly with the founder of Ivy Coach, Bev Taylor , it is not the firm’s only package.

Yet Ivy Coach, while unapologetic about the firm’s fees which can often inspire dropped jaws in America’s free market economy, understands that the costs are not for everyone.

As Ivy Coach’s Brian Taylor said candidly on Nightline in an interview with Juju Chang, “Not everyone needs a private college counselor. And if they just used some common sense — and so many times they don’t use common sense — they can beat this process.”

College Consultant Fees FAQ

How can ivy coach justify charging more than the annual cost of college tuition.

We justify Ivy Coach’s fees with three words: our track record. Also, we can only work with so many students each year. We are not in the business of working with the masses. Thus our fees are our fees are our fees.

Why does Ivy Coach charge so much more than its competitors?

Our fees are not based on other private college consultancies. Our fees are based on Ivy Coach’s track record and service demand.

You helped my child earn admission to Harvard a few years ago, but now your fees are higher. Why is Ivy Coach not rewarding my loyalty?

We appreciate your loyalty just as we hope you appreciate our success. Your child earned admission to Harvard with our assistance. As we joke at Ivy Coach, “We always get the siblings. We usually get the cousins. We rarely get the friends.” Parents don’t want to acknowledge their children had help earning admission to the colleges of their dreams — and that’s ok!

You are permitted to use www.ivycoach.com (including the content of the Blog) for your personal, non-commercial use only. You must not copy, download, print, or otherwise distribute the content on our site without the prior written consent of Ivy Coach, Inc.

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Working parents face many complex decisions about their children's education, especially when it comes to preparing for and applying to college. Many parents spend hundreds of hours on college-related tasks, and the lengthy process can leave them distracted, disengaged, and financially strained. Educational expertise alleviates a major source of anxiety for your employees.

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Is a College Coach Worth the Investment?

Pros & cons of hiring an admissions consultant, what is a college coach, college coach fees, is hiring a college coach worth it, weighing cost vs. reward.

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Getting into college can be a competitive business, especially if your student is aiming for a top-tier school. Bringing a college coach on board to help them navigate the admissions process could increase their odds of landing a spot at their dream university .

However, hiring a college coach can come with a hefty price tag. Before you commit to paying for the services, it's important to calculate your potential return on investment.

A college coach—also called a college admissions consultant—specializes in helping students achieve success in the college admissions process. These individuals are often former college admissions officers who have firsthand knowledge and expertise to share with prospective students.

Generally, the college coach's number-one job is helping a student to achieve their end goal of getting into the school of their choice. They do that by offering personalized advice to help students in selecting and applying for colleges . They can also help guide students' decision-making when it comes to things like extracurricular activities, curriculum choices, and college essay topics.

College coaches can help with the undergraduate and graduate school admissions process. Depending on which college or university your child wants to attend, the coaching process can begin as early as middle school. In addition to covering academics and extracurricular activities, a college coach can also discuss the financial aspects of choosing a college and applying for financial aid, scholarships, and grants.

All of these services can be offered through one-on-one coaching sessions, which can be conducted in person or online. Coaches can also provide additional support via email or phone, so you're not limited to only working with admissions consultants in your local area.

One of the most important aspects of college planning is considering the cost. Hiring a professional college coach can add to the total of what you spend on your child's education.

The fees can vary widely depending on the coaching or consulting firm you choose and the suite of services your student needs. Some coaches charge hourly rates, while others bill a flat fee when you purchase a coaching package. Hourly charges can easily run between $85 to $350, while comprehensive packages can range from $850 to $10,000. In one extreme case, a coaching firm charged one family $1.5 million to help their student gain admission to an Ivy League school.

Paying an additional $10,000 for coaching services may strain your budget if you're already planning to spend tens of thousands of dollars to cover tuition, fees, and other costs of attendance. On the other hand, spending $850 for college coaching may be more within your budget .

