For parents
What you are paying for, and how to check it.
Counselling in India ranges from free agents paid by universities to firms charging more than a year of tuition. The difference is rarely visible on the website. This page is what we would want to know as parents.
What a counsellor should do
Seven things to expect
- 01
Diagnose in writing before selling anything
If the first conversation is a package pitch, leave. The first thing should be a read of the transcript and activity list, on paper. - 02
Give a realistic list, early
Reach, target and likely, with reasons. A list that is all reaches is a sales tactic, not a plan. - 03
Build, not just polish
Grade 10 and 11 are for making things exist: research, projects, competitions. A counsellor who only appears in Grade 12 is an editor. - 04
Never write the essay
Ask directly: do you write any part of the essay? The only acceptable answer is no. Universities prohibit it and it fails the interview. - 05
Own the calendar
Someone must be accountable for every deadline: tests, competitions, portals, aid forms. Ask who. - 06
Keep you informed without taking over
A monthly note and a termly call. You should never be surprised, and your child should never be sidelined. - 07
Be checkable
Named people, real credentials, outcomes with a counting method, prices on the website. If any of these is missing, ask why.
What it costs
The honest range
| Option | Price | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Study-abroad agent | Free to ₹50,000 | Paid by partner universities; the list bends toward them |
| School counsellor | Included in fees | Excellent for logistics; typically 200+ students each, little time for profile building |
| Online platforms | ₹90,000 to ₹4,00,000 | Student mentors, some ghostwriting; scale over depth |
| Premium Indian firms | ₹4,00,000 to ₹6,00,000 a year | Teams; results without denominators |
| International premium firms | $25,000 to $75,000+ | Former admissions officers; the senior name rarely does the work |
| Plinth | US ₹2,00,000 to ₹5,00,000 a year by grade; UK, Singapore, Hong Kong or Australia ₹50,000 to ₹2,50,000 once | Founder-led, with the Projectling mentor team since 2021; we say no to unrealistic lists |
Questions
What parents ask us
My child is in Grade 9. Is it too early?
It is the best time to start lightly: one or two sessions a term to choose subjects well, start one activity that could become a pillar, and read a little beyond the syllabus. Heavy counselling in Grade 9 is unnecessary; a plan is not.
Will you tell us honestly if the Ivy League is unrealistic?
Yes, in writing, in the first month. A realistic list is the most valuable thing a counsellor gives a family, and the one most are afraid to give because it costs them the engagement.
How involved should we be?
Informed, not operating. You see the roadmap and get a monthly note; you join a call each term; you help with things only a parent can, like internships through your network and the financial-aid forms. The student runs the sessions and does the work.
What if my child does not want a counsellor?
Then the first call should be with them, not about them. Most reluctance comes from having been handed a list of things to do by adults. The method starts by asking what they want to build, which changes the conversation.
Can you help with the money side: aid, scholarships, loans?
With aid and scholarship applications, yes: CSS Profile, ISFAA, university-specific forms and merit programmes are part of the application year. We are not financial advisers and do not recommend loan products; we do help you compare offers on total cost.
Do you work with our school counsellor?
We prefer to. Schools handle transcripts, recommendations and the school report; we handle strategy, profile building and essays. We brief the school counsellor at the start of the application year so nothing conflicts.
Request a call, and bring your child to it.
See our fee for your child's grade first, then thirty minutes with Vansh, who leads the work. A written plan follows if it fits.