CLEVELAND -- With the fierce competition for admission to colleges, some parents are hiring outside help for their children, according to Cleveland television station WEWS.

Allison Mulling got into a private school and then into college with the paid help of a consultant. George Kirkpatrick finds a school with the size, academic expectations, and extracurricular activities that best match a child.

Mulling said Kirkpatrcik then explains how students market and sell themselves.

For a price -- typically in the range of $1,500 to $4,000 -- consultants will advise a child about how to dress for interviews, what questions to ask recruiters, and how to write an admissions essay.

"I sat down and wrote it, my parents looked over it, we sent it to Mr. Kirkpatrick, (and) he really didn't change very much," Mulling said.

"I might make some suggestions to them as far as things they might attempt and then look them over and make some suggestions then, but not as far as writing them -- that's their job," Kirkpatrick said.

But critics worry that some consultants try to make children appear to be someone they aren't.

"And if it is not a good match for him then, it's really a disservice, isn't it?" said Sunaina Jain, a psychologist. "(But) there are experts who help you to determine what would be the best fit for your child. That's a really good service."

Still, it's a lot of money to spend, so if you do choose to go this route, agree on a price up front.