The value of a college coach depends largely on your student's goals and what you expect the result of coaching to be.

College coaches don't guarantee that your student will be admitted to their dream school, so you're taking a gamble in paying for their services. Many factors can influence whether a student is admitted to a prestigious or highly competitive school, including:

A college coach can help students determine which areas they need to focus on to make themselves attractive candidates for admissions. Ultimately, though, it's up to your student to do the work. Their coach may advise them to join a student club or improve their GPA, for example, but unless they make an effort to follow the advice, your child may not see the results they want when it's time to begin applying to schools.

A coach can also be useful in developing strategies that you and your student might overlook. For instance, a student who's part of a racial, ethnic, or religious minority may want to attend a school that has a very diverse population. But because there are already so many students like them, their application gets lost in a sea of others. In that situation, a college coach may steer them instead toward a school that has a smaller representation of students from their background. The prospect of adding diversity to the school could make them more likely to be accepted.

It's important to weigh the investment against the quality and cost of a degree at your student's top school. Earning a degree from Harvard, for instance, could help your students enter the workforce at a median starting salary of $95,000, according to PayScale research. That's a payoff that may be well worth a fee for a college coach. On the other hand, if they're interested in a school whose grads earn a typical starting salary of $50,000, your ROI shrinks significantly.

If you're considering hiring a college coach, do your homework first. Check out the range of services offered and the pricing for those services. Ask how often a coach will be available and what their track record is for helping students get admitted. Get an idea of their methods, and be sure they're not offering to do your student's work for them. Steer clear of any service that asks for a large deposit before offering any services or one that guarantees results that seem unrealistic. As with anything else, if a coach seems too good to be true, they most likely are.

Independent Educational Consultants Association. " State of the Profession 2018 ," Pages 20-21.

Ivy Coach. " Elite College Counseling: A Legal, Prohibitively Expensive Pay-to-Win Game in Admissions ."

PayScale. " Salaries for Harvard University Graduates ."

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College admissions counselors: Weighing the price

By Amy Fontinelle Amy Fontinelle is a personal finance writer focusing on budgeting, credit cards, mortgages, real estate, investing, and other topics. Posted on Dec 14, 2022

If you want your child to have a fighting chance at getting into one of the country's best universities, or if you are overwhelmed by the process of helping your child select and apply to colleges, you might consider hiring a college admissions consultant.

The college acceptance numbers would seem to argue for it. The top national universities had single-digit acceptance rates in 2022: roughly 3 percent at Harvard, 4 percent at Yale, and 6 percent at Johns Hopkins, according to one admissions researcher. And about 24 others have an acceptance rate of 20 percent or less, as do 17 of the top-ranked national liberal arts colleges.

What do college admissions consultants do?

College admissions consultants, also called independent education counselors (IECs), work with students and their parents to figure out which schools a student should apply to. They also guide them through the application and essay-writing processes . Some consultancies are one-person operations; others have dozens of counselors on staff. All help compensate for the lack of time high school guidance counselors have to spend with students.

Admission consultants’ services often go beyond merely selecting and applying to schools. About half offer career advice, about a third offer test prep, almost half provide guidance on financial aid, and the vast majority advise on academic course selection, while a few provide academic tutoring services, according to the Independent Educational Consultants Association . Planning college visits and helping select extracurricular and summer activities that will make a student a well-rounded applicant are other services admissions consultants sometimes offer. ( Learn more: Hunting generous colleges )

Edward Vosganian, president and founder of College Funding 123, said in an interview that some advisors, including his company, have schools that call them to say they are looking for students with certain interests; this might be the case if the school is introducing a new program or major, for example. This knowledge can help expand a student’s options for which schools they might want to attend and what scholarship funding they might be eligible for.

Why some families hire a college admissions consultant

“I've often been told that having a consultant made life happier at home because there was no nagging needed about what progress the student was making on applications,” said Pam Rambo, a college admissions consultant with Rambo Research and Consulting , in an interview.

