大学申请真的需要私人顾问吗?

          今年八月,因为对积极心理学的热爱,对某升学申请机构学生结合夏令营活动有感而发的关于希望的演说产生共鸣,写下《不一样的夏天》,引起湾区众家长对大学申请机构激烈的讨论,对这个行业并不了解的我从中学到了很多。再加上劳动节长周末去参加了两天《世界日报》主办的教育展,从头到尾听了各大升学机构的演讲,更是让我大开眼界:怨不得这么多家长对这些机构印象不好,原来真的有没多少教育背景的人操刀,绑架父母对孩子的爱心和担心,扭曲了高等教育,或者教育的最终目的。

 

        在中小学工作,九月就开始我的第15年了,熟悉也热爱。中小学教育为孩子一生打下基础,但除了曾自己申请并完成了在美国的博士学业,对它的高等教育了解只是皮毛。高等教育是职场前的又一个里程碑,大学也是对孩子前13年基础教育结果的一个审评。对这个升学过程多了解,可以让我更好地帮中小学生调整方向。再加上自己的两个孩子过几年也要经历这个申请过程,所以半职工作之余,我开始在 UCLA 的远程教育系统选修 Counseling the College Bound Student 课。在这里会把笔记和心得陆续总结下来,分期和大家分享。

 

(一)大学申请真的需要私人顾问吗?

 

          刚开学两星期,老师抛出热门话题: 高中生究竟需不需要花钱买私人大学申请咨询服务?引起全班30个学生踊跃参与。老师介绍我们读的文章公正全面地讨论利弊,启发我想到了许多以前没想过的问题,所以推荐给大家:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ruth-starkman/private-college-admissions-consulting_b_3625632.html

 

         要想全面回答这个问题,必须先了解高中生成功申请大学之前要做到的5步:

 Students who want to go to college must successfully navigate 5 processes:

 () Preparation (K to 12th Grade)

- Develop motivation to succeed academically

- Develop good study habits

- Take appropriate college preparation courses in high school

- Develop non academic talents and/or interests

- Understand the steps and timelines of applying to college 

() Search (9th to 11th Grade)

 - Developing an idea of the type of college that they are looking for (both academically and socially)

 - Visiting some local colleges

 - Attending college fairs

 - Talking to college representatives

 - Utilizing technology to learn about all college options across the globe

 () Application (12th Grade)

 - Being aware of what will be asked on the application (both academic and non academic information)

- Allowing adequate time to complete all steps of the process (application, essay, letters of

- MEET DEADLINES 

() Admission (12th Grade)

 - Evaluating and comparing offers of admission

- Evaluating and comparing financial aid offers

- Know how to proceed if not admitted to first choice college

- Know how to proceed if not admitted to any colleges

- Select the most appropriate college to attend

- Meet deadline (and any required paperwork) to accept offer of admission 

() Enrollment (12th Grade)

 - Successfully completing 12th grade year

- Submitting any required additional high school documents to selected college of attendance

- Confirming additional student services (i.e. housing) at selected college of attendance

- Taking any needed/required college placement tests

- Attend orientation

 

          结合课本 (Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling, 3rd Edition) 和老师列的大纲,不难发现,如果孩子从小养成了积极的学习习惯,做事有条理,了解自己的优点/缺点/特点,写作表达能力又强的话,有公立学校咨询员画龙点睛的点拨就足够了,他/她完全可以独立完成大学的搜索和申请。公立学校咨询员在校园里工作,直接负责课表的安排,还要为学生写推荐信,所以对大学申请的帮助处于得天独厚的位置。

 

         可如果孩子在学习上比较被动,学习习惯不好,做事没有条理,写作表达能力欠缺,而父母又没有足够的时间和精力和他/她一起去学习和完成申请的过程,考虑私人升学顾问(private admissions consultant服务就有道理了。首先,公立学校咨询员和学生的比例基本是1:500,而且很多调查报道,她/他们在学校近80%的时间花在和大学申请毫无关系的职责上,能做到的是一些集体活动,比如九年级新生可以在电脑上做人格特质量表,根据结果列出可能符合的大学专业和职业;组织当地大学到校园办 College Night,介绍课程及校园生活等信息; 可以一对一帮高中生寻找适合自己能力和个性的专业及学校的时间很难安排。私人升学顾问一般每年只收30位以内的学生,而且所有工作时间都投入到大学申请上,为每位学生提供的一对一服务是公立员工做不到的。

