Agent Says 'We're On It' — What Should You Have in Hand at Each Stage?
Signed with an agent but seeing nothing on paper? Here's what you should have in writing at each stage — school list, activities, essays, application.
Watch the Deliverables, Not the Attitude
The most reliable way to check an agent’s work is to see whether you’re holding something in writing. ‘We’re on it’ and ‘we’re arranging it’ describe an attitude, not a result.
Here’s a common scene. Three months after signing, a parent asks for an update. The agent says, ‘The essay coach is polishing’ and ‘we’re lining up activities.’ But the parent has nothing except a payment receipt. The question isn’t whether the agent is hardworking. It’s that the service has left nothing you can check.
What You Should Have at Each of Four Stages
Stage 1: Within two weeks of signing
You should get a written timeline showing what needs to happen each grade, plus a first-draft school list. Every school on the list should state the plan type (ED, EA, or RD) and the deadline. If Northeastern is on the list, you should see its deadlines for each round, not just its name.
Stage 2: Activity planning
You should get an activity plan listing each activity’s goal, timing, and who’s responsible. After that, expect a written progress note every 2 to 4 weeks. If all you hear is ‘we’ll arrange something next month’ with no specific project, push back.
Stage 3: Essays
The main essay should have an outline, a first draft, and revisions, each saved with a date. Parents don’t need to edit word by word. But you should be able to see how the draft changed, so you can tell whether the essay is still your child’s own voice or has been heavily rewritten.
Stage 4: Before submitting the application
At least 7 days before submission, you should receive a full preview of the application: personal info, grades, activities, and essays. Your child must own the Common App account and know its password. If an agent registers the account and doesn’t tell you, that’s a clear red flag.
Translating What Agents Say When Deliverables Are Missing
Common lines and what they usually mean:
- ‘We have an internal process.’ There may be no written process. Ask to see the document.
- ‘We can’t share that externally.’ It’s work product you’ve already paid for. There’s no reason to withhold it.
- ‘We’ll give it all to you at the end.’ If it arrives when nothing can be changed, it might as well not arrive.
When you check, go down the contract’s service list and mark each item ‘received’ or ‘not received.’ Then ask the agent to fill the gaps by a set date. If you’re unsure which phrases to worry about, run them through PeiPaoLab’s agent-speak translator first, then decide how to raise it.
FAQ
Is it normal for an agent to only report progress by voice message?
No. Voice messages can't be looked up later, and they're useless as evidence if something goes wrong. Every stage should leave a written record, even if it's just a dated summary.
Can the agent manage my child's Common App account?
No. Your child should create and own the account, and both your child and you should know the password. The agent can help fill things in, but the account must never belong to the agent.
Can I ask to see every draft of the essays?
Yes, and you should. A reasonable process keeps the outline, the first draft, and every revision, each with a date. That shows how much your child contributed, and it's evidence if you ever have a contract dispute.
How do I raise it when deliverables keep going missing?
Go through the contract's service list item by item and mark each as 'received' or 'not received.' Then ask the agent in writing to fill the gaps by a set date. Stay polite, but keep a record.