IECs emphasize their ability to not only help students identify and get into colleges that are the right fit for them, but also their ability to make the process of selecting a college enjoyable rather than stressful. They also say that the money families pay them is well worth it because they can help students identify schools that are more likely to offer them a generous financial aid package and that by helping students choose the right school, they are more likely to graduate on time. Both of these achievements can keep college costs down by far more than what it costs to hire a consultant. ( Related : College savings calculator )

Anita Gajula, a college admissions coach with My College Planning Team , said in an interview that most parents do not have the time and energy to become experts in whatever interests their child. “They hire tutors to help with ACT and SAT test preparation. They hire nutritionists or medical experts when their child is experiencing physical problems. Why should this be any different for the college process?”

Characteristics of a good college consultant

Gajula said that most good college consultants have dedicated several years to learning how to assess and evaluate a student's interests, strengths, and abilities so they can help them choose a major and/or career. They have spent countless nights on the road touring a variety of the 4,000 colleges in the United States. They have taken classes about all the ins and outs of the financial aid and admissions process, and they are constantly reading up on the newest changes in the test-prep industry and admissions process. ( Related: Student financial aid and big changes for the FAFSA )

Many consultants have prior experience as college admissions directors, scholarship directors, or financial aid directors, which gives them an insider’s knowledge. You can also look for credentials such as membership in the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) or the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), though the occupation is not licensed, so a lack of such credentials is not a cause for concern.

A good college counselor gives a student an edge by helping him or her avoid applying to too many low-probability “reach” schools and not enough high-probability “safety” schools and medium-probability “target” schools, said Jonathan M. Perkins, a college counselor with EssayWise, in an interview. ( Learn more : Choosing a college )

Another thing to look for is the comfort factor.

“I think chemistry is important between the consultant, parent, and child. If you meet a consultant and don't feel comfortable with them, interview another consultant,” Rambo said.

According to the IECA, most consultants offer either a free initial consultation or a consultation where the price is rolled into the package if you end up hiring that consultant. This initial meeting allows parents and students to learn about the counseling company and its services and to see if the fit is right.

Characteristics of a bad college consultant

A bad consultant, by contrast, will fill out your child’s applications for them, write your child’s essays, or engage in other dishonest tactics in an attempt to gain an edge. Other warning signs that an independent educational consultant is not worth hiring, according to the IECA, include promises to use pull or connections to help your child get admitted to a particular school, acceptance of finder's fees from colleges, and a lack of specificity about what you are getting for your money when you hire them. The IECA also provides a list of questions to ask before hiring a consultant.

College consultants cannot guarantee that your child will be admitted to a particular school — or to any school at all. They are not the ones making the decisions in the admissions office. For the same reason, they also cannot guarantee that your child will receive a particular scholarship or financial aid package.

“There is no special secret that can get an average student into a super-selective school,” Perkins said. “There is only an open secret: that having a hook helps.”

He said that five common hooks exist for students…

He said that a college admissions counselor can identify a hook and help a student accentuate it in the application, as well as help the student avoid writing an application essay that fails to provide any memorable details. ( Related : Preparing for the college acceptance letter )

Who should consider hiring a college consultant . . . and who should skip it

“As someone who has been an independent education consultant for a dozen years now, my view on the question of if a family should hire someone like me is an unequivocal and unwavering, ‘maybe’,” said Arun Ponnusamy, head counselor and vice president of Collegewise , in an interview. “Fear should not be the motivating factor. There’s loads of great, free advice out there to supplement any of the support found within a high school. A savvy student or parent — with some effort and organization — can absolutely move through this process at a high level without paying a dime to an IEC,” he said.

Ponnusamy added that for students with niche interests — recruited athletes, musical theater talent, or STEM-focus, for example — a knowledgeable expert can help reveal some lesser-known options for popular or prestigious schools. ( Related : A primer on college financial aid )

College consultants can also help families with troubled students or families where parents and their child cannot agree on where to apply or attend. They can also be useful if a student has an unconventional academic background or wants to pursue an uncommon major or career.

