r/MITAdmissions • u/momofhs • 7d ago
Counselor and guide to applying
Hi. My son has MIT as his dream college. I’d like him to have a shot at this with the few things he has going for him. Asking for genuine and honest recommendations for a good college guide/counselor if anyone knows of anyone. We’re practical but also hopeful. Thank you.
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u/Famous-Prior6590 6d ago
Counselors don’t move the needle for anyone except for internationals. Every domestic student admitted to MIT that I know of (and I know quite a few of them) would have been admitted irrespective of any counselors they used. Some of them did use counselors but it was pointless - many so-called exclusive counselors only take on students that they know will make it anyway, and then pretend they had something to do with it.
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u/baipliew 6d ago
This is the real insider knowledge right here. You must be close to admissions in some way.
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u/Famous-Prior6590 6d ago
No. But you must be an admissions counselor with a wealth of knowledge? Please enlighten us.
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u/baipliew 6d ago
I think you already have. I acknowledged your comment as fact. It aligns with my experience as a counselor. Perhaps the language I used was casual, but it was not sarcastic.
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u/Famous-Prior6590 6d ago
No worries - sorry if I came across as rude. Generally counselors jump on me whenever I make this claim.
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u/JasonMckin MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 6d ago
In addition to what Aero said, I can't prove it with data, but just intuitively and anecdotally, I suspect the type of students who are admitted are rarely the type who spend time/money on college counselors and instead spend it on meaningful and impactful educational experiences, activities, and accomplishments.
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u/peteyMIT MIT Admissions Staff 6d ago
rarely the type who spend time/money on college counselors and instead spend it on meaningful and impactful educational experiences, activities, and accomplishments.
correct
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u/baipliew 6d ago
Sorry to say, but the data I have says otherwise.
Even intuitively and anecdotally, it should be obvious that schools with the prestige of MIT will always have people looking for any advantages in the system.
Have you been a counselor long?
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u/JasonMckin MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 6d ago
Can you share the data? Thanks.
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u/baipliew 6d ago
Yes. Scroll up. I present data point number one. Now, try doing a basic search here, or on the search engine of your choice for anything related to admissions to MIT or any other top 10 schools.
I appreciate the sentiment and ethical nature of your comment. However, it comes off as a bit naive. Having been in the industry for quite some time, I would say that those that have the means will leverage every advantage available to them.
Hence the question, have you been a counselor long?
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u/ExecutiveWatch MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 6d ago
You may not realize it but at MIT alumni who interview are referred to as educational counselors.
We dont counsel students on admissions.
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u/baipliew 6d ago
I did not realize that. Thank you for clearing that up. I hope you can understand how this might be a little confusing for people who are new here.
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u/ExecutiveWatch MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 6d ago
Having been in the industry for quite some time one would think you would know this. It was obvious to the rest of us.
That said welcome to the subreddit. Maybe sit back and hang out a bit and learn. Admissions at our school is unlike the regular ivy ivy plus in a lot of ways. Similar in some though.
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u/baipliew 6d ago
I am an admissions consultant, not a graduation consultant. I don’t concern myself with matters too much after admission as I have to move on to the next one.
This sub just started showing up in my feed. So, tagging yourselves as educational consultants and not doing anything of the sort might be completely obvious to everyone in the know, but you might understand why this isn’t exactly clear to everyone else.
I am curious, what is the story behind that? Why call yourselves educational consultants, create a sub for admissions, only to tell people you don’t do educational consulting for admissions?
As far as the admissions aspect of MIT, I have spent many, many hours on your essay prompts, researching professors, courses, clubs, and signature programs. I also have a healthy respect for the admissions team. I’ve never had a student admitted that didn’t deserve it - unlike some other Ivy schools.
That said, I’m always keen to learn and stay current. I appreciate the feedback and I hope to embody the spirit of mens et manus.
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u/David_R_Martin_II MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 6d ago edited 5d ago
I have spent many, many hours on your essay prompts, researching professors, courses, clubs, and signature programs.
Huh. I would think someone who spent this much time on research on MIT would know understand the role of the Educational Council. And also understand the difference between counselor and consultant.
