What Armonk Parents say about The College Scandal?

What Armonk Parents say about The College Scandal? In March, 33 parents of high school students were charged with conspiring with a college counselor, William Rick Singer, to use bribery and other forms of fraud to illegally arrange to have their children admitted to top colleges and universities. What was it like to be a college counselor in Armonk when that happened? And what were local parents saying? We sat down with Chappaqua resident Neal Schwartz, the president of College Planning of Westchester in Armonk. Here’s what he told us…

How did parents react to the College Scandal?

There was so much upheaval as the stories broke. What were these families thinking, bribing test takers, altering applicant information? And college coaches taking payoffs to pretend an applicant was a legitimate recruit for their teams?

It was a hot topic for the whole country and you can imagine that parents with students who were actively going through the college admissions process were plugged in to it. And it came up in almost every parent meeting I had. It was just a huge collective “What the…”

What was the takeaway for them?

Most parents viewed the scandal as some kind of breakthrough. If the CEO of PIMCO, Chairman of Wilkie, Farr & Gallagher and Felicity Huffman of Desperate Housewives thought they needed to take criminal actions to get their kids into the colleges of their choice, then what does that say about how competitive it is out there. And what do I have to do to help my kid? As one woman said, “Lynnette Scavo? I loved Lynnette Scavo.”

It was a big wake up call…

Since the scandal parents seem to have a greater appreciation of all that is needed for giving their sons and daughters the best chance to get accepted at their preferred schools. I think it’s safe to say that parents now understand that the college admission process is not a cakewalk. Part of my job is to explain to parents that each college has different requirements and expectaions. Parents are beginning to appreciate that. So in a way it has made my job easier.

And what was the takeaway for students?

Students began to increase the number of schools they were applying to.  In my mind, this was a direct reaction to the scandal.

Have you ever seen a more competitive environment in college admissions?

We are probably at the height of the most competitive college admissions cycle ever.  (It is supposed to change in just 6 short years when the population of teenagers is reduced drastically). Parents are realizing that they can’t expect to serve as a part-time college admissions counselor for their student. They are very open to professional guidance in a way that I haven’t seen before.

Where do you draw the line between trying to help your child and… crazy?

The college process is tightly coupled to what parents do to help their children with extra-curricular activities like travel sports teams, theater, dance and music. These programs can be so intense and border on parents living their life over through  their children, that many people already think it might be crazy. The college scandal has redrawn the line on that. Crazy is not when you are living through your kids, its when you try to rewrite the reality of their lives. The college scandal redefined for parents what crazy looks like.

So the lesson is parents need to be more involved – but try to avoid felonious conduct?

Something like that. I think it is important to distinguish those things that a parent can absolutely help their children with from those that require a distinctive expert skillset. For example, parents can clearly do research on colleges and visit schools. They may be able to talk about majors and future career possibilities. I cherish the time that I had with my children visiting colleges. You think you know so much about them, but those trips can be life-changing for both parent and the student.

So what are the things parent shouldn’t try at home?

I think a parent has a tough time trying to perfect their son and daughter’s critical application elements: from the activity list to the main essay to the supplement essays. I think the key to what a parent can and should do has a lot to do with how early or late they start. And to not be overly involved. I get to watch parents tell me what a student wants when I know that the student has told me the exact opposite.  A parent can not be as objective as a third party can.

And you think parents are trusting college counselors more?

Yes. When the scandal first hit, my initial reaction was that it might influence families to distrust college counselors. This was a feeling voiced by many of my peers. But I spoke openly with my clients about not only the experience but the training and certification that professional college counselors bring to the table. There are two main organizations that vet and support the independent college counselor community, HECA and IECA. These organizations make a point of educating and reminding its members about ethics.

It is not uncommon for some counselors to advise solely on their experience with their own children’s college search(es). My guess is that William Rick Singer had some decent knowledge of the college process landscape, he was just criminal in how he applied it.

Has the college scandal changed your perspective on your job?

I don’t think it has changed my perspective much. We are here to help students find their “best fit” schools where they can blossom most. My job is to help them increase their chances of getting accepted.

Without breaking the law…

Without breaking the law. I try to distinguish myself from other college counselors that have not spent the time to educate themselves. Like any professional practice, you need to stay current, attend industry conferences and visit schools. People get that.

About Neal: Neal is a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association and a contributor to What To Do’s Back To School features. College Planning of Westchester provides college counseling programs, including SAT/ACT prep, college list, resume, essay and application. (College Planning of Westchester, 200 Business Park Dr., Armonk; 914.273.2353;   www.collegeplanningofwestchester.com)

Felicity Huffman photo by Patrick McMullan