 

     Huffingtonpost 文中提到,美国私人升学咨询服务发展迅速,2013年秋季入学的大学生中, 26 雇佣了私人升学顾问 ,比10年前翻了3倍。 虽然我没见到湾区高中的数据,但就学校的观察,亚裔学生雇佣私人升学顾问的比例远远超过26%。原因有几个:首先,矽谷技术移民多,很多父母到20多到30多才接触美国的教育和文化系统,对基础教育到本科的衔接并不了解。再加上工作压力大,没有很多闲暇时间去和孩子一起摸索升学申请过程。在经济允许的条件下,宁可花钱买“心安”,让专业人士帮孩子理清道路。

 

        大学申请不止是简单的填表。如果私人升学顾问接受过系统的培训,象UCLA College Counseling Certificate Program,根据以上总结的大纲,从培养孩子的学习习惯,找到课外活动的兴趣,根据量表结果提供大学,专业和职业选择的推荐,到标准考试的准备等,帮孩子全面规划,那她/他们在这个转折阶段的服务是很有效的。

 

        但课本和老师强调,在挑选升学顾问机构时,一定考虑以下因素:

 

1. 私人顾问自己毕业的学校并不代表她/他们咨询服务的水平。

       请务必查清顾问有无“大学升学咨询师”资格认证,所在机构是否 NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) 成员。如果服务不专业,至少可以投诉有门。

 

2. 收费最高的不一定提供最佳服务。

       一位欧裔升学顾问在湾区某知名机构工作6年后离开,自己提供私人服务。他诚恳地告诉我,在那家机构做不下去的原因是看不惯他们对家长漫天开价,良心上过不去。他现在提供同样的咨询服务,但只收大机构25%的价格,做得心安理得。大机构用铺天盖地的广告去开拓市场,其实这些费用最终都来自父母交的学费,和他们提供的咨询服务质量并不成正比。

 

3.  私人顾问是否以人为本,而不是拿固定模具把孩子往里塞。

      成绩等数据是死的,可同样的成绩下,每位孩子的情况和需求各不相同。有位家长告诉我,一位升学顾问第一眼看到儿子 GPA 3.2就立刻宣布,这成绩进UC是不可能的!我工作过的另一位高中生,GPA 也是 3.2,但对商业操作能力突出,曾和校队拿过洲冠,而且人际交流能力极强,今年被UIUC顺利录取。升学顾问的很大职责是帮孩子在申请过程中扬长避短,怎么能凭成绩就把门封上呢?

 

4. 请调整对升学顾问的期待值。

       升学顾问和房地产经纪或会计师不一样,后者的服务很全面,交了费用,她/他们会负责打理所有文件。但升学顾问只是提供指导,表格还需要学生亲自来填,Self Statement 需要孩子亲自来写。顾问可以提供建议怎样修改可以让文章更突出,但不能帮她/他们改。课外活动可以推荐,标准考试可以提供准备课服务,但做成,考成什么水平靠孩子自己。学校成绩等除了可以建议学习方法外也是超出顾问可以控制的范围。所以,对升学顾问辅导的结果要有客观的期待。

 

      其它更明显的,比如弄虚作假等,就不用提了。就算是给孩子个垫脚石,把她/他推入一个和自己能力,性格等不相称的大学,他/她能顺利完成学业吗?美国各大学的毕业率都列在这个网站上 (http://collegecompletion.chronicle.com/),供各位家长做参考。进入大学不是终点,而是孩子另一个阶段的起点。送进了不适合自己的大学再中途退出,岂不是更浪费时间,而且心理上也是挫折。

 

       美国的高等教育在全世界引人注目,排行前45的高校里有30所在这里。它最大的特点是量大:全国有4495所大学(不包括远程教育机构),其中本科2774所。很多优秀的大学我们这些移民父母根本没听说过。举个例子:以下是美国上25个诺贝尔化学奖得主本科时就读的大学,我们耳熟的不足半:

