I've written before that you should be careful taking college admissions advice from people who don't know what they're talking about. But even when you've found the right person who can give you advice, there's a right time and a wrong time to ask for it.
Alex from our North White Plains office told me today that when he was being wheeled into surgery for an emergency appendectomy a few years ago, one of the nurses who'd found out he was a college counselor actually started asking him for free college counseling advice. So just as the anesthesia is starting to take effect, she's saying,
"Oh, you're a college counselor? My son has a 3.98 GPA and really wants to go to Cornell. His SAT scores are. . .(anesthesia takes hold). . .should he take them again? And he volunteers. . .(anesthesia coming on strong). . .should he apply early decision or would it be better to…(anesthesia wins)…."
Right person. Wrong time.