Chegg Plans to Expand into $7 Billion College Recruiting Market and Increase Student Base By Over 3.5 Million

Applying to college is a daunting task, especially when it comes to the selection of schools. While computer programs can give you a rough idea of schools out there, and list the admissions officers, etc. they are a lot of points that it will miss.

Every year, I hear students or their families say they don't want to use a college consultant because they don't want to spend the money, but then after going through the college admissions process alone, Johnny gets accepted to a school that everyone is pleased with. They proof to themselves at that point that they did a good job, and then they have to deal with the financial aid packages that may or may not be good ones.

As Johnny goes off to the school, he surprises everyone when he returns home by December or June, and tells everyone he is not going back to Princeton, or Yale, or whatever school he is attending.

Johnny is now back home hating the school he attends, looking to attend the local community college while he gets accepted into another school that he thinks he may like better and making to same mistakes round two. He then learns how many credits will be dropped off his transcripts by the new university he is to attend because they can not accept the first school's credits. The family is out thousands of dollars, not to mention a lot of time because Johnny will be entering a freshman or sophomore college year when he should be in a junior year of college, thus costing a family a lot more money, not to mention time. It also puts a heavy impact on his financial aid awards.

The idea that Chegg, a digital programing company is mergering with another company may be good, and that combined these two companies will produce a new interesting tool, student's should not be fooled into thinking that this is to replace the value of a counselor or consultant.

Students and their families need to be aware that there is "tons of information" out there on the internet, and the college admissions process. With the competiton increasing each and every year and the applicant pools changing yearly; students need to know how to select the information they are relying on out there.

While technology is a great thing, and this program might be a wonderful tool to explore, do not use it as the "be all, end all" of the college admissons process.

School Counselors and Trained College Admissions Consultants are people who are able to add the human component that a digital program can not provide.

Check out Chegg, and watch for it as it hits the market in the coming months. (Read the article below)


Chegg enters into a definitive agreement to acquire Zinch, the leading digital network that helps high school students research, connect with and pay for college

SANTA CLARA, Calif., September 15, 2011 – Chegg today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zinch. The acquisition is subject to standard closing conditions and is expected to be completed by the end of this month. The acquisition will expand Chegg’s social education platform into high schools. Zinch, founded in 2007, connects prospective college and graduate students to scholarships, admissions officers and other students who have been through the same process.

The acquisition of Zinch, with over 3.5 million members, $1.9 billion in scholarships and over 5,000 school profiles, will significantly expand Chegg’s customer base and its social education platform. Colleges and students will be able to connect more effectively for less through Chegg, helping to streamline the college recruiting process globally. In addition, unlike any other company in the education space, Chegg will provide resources to students at every major milestone before, during and after their college career — including bridging the gap from high school to college.

"Our mission has always been to save students time, money and help them get smarter," said Dan Rosensweig, president and CEO of Chegg. “With our acquisition of Zinch, we’re extending our mission to high school students through the $7 billion college recruiting market, while continuing to break down the barriers of a college education, from the high cost of tuition and textbooks to helping students make money, pick their courses and get the academic help they need."

At Zinch, over 3.5 million students have built online profiles to showcase themselves as “more than test scores” to shine in the admissions process, and to be matched with schools and scholarships that might be a good fit. Colleges and universities worldwide, including more than half of the US News top ranked national universities, use Zinch for cost-effective student recruiting and outreach.

Getting in and paying for school is daunting. Together, Chegg and Zinch can not only make higher education more affordable and accessible, it gives students an edge in finding the right school, getting admitted and reducing the cost. Students can put their best foot forward, be recognized for their achievements and be discovered by programs that fit their interests,” said Anne Dwane, CEO of Zinch.

The acquisition is subject to standard closing conditions and is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

To learn more about Chegg’s social education platform and its network of services, go to www.chegg.com.