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 | ₹1,50,000 to ₹4,50,000+ per package | One senior counsellor, capped caseload; 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.
Start with the free review, and bring your child to the call.
Thirty minutes with the counsellor who would do the work. You will leave with a written document either way.