More Marketing Than Advising
I scheduled a free 15-minute consultation with Crimson because I was genuinely looking for guidance about my academic goals and future college plans. As a motivated student trying to be proactive, I expected at least a short conversation about my interests, direction, or how they work with students. That is not what happened. When the call started, the consultant greeted me but immediately misspelled my name, which already made the interaction feel rushed and impersonal. He did not seem interested in building any kind of connection or understanding who I am as a student. His tone felt disengaged, almost like he was in a bad mood or just trying to get through the call. He asked me a couple of surface-level questions about school and what high school I was planning to attend. Before I could really explain my goals or ask any questions, he abruptly stopped the conversation and shifted the focus entirely away from me. He asked which parent is most involved in my college admissions, and then said my mom should schedule a separate appointment. Right after that, he ended the call. The entire interaction lasted only a few minutes and never became an actual consultation. There was no discussion of my interests, no attempt to understand my strengths or ambitions, no advice, no explanation of how they might help someone like me. It felt like the “free consultation” was not meant to help students at all, but purely to move the conversation to parents as quickly as possible for sales purposes. As a student, that was extremely disappointing. I came in hoping for insight and left feeling dismissed and unheard. I understand that parents are involved in financial decisions, but completely cutting off a student mid-conversation makes the process feel impersonal and overly business-focused. Students looking for real guidance should know that this initial call may not be a consultation in the true sense. It may function more as a screening step to redirect you to a parent-focused sales conversation, rather than an opportunity to discuss your goals or receive advice. I left feeling frustrated because I was ready to talk seriously about my future, but the conversation never got that chance to happen.