 Augsburg College

Berea College

Brigham Young University

 City College of New York   

Dartmouth College 

Grinnell College                    

GIT                                         

Harvard University

Hope College

McGill University  

MIT                                          

Ohio Wesleyan University 

Rice University                     
Rollins College, Florida      

Stanford                                 
UC Riverside

University of Dayton, Ohio

University of Florida

University of MA

University of Nebraska      

Washington State University


       优秀的升学顾问应该对北美(包括加拿大)(甚至欧洲)多数大学有一定了解,对孩子有了解,才能找到两者之间最佳的匹配,而不是只认父母熟识的名校,不顾孩子的兴趣和能力,一律按那个要求规划。

 

 附上两篇文章,供父母参考:

 

Private College Admissions Consultants: Does Your Child Need One?

 

Ruth Starkman 

Academic teaching staff, Stanford University

 

Posted: 07/22/2013 1:42 pm http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ruth-starkman/private-college-admissions-consulting_b_3625632.html

 

Private College Admissions Consulting is a booming industry that offers to help families navigate the often-confusing and stressful process of college admissions. Although many public universities provide application seminars, post application tips on their websites and distribute guidelines to high school counselors, the demand for applications advice often exceeds the capacities of most public institutions. Indeed, public high schools in the United States employ an average of one staff member per 500 students. In 2013, 26 percent of all college applicants -- three times as many as in 2003, hired a "private admissions consultant" or an "independent educational consultant (IEC)" to assist with their college applications.

 

Fee-based college advice has long been available, but where such services once catered to students with difficult cases, an uneven transcript or learning differences, now they are becoming mainstream.

 

Responding to public demands for greater insight and access to college, private admissions consultants offer a range of services from test preparation and college selection, to essay and interview coaching and application packaging. Some consultant businesses provide a bevy of courses and coaches. Others merely focus on the application and are small businesses owned by individuals, who may have worked in counseling, admissions or for a university in the past. Still others are new to the profession and have an interest in working with teenagers and families. Their backgrounds and experiences vary greatly from education to marketing to athletics and the arts, as do their services.

 

Does your high school student need a private admissions consultant? It depends on your situation. Can you afford one? It depends on the service, which can range from about $1000 to tens of thousands of dollars.

 

The first step might be to consult the professional organizations that offer affiliation: The Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), or a NACAC regional affiliate. All of these associations post a series of requirements and ethical standards for private consultants.

 

It might be helpful to understand who your consultant is and what kind of preparation he or she has. As the market for independent consultants becomes increasingly crowded, many choose to enhance their knowledge of the admissions process as well as their ability to promote their own businesses through new certification programs, which are available through many university continuing studies programs. For example, The University of California at Berkeley, Extension has two different tracks for certification. The Certificate Program in College Admissions and Career Planning is open to candidates with a Bachelors degree and requires five courses for a total of 15 semester units (216 hours of instruction). The cost is about $4000. The Professional Program in College Admission Counseling is designed for professional counselors to improve their own marketing abilities and requires either a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential or master's degree in counseling. In this program counselors take two required courses for a total of eight semester units (120 hours of instruction) and pay about $2,000 (not including course materials or one-time program registration fee.

 

In addition to attending certification courses, some private admissions consultants have worked as admissions readers at universities. Many of their brochures will advertise that they are college application readers and can help with application writing. In most cases, this means they are temporary "external readers" hired for application season. That is, during every admissions reading period from December to February, most large universities hire temporary readers to help sort the great pile of applications. Much of the consultants' "inside knowledge" of the selection process is publicly available as well.

 

Here are a few key considerations in deciding to hire a private admissions consultant:

 

1) Your child. What are your child's needs, strengths and hopes? Does your child have an idea where he or she would be comfortable in higher education and what learning environment will be best?

 

2) Who is best suited to help your child with the application process? It may even be -- surprise -- you, the parent or a family member. Professional guidance neither guarantees success nor is always warranted.

