Asking for a friend

[laundry]

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Hi guys,

A colleague of mine who used to teach at UCSF with me and was on the admission comm is thinking about starting her own admissions consulting gig (no longer affiliated with the institution). She has done some research and it appears that the going rate is something like $400/hr of consulting (Q/A) or $3000-5000 for complete prep (application review, advice, mock interview, etc). Her "edge" is that she is offering a 90% money back guarantee in case a client won't get in.

Will she be able to get clients? Is this something that one would go for?

 

[flossy_p]

yes. of course. is that even a question lol
think about how many ppl want to get in and all those ppl who continue to ask in the WAMCs threads.

and mind you, think about that admission scandal with USC this past year--and thats even only for undergrad lol...
you'd be surprised how many ppl will go through great heights to get into XYZ school with a bit of $$$.

 

[princeafrica]

There's a website/person that has been doing this for a while. I forgot the name though. She was charging like $9,000 and the price only kept rising so I guess it was working

 

[laundry]

There's a website/person that has been doing this for a while. I forgot the name though. She was charging like $9,000 and the price only kept rising so I guess it was working

9K is pretty crazy....

 

[flossy_p]

lol you'd be surprised how many crazy ppl there are out there
*cough* The Five Craziest Schemes from the 'Varsity Blues' College Admissions Bribe Scandal | Breitbart

lol wow...
there's even a Wiki page for this 2019 college admissions bribery scandal - Wikipedia

 

[laundry]

lol you'd be surprised how many crazy ppl there are out there
*cough* The Five Craziest Schemes from the 'Varsity Blues' College Admissions Bribe Scandal | Breitbart

lol wow...
there's even a Wiki page for this 2019 college admissions bribery scandal - Wikipedia

true, though I was talking about consulting and help on admissions applications and not paid admission guarantees. 9 grand for the latter is CHEAP

 

[ToothJockey]

Personally I don't know who would pay this much money for stuff you can get pretty much for free online. That 4k would be better spent on student loans.

 

[FanOfCostco]

Personally I don't know who would pay this much money for stuff you can get pretty much for free online. That 4k would be better spent on student loans.

your thinking is too logical. It won’t work.

 

[Life of Pablo]

Personally I don't know who would pay this much money for stuff you can get pretty much for free online. That 4k would be better spent on student loans.

3000 for someone who worked on admissions (UCSF nevertheless) when there is a 90% money back guarantee if you don't get in? I can see her right now:

 

[flossy_p]

Personally I don't know who would pay this much money for stuff you can get pretty much for free online. That 4k would be better spent on student loans.

There’s a reason why ppl have all of these resources but still shell out the money to buy ADEA books and other sources about school stats, essays, and stuff.

Esp with the 90%money back guarantee it’s like saying “use my expertise for free”

 

[laundry]

What about 50% refund? basically, what is the optimum WTP, as we say in B school?

 

[flossy_p]

not sure.
that's something you'll have to figure out/gauge with your friend as you start and continue that business

 

[catchandrelease]

3-5k is too much. Most applicants dont have that money to burn

I would consider paying a grand max for her expertise with the 90% refund, but 3-5k is pushing it

 

[flossy_p]

imo, your price quote depends on your customer demographics and credibility over time.
SF is a relatively wealthy area

 

[doc toothache]

The "edge" appears to have dropped significantly from 90% to 50%. Some might argue that "Money-Back Guarantee" means that all (100%) of the money will be refunded.

Home | Guaranteed Admission

www.guaranteed-admission.com

 

[macsak]

The "edge" appears to have dropped significantly from 90% to 50%. Some might argue that "Money-Back Guarantee" means that all (100%) of the money will be refunded.

Home | Guaranteed Admission

www.guaranteed-admission.com

Terms and Conditions | Guaranteed Admission

www.guaranteed-admission.com

"Guaranteed-admissions.com and Vagan Tapaltsyan cannot guarantee any particular information will be applicable or helpful for a client’s specific situation. Guaranteed-admissions.com and Vagan Tapaltsyan cannot guarantee it will improve a client’s chances of admission."

