Doug Wintemute is a staff writer for Forbes Advisor. After completing his master’s in English at York University, he began his writing career in the higher education space. Over the past decade, Doug ...

Mikeie Reiland is a staff writer for Education at Forbes Advisor. Before coming to Forbes Advisor, he wrote magazine journalism for publications like the Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, and Gravy.

College admissions counseling has long been an accessory of the affluent, with private counseling often costing thousands–if not tens of thousands–of dollars. As a result, countless students, ...