 

3) If you feel overwhelmed by the process, or if your child has special concerns, it might help to see an admissions specialist. In this case, pick a consultant with organizational affiliations, accreditation, good recommendations and clear explanations of their services and associated costs.

 

4) Ethical consultants will not claim to possess some special influence or "pull" with college admissions professionals. Their assistance in application writing remains confined to stylistic, organizational suggestions, never to writing anything for the student. Most importantly, they encourage your child to write in his or her own voice -- not according to some imaginary formula for acceptance.

 

A number of highly critical articles, studies and books have responded to the private admissions consultant industry. One article even decries a "New Snake-Oil Industry," which it claims is "increasingly propelled by greed, it preys on the fear of families, especially parents. It's the private, for-profit college admissions consulting industry."

 

In Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid into College writer Andrew Ferguson relates the anxieties of the other parents he meets who fearfully admit to him: "I don't think we have a choice" but to hire a consultant. He also doubts the self-marketing approach of one admissions consultant, especially for his shy child. Her response: "That's why it's so important to start early." (24)

 

However, Joan K. Rynearson, president of Higher Education Consultants Association, takes on some popular perceptions of her profession:

 

"The myth that independent educational consultants opportunistically prey on the fears of families is simply untrue. While a few outliers may employ such tactics, the vast majority work hard to alleviate stress by providing accurate information and guidance."

 

In "Why Colleges Should Thank Private Admissions Counselors," Katherine Cohen of IvyWise describes the role of independent consultants positively:

 

"Admission to the most selective colleges is based on a varied matrix of factors, and this is often a difficult thing for families to understand."

 

Working with some students as early as 10th grade, consultants, like those at IvyWise, help students build their portfolios and identities in the "soft factors" like interests and activities, in efforts to aid the admissions process.

 

Parents I've spoken with have differing views on the necessity of a private admissions consultant. One father in my son's USA Track and Field club has taken on the job of college counselor himself. After much research on the web and discussion with his son, he narrowed down the Division II schools with track programs for a mathematically inclined, artistic student, who wants to avoid urban schools and stay on the west coast. He and his son are in the process of applying to 11 selected institutions of higher education.

 

What about the application essays? More specifically, what about the "coherent message" and "packaging" that consultants offer?

 

He says he's found enough examples and advice on the web to get a draft going and has asked family members and friends with writing backgrounds to check the style and organization. He's convinced: Consultants are unnecessary luxuries.

 

In contrast, another parent was thrilled at having hired a college consultant to help her daughter apply for college. Alla Gershberg, a San Francisco real estate agent, put it this way to me. "Look, I help people buy and sell houses for a living. It's incredibly complicated to know the market, the product involved and how to position oneself as a buyer. People can do it themselves, but they are often much safer and more successful with the help of a professional." Indeed, many parents have little experience with college admissions or selection and experience the same kind of relief hiring a counselor. Ms. Gershberg feels: "$2500 was a small price to pay for peace of mind."

 

Can every student and parent gain such a peace of mind? Clearly, shedding light on the admissions process helps students and their families. But what can you do if you can't afford a consultant? There are many helpful websites to check out. Here are a few to start.

 

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/49/
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/applying
http://admissions.yale.edu/advice-putting-together-your-application
http://admissions.berkeley.edu/selectsstudents
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/essay_tips.htm
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/

 

留學申請造假忽悠哈佛能多久?

 南方周末/李邑蘭報

October 27, 2012 打印

 美國曾有30多所大學提供中國學生全額無條件獎學金,如今這個數字銳減為哈佛、耶魯、普林斯頓和麻省理工四所大學。中國學生和幫助學生的仲介機構,為了能申請到美國名校,都處在一場「逐底競爭」中,他們不惜犧牲道德、甚至觸法,以換取最高回報率。但個人申請材料「造假」現形後的代價,表面看上去並不算高,卻對中國申請者的整體聲譽帶來嚴重的打擊