"I cannot guarantee any particular outcome."

"REFUNDS
Only the Complete Application Package service is eligible for a partial refund. Hourly Consulting and Personal Statement services are not eligible for a refund. Partial refund in the amount of 50% of the total cost of the Complete Application Package. Additionally purchased hours of consultation will not be eligible for a refund. In order to qualify for a partial refund, the client has to demonstrate that (1) all of the advised and suggested corrections by the consultant in the application process have been adhered to by the client; (2) applicant did not withdraw his or her application; (3) letters of rejection by all of the applied schools submitted to the consultant."

 

[macsak]

Terms and Conditions | Guaranteed Admission

www.guaranteed-admission.com

"Guaranteed-admissions.com and Vagan Tapaltsyan cannot guarantee any particular information will be applicable or helpful for a client’s specific situation. Guaranteed-admissions.com and Vagan Tapaltsyan cannot guarantee it will improve a client’s chances of admission."

"I cannot guarantee any particular outcome."

"REFUNDS
Only the Complete Application Package service is eligible for a partial refund. Hourly Consulting and Personal Statement services are not eligible for a refund. Partial refund in the amount of 50% of the total cost of the Complete Application Package. Additionally purchased hours of consultation will not be eligible for a refund. In order to qualify for a partial refund, the client has to demonstrate that (1) all of the advised and suggested corrections by the consultant in the application process have been adhered to by the client; (2) applicant did not withdraw his or her application; (3) letters of rejection by all of the applied schools submitted to the consultant."

not all schools send letters of rejection
and how can the applicant prove that "all of the advised and suggested corrections" were adhered to?

 

[doc toothache]

not all schools send letters of rejection
and how can the applicant prove that "all of the advised and suggested corrections" were adhered to?

Enough wiggle room to drive a caravan of Mac trucks through and still have space for a VW.

 

[laundry]

Enough wiggle room to drive a caravan of Mac trucks through and still have space for a VW.

Thanks for the feedback - we are remodeling the website and somehow the old model made it to the builder’s workstation. Check it in a couple of days: it will be 90% money back without any wiggle room (except perhaps for the applicant withdrawing from applying post-factum) with no payment due until/unless one is accepted!

 

[macsak]

Thanks for the feedback - we are remodeling the website and somehow the old model made it to the builder’s workstation. Check it in a couple of days: it will be 90% money back without any wiggle room (except perhaps for the applicant withdrawing from applying post-factum) with no payment due until/unless one is accepted!

I still don't understand why you call it "guaranteed admission" and then have all the disclaimers that it is not guaranteed
it either is or isn't, simple as that

and you should also not refer to things in your posts that imply you are part of a school admissions committee

Taking pre-reqs at a branch campus?

I was thinking of taking a summer quarter at UW Bothell instead of the main campus in Seattle and was wondering if adcomms would care, especially since UW pushes that all of their campuses are the same. Thoughts?

forums.studentdoctor.net

Prep for Re-applying?

At this point in the cycle if an applicant has not received any interviews yet is it safe to just give up hope for this cycle and start prepping to boost application to re-apply or is there really still a chance for a lower stat applicant?

forums.studentdoctor.net

your use of "we"...

 

[laundry]

I still don't understand why you call it "guaranteed admission" and then have all the disclaimers that it is not guaranteed
it either is or isn't, simple as that

and you should also not refer to things in your posts that imply you are part of a school admissions committee

Taking pre-reqs at a branch campus?

I was thinking of taking a summer quarter at UW Bothell instead of the main campus in Seattle and was wondering if adcomms would care, especially since UW pushes that all of their campuses are the same. Thoughts?

forums.studentdoctor.net

Prep for Re-applying?

At this point in the cycle if an applicant has not received any interviews yet is it safe to just give up hope for this cycle and start prepping to boost application to re-apply or is there really still a chance for a lower stat applicant?

forums.studentdoctor.net

your use of "we"...

