Admissions Consultants

[LineInTheSand]

The $ don't have much if anything to do with honor.

Are they mis-leading applicants with regards to their experience and abilities to get people in?

Looking at their website I can not see why an applicant would contact them, free or not.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't use them. But is it a willful deception? They have interviewed with members of Congress (or at least representatives of those members). They have undergone other interviews. They've prepared themselves physically. And they probably THINK they do know what they're doing (they have, afterall done it). They are closer to their application process than I am to my Swab Summer or 4/c year but I still talk about them.

But thinking I know more than I do is human. I don't think it's an issue of honor. There are statements that may be more positive than you think they should be (and I would agree, they are), but honestly, what kind of site would it be if they said "worked for us, might or might not work for you..."

Certainly they know more than the average applicant or average parent. Maybe they don't know as much as they think they do.

I'm two years removed from my time in the Coast Guard, seven years removed from my time at the Coast Guard Academy, and I'm 12 years removed from applying to the Coast Guard Academy. Because I stay in touch with my classmates and old coworkers, I know many things have changed, in just the last two years... and certianly the Academy has seens some changes... does that mean my dated or not entirely informed statements are dishonorable? I don't think so (but then, I am biased).

Now what if I wanted to charge for my pearls of wisdom, set up a price structure and everything, but didn't have the means to collect, so I offered my assistance for free. Who is going to condemn someone for that? Is not collecting fees dishonorable? I don't think so. Who loses? They (the consultants) do, but because they haven't collected anything and because their expenses are likely small, what real impact does it have?

As I said, I wouldn't use them. I don't think they are as helpful or knowledgable as they think they are. But after considering that, and believing they can't deliver what they think they can, I'm not going to label them dishonorable. Maybe blind to reality or their own limitations, but not liars.

 

[usna1985]

Looking at their website I can not see why an applicant would contact them, free or not.

Many people are "desperate." They so much want to get into a SA and believe there is a "magic" formula that -- if they can just find it -- will be their salvation. And I'm not being critical or catty -- just realistic.

Some figure another set of eyes, or another opinion, will help or at least can't hurt. Some have BGOs or similar who, honestly, aren't very good so this provides an option.

If they want to write a pamphlet and charge some nominal amount for it (assuming this is all OK with their services/commands), ok. But they need to ask themselves whether they are providing good gouge/advice. Are they really helping applicants?

As I've said, just b/c you have graduated from a SA doesn't make you an expert in admissions. It does make you somewhat of an expert on what life is like there. IMO, that should be their focus -- helping applicants decide whether a SA is right for them. However, even that info is fleeting . . . as we "older" grads well know.

 

[Packer]

LITS, I think we actually agree more than we disagree. Are these guys actually dis-honorable? I have no idea. Do their marketing claims push the envelope? I think yes.

But thinking I know more than I do is human.

The longer I live and the more I learn the less I realize I know. I am pretty sure I reached my "knowledge" peak at about 18 years old.