After the release of gaokao results, the Chinese equivalent of college entrance examinations, quite a few Beijing students have hired consultants to help them decide their future. The consultants assist students in making the most important decision of their lives: which college to attend. And they charge accordingly.
Consultancy institutes charge from a few thousand RMB to tens of thousands of RMB, with the highest cost being RMB 100,000 (USD 15,190), for their services.
As an example, the Beijing Youth Daily selects Yingding Education, whose website shows their fee differs based on the consultant’s level. “Professional consultants and experts on college application” cost RMB 4,980 to RMB 19,800 to consult, while the president of the company is an instant RMB 98,000.
Many centers charge by the hour, with one-on-one service priced at RMB 500 per hour.
No Guarantees
The consultants assist in choosing universities, often helping with the college application process, but do not guarantee college acceptance. The consultancy fee is non-refundable.
The high cost and no guarantee has not discouraged parents and students from seeking their services, though. According to a survey by Legal Evening Post, 30 percent of students hire a consultant.
In fact, parents might start seeking consultants when their children are still high school seniors. Highly sought consultants, such as the dean of Shengdaxin Education, are booked solid despite the RMB 28,800 consultancy fee.
College Application as Important as Grades
Even with good exam results and high grades, a student could miss out on their dream university if their application is not up to par. Hence, 70 percent of high-scoring students seek professional guidance to help them get into the top universities of their choice.
Photo: Mount Ida College