Guaranteed means I guarantee the best possible outcome or money-back; anything more than that would mean taking money for admission, which would be unethical and illegal.

I interviewed hundreds of students over my tenure (both in training and as an Assistant Professor) at UCSF, I think "we" is appropriate 🙂

Also, thanks for the critique! Ultimately, my goal is create a business that helps students and is as affordable, easy, and transparent as possible. So, please, tell me if there is anything else that needs clarification!

 

[macsak]

Guaranteed means I guarantee the best possible outcome or money-back; anything more than that would mean taking money for admission, which would be unethical and illegal.

I interviewed hundreds of students over my tenure (both in training and as an Assistant Professor) at UCSF, I think "we" is appropriate 🙂

Also, thanks for the critique! Ultimately, my goal is create a business that helps students and is as affordable, easy, and transparent as possible. So, please, tell me if there is anything else that needs clarification!

"we" is not appropriate if used in the present tense
unless you are still involved in the admissions process, which would be a HUGE conflict of interest...

 

[macsak]

Guaranteed means I guarantee the best possible outcome or money-back; anything more than that would mean taking money for admission, which would be unethical and illegal.

then maybe you should change it to www.guaranteedbestpossibleoutcome.com

 

[happy_6523]

I wouldn't use it because I'm not a rich guy, but there's always someone who is willing to pay for it. For you reference, I am working at an education agency, and we charge 40kto help students get into top colleges.

 

[macsak]

Thanks for the feedback - we are remodeling the website and somehow the old model made it to the builder’s workstation. Check it in a couple of days: it will be 90% money back without any wiggle room (except perhaps for the applicant withdrawing from applying post-factum) with no payment due until/unless one is accepted!

do you believe that statement when other people use it as an excuse?

 

[macsak]

do you believe that statement when other people use it as an excuse?

like, you know, when AOC announced the Green New Deal, and everyone was laughing at it, and then she said "it was a draft that an aide inadvertently published on our website"

 

[flossy_p]

Ok y’all, let’s put this to rest.

@macsak if you could stop giving him a hard time and grilling him that would be great.

It’s good and helpful(?) you’ve been pointing out some errors, and we understand you have been critiquing it for whatever reason, but ultimately it’s his business and he can do whatever he wants with it.

It’s like owning a dental office—you don’t really have the right to bash on someone else’s office just bc they don’t operate the same way you do. I mean you could, but it’s still their office and their call.

So lets all just let it go. Things won’t always align with our own worldviews and our opinions so let’s all try to be more open minded.

Lol and I’m going to leave before ppl start bashing on me now so *peace out brothas* xD

 

[ToothJockey]

I’m kinda on macsaks side here. Unless laundry is gonna take the DAT and get straight A’s for his clients, he can’t possible guarantee admissions.

I think 90% back is much better than 50%, if I were to put myself in the position as a potential client btw


Sent from my iPhone using SDN

 

[laundry]

I’m kinda on macsaks side here. Unless laundry is gonna take the DAT and get straight A’s for his clients, he can’t possible guarantee admissions.

I think 90% back is much better than 50%, if I were to put myself in the position as a potential client btw


Sent from my iPhone using SDN

You guys crack me up 🙂

If anyone could somehow LEGALLY sell admission to a dental school, they could give up practicing, charge a lot more than $4000, and have a ten year waitlist. Would I do it? No - for obvious moral and ethical reasons, not the least being a certain demise of our profession.

On the subject of the title of my firm. For those that take it in a literal sense and are ( for incomprehensible to me reasons) upset, my thesis is simple. I absolutely guarantee that everyone can gain admission to a dental school in the US with proper help and coaching. Does it mean that once I start helping them they can relax and be sure they will get in? Of course not! It still takes a stupendous amount of effort.

Finally, if you read what my service includes, you would see that it takes about 10-15 hours per client. For a practicing dentist, that is a huge opportunity cost, especially considering the money-back guarantee. So it’s not as lucrative as some may think.

 

[doc toothache]

$300/hour-The contemporary version of "giving back to the community" claims.