 大二中生神秘消失「常春藤

 2012年秋季開學,美國一所「常春藤」大學大二中國留學生神秘地消失了

 這位來自中國西北的留學生,因為接近滿分的SAT成績、「漂亮得近乎完美」的履歷被這所大學錄取,他成為家鄉的明星,受到當地報紙熱烈追捧

 然而,在他入學之後,卻呈現出與漂亮的履歷截然相反的表現:一半以上學科成績不及格,其中包括作為基礎課的數學--而他的履歷上寫著,他曾是國家級數學競賽冠軍的獲得者。學校隨即對他展開了調查。在國家級數學競賽的網站中,找不到他的名字。學校專程派人前往他所在的高中、當地教育局了解情況,但得到的回應均是「不提供成績」、「不予置評」。招生辦的工作人員只好打開檔案,對他進行了重新面試

 最終,這位留學生被「勸退」回中國

 瘋漲的分數考生鋌而走

 中國留學生因造假被退學的情況每年都在發生,就在不久前,美國西海岸一所名校一年內「勸退」了7名中國留學生,其中一半「涉嫌申請材料造假」

 然而,在嚴格保護個人隱私的美國,以及大學「紀律委員會」對於學生處分執行「保密原則」,這些「問題學生」不會在公眾面前現形,他們總是悄悄消失

 「被退學」的故事成為一股湧動的暗流

 中國地區申請者本來就數量巨大,但近年誠信問題顯得更加雪上加霜。如今,美國各大高校招生辦工作人員手中都握著一本「招辦內參」,全稱是《理解來自中國的留學申請--為美國教育工作者和政策制定者服務的內部參考》,由美國聯邦註冊的非營利機構「教育與申請透明組織」對內發布。「招辦內參」中詳述了可能發生的「一攬子」造假問題

 成績,作為一項考核學生的客觀指標已經接近失效

 數據顯示,中國申請者平均參加SAT各科考試總計6.3次。為了擠進美國名校門檻,許多考生選擇重複考試「刷分」,這直接拉高了美國高校在中國錄取學生的平均分。近年進入美國部分頂尖大學最終面試的中國學生,平均SAT成績甚至突破了2300分(滿分2400分)

 中國考生的分數遠遠高於美國考生的平均分。這相當於一個美國人到中國參加高考,考到了清華和北大的分數線。激烈競爭之下,一些考生開始在申請材料上鋌而走險

 「升旗手」當榮譽考倒面試

 「沒有一個環節不能偽造,我們每個人都聽過用虛假申請材料進入美國名校的成功故事。」一位中國申請者坦承

 湯玫捷是哈佛大學中國地區的校友面試官,她2009年從哈佛大學經濟學系畢業後每年回中國招收學生。哈佛的面試官們需要從780名進入面試環節的申請者中篩選出78名錄取學生。早年的面試是一對一,近年來,由於對申請者真實水平越來越謹慎的態度,變成了二對一

 「招生辦的官員們一般都是手拿著甜甜圈,喝著咖啡看這些面試報告的,考分只是枯燥的數字,他們更看重學術以外的能力,哪怕是可愛的缺點。」湯玫捷

 但在湯玫捷和她的同事們的面試經歷中,她們總會收到各種乏善可陳的課外經歷--「模擬聯合國」已經過時了,考生們的履歷上已經是「模擬政協」、「模擬人大」,「但當你讓他們講講這些經歷時,他們眼裡沒有一點光。

 為了迎合美國高校面試官們的喜好,一些考生開始在課外活動、個人榮譽上「做手腳」

 一所美國高校的中國面試官曾面試了一位深圳女孩,這個女孩告訴面試官,她在汶川地震期間曾親自去地震災區做志願者,幫助當地受災群眾做了很多事情,還被主流媒體報導過

 「一個學生怎麼可能在學業期間到地震災區做這麼多事情?」面試官覺得有些奇怪,但女孩的語言表達能力和履歷都如此讓人信服

 面試結束,面試官讓女孩將主流媒體的報導統統發給他,作為面試報告之用。最後這些報導姍姍來遲,其中不少新聞照片裡都出現了這個女孩。「那天也很閒」,面試官在百度圖片輸入了「汶川地震」,翻到第60多頁時,連續找到三張新聞照片與女孩給的新聞照片背景一模一樣,但裡面的「主角」卻被「調包」了