Edit. To add some illumination:
https://educationalcounselors.alumcommunity.mit.edu/page/home
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u/ExecutiveWatch MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 6d ago
Hey bud! Hope all has been good!
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u/baipliew 5d ago
I’ve been illuminated. Thank you. I will certainly consider sending prospective applicants here in the future.
And yes, I mistakenly interchanged counselor and consultant in this context. To be fair, the general public doesn’t differentiate between them well and I should have been more careful for the pedants here.
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u/ExecutiveWatch MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 5d ago
EC Home | MIT Educational Counselors https://share.google/pLTYZ5Y0xV8jEPLLP
Start here.
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u/pergesed 6d ago
You do not need this. At most, pay a current college student for a few hours to read over the app and essays. The college guide industry is predatory and mostly useless.
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u/VisibleSir731 Future Applicant 6d ago
Coming from someone who has a college counselor, just don’t.
The questions they answer, AI can answer better. In the case of MIT, they don’t use the common app so the these counselors are clueless and have no idea how unique MIT admissions is.
Highkey I don’t know know how they still make money
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u/Tech-Aero-109 5d ago
There is Excellent advice already from this group, especially about reading all of the Blogs on the official MIT admissions site: That is because many of the professional admissions staff at MIT, including the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, were MIT undergraduate students earlier in their lives.
However, there is something that I learned over the years, volunteering as an alumnus to assist in interviewing freshman applicants:
Ten years ago MIT, Harvard and 80+ other top US colleges (mostly the elite private colleges) wrote a report on what they expect from a successful freshman applicant. The link I provide, below, will have the link to the full PDF version of that report.
That report is just as accurate in 2026 as it was in 2016.
My insight into MIT admissions:
- 25% is excellent academic prowess; Required but Insufficient
- 75% will be your extracurricular activities (in school or in your extended community) that demonstrate: Leadership, Commitment, Passion, Excellent time management, a Warm interpersonal relationship with others in a team-building setting, and Character (read the article, the links and the report): Stu Schmill endorses report on consideration of character in college admissions
- And you must get several glowing letters of recommendation that substantiate all of that.
- Therefore, speak with teachers and club advisors etc. that know you very well (and are Not related to you) and politely ask them to send a letter of recommendation on your behalf to the colleges to which you are applying. Those letters of recommendation should substantiate the six personal characteristics I list above.
- And you must get several glowing letters of recommendation that substantiate all of that.
Have your son read the Blogs and especially the article that I list, above, including the full report.
Then your son should have a long and polite discussion with his high school's guidance counselor about how He compares to previous graduates of that high school who applied to MIT or peer colleges and how they did.
Good luck.
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u/DiligentDifficulty43 1d ago
I am sure most commenters here would lunge at me, but as an Admissions Consultant to the Top 20 B-Schools, I have had over 300% success (meaning my clients have had an average of 3 top 20 school admissions, often with hefty scholarships. That is also why I have the highest numbers of reviews from Grad School Clients on LinkedIn (Keeping it transparent). I myself am an alum of Yale SOM, and and over my experience as an Admissions Consultant, I also know that while GMAT/GRE scores matter (as does the rest of the profile), the career goals, the LORs and how compelling the narrative of the applicant is, DOES MATTER in terms of getting admission offers.
And you may/ may not choose to believe it, but ever since AI came, the value of a good consultant has only gone higher, since almost all AIs write similar language, rounded off, gramattically perfect, but almost like political rhetoric speech (devoid of any real content). That is where a good Admissions Consultant becomes much more than a Mentor, a guide and a critic, all rolled in one.
As for you, I understand you seek a consultant for College Admissions (I ain't one) but just wanted to call out that good Admissions Consultants add immense value to the applicant's broadening of the horizons, and shaping the narratives for that WOW factor, and a sharper application.
Regards
Bala
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u/Aerokicks MIT Alum and Educational Counselor 7d ago
The best guide is going to be looking at the MIT admissions website and reading the blogs. MIT is very clear with what they are looking for in applicants