And if your child has any other special characteristics — maybe she has a learning challenge or a physical challenge — a consultant who has worked with similar children and understands their unique needs can make it easier for your family to find the right school.

How much college admissions consultants charge

The cost of a college consultant depends on the fee structure of the company you hire and how much help you want with the admissions process.

Ponnusamy said parents can hire someone for just an hour to review a child’s college list, or they can buy a comprehensive package that spares parents the grief of learning the nuances of the college admissions process, which can be particularly important for working parents.

Many providers offer transparent pricing right on their websites. Others don’t, preferring to engage first. Prices can range from roughly $250 for a one-hour meeting to several thousand dollars for a package offering unlimited assistance for 11 th and 12 th graders. The IECA reported that the mean college advising package fee in 2018, the latest survey available, ranged from $850 to $10,000, with average packages in the $4,000-$6,000 range. 1

For families on a tight budget, some counselors reduce their fees or waive them altogether. In fact, the IECA reports that about a quarter of families who use college counselors are working class, lower middle class or impoverished. 2

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This article was first published in October 2016. It has been updated.

_____________________________________________________

1 IECA, “Trends in Independent Educational Consulting 2018,” IECA Webinar, February 2020.

The information provided is not written or intended as specific tax or legal advice. MassMutual, its employees and representatives are not authorized to give tax or legal advice. You are encouraged to seek advice from your own tax or legal counsel. Opinions expressed by those interviewed are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.

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Scribbr's College Essay Editing & Coaching | Rated 4.9 of 5
1. Upload your college essay. Upload your college essay, and tell us a little about yourself. We’ll match you with a certified college essay coach. 2. Sit back and relax. Your coach will edit your essay and share in-depth advice to help you strengthen your structure, content, and narrative. 3. Receive your feedback.
Essay Coaching Packages & Rates - Essay Coaching
Essay Coaching Handouts Package Package deal with five sessions: Five appointments success package: $950 For the student who needs help selecting an essay topic, and structuring, writing, and editing the essay.
College Essay Coach: Our Process, Costs, and Guarantee
Time & costs (a flat weekly rate of $875 applies to students who register before Sept. 15th) How the process works College essay help for high school junior or senior Personal statement help for professional/graduate school
College Essay Tutoring Rates: Up-Front Costs, No Surprises
Process FAQ Essays Reviews Rates Call Us: 878-444-0455 Rates & Sign-Up Info Anna’s weekly rate is $875 (includes daily coaching and revisions). This weekly rate applies to students who register prior to Sept. 15th. The Common App personal essay is completed within 3 weeks. If starting after Sept. 15th, there is a flat fee per essay.
College Admissions Consultants Cost and Fees | Ivy Coach
Back in 2018, a survey conducted by a college counseling organization discerned the mean college counseling fees across the nation ranged from $850 to $10,000, with average prices in the $4,000-$6,000 range. But, like in any industry, there are excellent and poor as well as inexpensive and expensive practitioners.
College Coach | Bright Horizons®
Learning Center. Anytime access to guides, calculators, and informational videos helps employees and their students make confident decisions about their future education. Our online experience provides complete access to all elements - event sign-ups, resources, expert answers - on a schedule that meets the employee's own pace.
Is a College Coach Worth the Investment? - The Balance
Some coaches charge hourly rates, while others bill a flat fee when you purchase a coaching package. Hourly charges can easily run between $85 to $350, while comprehensive packages can range from $850 to $10,000. 1 In one extreme case, a coaching firm charged one family $1.5 million to help their student gain admission to an Ivy League school. 2
College admissions counselors: Weighing the price | MassMutual
The cost of a college consultant depends on the fee structure of the company you hire and how much help you want with the admissions process.