 美國發布的「招辦內參」中,對於中國名目繁多的個人榮譽、獎項做了名詞解釋,它們成為中國留學生履歷作假的「高危名詞」,讓美國人難辨真偽,比如,「三好學生」、「班長」,最新出現的名詞還有「升旗手」

 「升旗手負責升降國旗或者校旗,這個職位常常由具備優秀學術能力和課外活動表現的學生擔任,它是一個小小的榮譽。」」招辦內參」中寫道。美國人非常不理解:升旗手也能成為一種榮譽

 魚龍混雜的留學中介機構是造假隊伍中的中堅力量。一些中介提供代寫或修改申請文書、誇大、捏造受獎情況、個人陳述等全方位的服務,服務費往往極為昂貴。一家留學仲介機構的「美國本科申請全程指導協議」中,將美國高校按排名標價,代理申請服務費從4萬元到7萬元不等,申請人一旦被錄取獲得獎學金,該機構還參與獎學金抽成。申請人第一年的全部獎學金的15%都將作為「獎學金服務費」收入仲介囊中

 美高校共享認證系統讓真金發

 幾乎每一家留學仲介、代考機構的網站上,都能列出他們引以為傲的「成功」案例,並承諾,造假是「非常安全」的

 沒有確切的數字說明「造假」成功率多高,但美國發布的「招辦內參」中承認,即使嚴陣以待,申請造假識破的難度依然很高,「一般情況下,涉及造假的材料之間能做到互相呼應和關聯,並且學生在面試中引用這些捏造、被過分修飾和誇大的材料,使得造假成為一個難以發現漏洞的、系列的、整體的行為,而部分大學沒有辦法做到逐一核查材料的真實性」

 個人「造假」現形後的代價表面看上去並不算高,但卻對中國申請者的整體聲譽帶來了打擊,危害著每一個中國申請者進入美國大學的機會

 政治經濟學中,有一個著名的現象叫「逐底競爭」,形容在競爭激烈的環境下,為尋找最高回報率,競爭參與者以犧牲道德、觸犯法則的代價,換取更大利益。中國學生和仲介機構,都處在這樣一場逐底競爭中

 一片負面聲音之下,一些中國申請者在行動。去年,北京一群高中生自主成立了一支留學申請DIY小組,他們在網上發布了一封拒絕中介、拒絕造假的「留學公開信」,還製作了視頻,告訴招生官們,他們多麼痛恨作假,認為這毀壞了中國學生的信譽

 然而,面對繁多的草根「倡議」和「保證」,美國大學承認,去逐一相信這樣的個案讓他們「心有餘而力不足」,如果沒有相應的正規核查流程,個人承諾顯得蒼白無力

 「教育與申請透明組織」等教育機構已協同美國一批知名學府,啟動「VeriApp申請認證系統」,在美國高校中試運行一年。認證系統將美國高校與中國高中進行數據對接,將中國申請者的信譽紀錄在所有高校間共享。

 除了提供學生誠信證明和學生信用檔案查詢外,報告也包含了針對中國國情和申請者所在地區教育資源背景的介紹。所有的嘗試和努力都是為了一個目標:「讓真正的金子發光」。(大陸新聞組整理

 
 

 






予微 (2013-10-06 22:19:06)

多谢心桥又一篇有理有据,还有多年实践经验的力作。

这十年来,我们被这些雨后春笋一样的升学指导机构包围着,(我们住的小城本来是个平静务实的小地方,因地理位置和低租金,各种补习和升学机构繁多。)着实感到大压力。我们没有经济能力请顾问,我也不想把孩子压得气喘,所以让孩子自己申请,想说一句的是,如果儿子不是上了较好的学校,那么周围亲友扫视过来的眼光,我未必能承受得了。现在看着女儿自己给自己压力,我就有点担心她被压弯了。

周小哭 (2013-10-07 00:48:47)

心桥你这篇下笔也有神了!收藏了:)

心桥 (2013-10-07 04:57:19)

感谢予微的分享。以您孩子的性格,能力和学习习惯,他并不需要私人升学指导,所以您的选择是正确的。文中忘记提到的是,对自己的优点/缺点/特点了解越透彻的孩子 (strong self awareness),越可以独立选择最适合自己的学校。

