$10k Challenge: Become a College Advisor

As many of you know, I'm trying to raise an additional $10k this year in income -- extra income outside my regular job. (The numbers I ran show that making this amount and socking it away year after year can yield quite a sizeable next egg.) Here's another idea for those of you trying to do the same thing: become a college advisor

Believe it or not, people are paying money (and good money at that) to have their kids receive college-related advice on which schools to apply to, how to apply, how to get in, etc. Here are some details from Kiplinger:

Worried about getting junior into college or graduate school? For $1,000, an admissions consultant can help your child narrow down thousands of options to a dozen or more schools that could be the right fit.

Valerie Broughton, an admissions consultant in Minneapolis, identified schools that complemented Michael's academic and social interests, set deadlines for applications, and coached him on essays and interviews. Broughton charges $2,750 for the total package but will work for an hourly rate of $200.

You'll typically pay more than $1,000 to get the full range of services from an admissions consultant. But the most valuable service is narrowing the list of schools to those likely to admit your student, give financial aid and offer the best educational programs for your child's interests. A grand will buy such a list from a qualified consultant, says Mark Sklarow, executive director of the Independent Educational Consultants Association.

Holy cow!!!!! Are they kidding?????? Is there really a career in this? If so, maybe it's something I should consider as a side business. Surely I could recommend colleges to go to, couldn't I?

Comments

[Chief Family Officer]

Well, I think the background for credibility is usually college admissions officer - not sure if you have that one ;)

[plonkee]

Good heavens, I reckon I could do this from over here. Unless its one of those things that's much more difficult to do than it sounds.

[Kevin]

There is one of these consultants in my neighborhood. I was surprised such a business exists and could be profitable. I guess the entry costs are practically nothing, though.

[Allese]

There is so very much wrong with the inner and outer workings of the college/university world... like--- the best universities often lack motivated and dedicated professors as the professors are often more interested in their own research and titles than teaching to begin with, the enourmous amount of money major schools raise rarely is used for undergraduates, and college these days has become more about scoring high on tests and less about actual learning.... this list goes on and on and on

College Consultants seems to be another bullet point in this incredibly long list... That said, if they possess awareness of these issues and are able to direct their students towards schools that work towards genuine education over label- then my congrats are in order
however, its hard for me to believe that those outrageous fees could be justified in any way-- as this post seems to be, if only inadvertently, aware of.
I am sure there is plethora of arguments for such consultants-- but its seems more of money hungry move than one to benefit those around you... not that is the objective here anyway
But then again-- there are people that spend hundreds on therapy for their dogs...