心桥 (2013-10-07 04:59:12)

感谢小哭的鼓励。这课的进度太快,修完课再总结,我怕自己会忘了当时的感想。

阿朵 (2013-10-07 07:04:00)

谢谢心桥这样真实的笔记,升学顾问这个topic很敏感,也很神圣。我记得一位朋友说过的一句话:我请了一位升学顾问,引导帮助我的的孩子上了哈佛,好比我请了一位律师,帮我打赢了这场官司,但是,赢了官司,并不代表我本身不一定当律师。。。。。。

心桥有着这么多年的教育经验,又懂学生心理,期待你更上一城楼,欢迎随时和我们分享心得!

君子蘭 (2013-10-07 15:43:28)

謝謝為文美意!

我家小女生現在也在緊鑼密鼓地開始申請大學;她的 "early action - single choice"  時間很緊了,一切只能靠自已 ~

心桥 (2013-10-07 17:54:56)

感谢阿朵鼓励。但我不敢同意您朋友的见解:“升学顾问”和“律师”有本质区别。优秀的律师可以把"没理的"说成"有理的",只要能自圆其说,为给客户打赢官司可以冲破道德底线。这14年工作中我接触过几位教育法的律师,有的让我佩服得五体投地,有的虽然专业知识很强,但为了客户的要求可以“无中生有”。这也是为什么美国很多明明犯了法的人得以开脱。升学顾问只是个“指导”,孩子能不能听得进去,做到什么程度还要看自己。很多孩子升学并不需要“升学顾问”,但所有官司必须有律师辩护。

心桥 (2013-10-07 17:56:14)

感谢君子兰分享。衷心祝您女儿马到成功!

若敏 (2013-10-07 20:45:45)

谢谢心桥!非常及时!我老大当年申请,都是自己独立完成,我们没有出一点力。我们也从没有想过请顾问的事。今年,老二要申请大学了,我还在嘀咕要不要请顾问。儿子说不需要,他自己可以完成。看了这篇文章,我把英文的转给他。

确实听说过,那种大陆包装成功进入哈佛的人,最后,不得不退学的故事。是真事。造假,是道德底线的问题。太可怕了。

再谢谢心桥的及时雨!

心桥 (2013-10-08 02:03:56)

感谢若敏的分享。“大学申请”的过程是孩子一生中第一个可以自己做主的重要决定,所以课本上鼓励孩子尽量自己完成; 父母可以把它当作一个言传身教的学习过程,帮孩子理清思路,但掌舵的还是孩子。相信弟弟一定会和哥哥一样胜任。

玉山峰 (2013-10-08 02:18:21)

文章中五階段分析的非常好,一般說來私立學校輔導老師超強,相對升學率較高,城公立學校輔導幫助有限,家長們都得自救.最近我到教會五個团契分享豐盛人生-子女大學篇,反應不錯,竟然有人找我幫國內小孩申請高中及大學,不過看了此篇報導,才知國內造假情況嚴重,還是少碰為妙.

春阳 (2013-10-08 02:31:46)

我怎么觉得这是孩子自己应该做的呢?申请入学还要请顾问吗?我真是OUT了,呵呵。

心桥 (2013-10-08 06:02:10)

许多孩子完全可以独立完成这个过程,象您的孩子们就属于文中提到的那些“学习习惯好,做事条理,写作表达能力又强的”;但还有很多需要成人指导。对高中生的调查显示,60%左右的孩子觉得公立学校的咨询老师根本不认识/了解他/她们,这也是为什么“私人顾问”服务行业近10年来飞速发展的原因。

心桥 (2013-10-08 06:05:00)

感謝玉先生的分享。這5個階段是老師參照課本總結的,我也是從中受益匪淺。原來是直覺上知道為大學做准備,要從小學就開始培養良好的學習態度和習慣﹔現在找到了理論上的依據,再講給家長底氣就更足了。

 

轉發的那篇文章提到﹐國內也有很多優秀的學生並不想作假。希望他/她們的才能不要被那些作假的一併抹黑。