However if I'm pre-screening them on the phone and they don't meet the standards (by their own admission) but still want to see it, can I refuse to show them the apartment?

The  fact that Scott looked at my profile and gave me candid and action feedback on something that I've spent YEARS building was trully incredible and honestly worth the cost of admission just for that one breakout.  

Like others have said if I get 0ne idea it was worth the price of admission.  

He also insisted that I call a roofer.The signature line of his email said he’s the director of admissions at a very prestigious prep school in the area

To me that is worth the price of admission, but you'll get a ton more ideas and value when you use a great agent that walks you thru the processes like this.

By your own admission you don’t have the balance sheet to buy real estate or borrow and haven’t taken any projects full cycle.

I took a year off after high school on deferred admission.

I don't want general admission I want VIP and cut the line.

DO the math and see what a day of interest will run you and see how quickly days, weeks and months add up and detract from your bottom line.Hate to sound like an advertisement but consider investing in yourself and joining BP as a Pro member . . . the calculators alone are worth the price of admission. 

The relationships built alone are worth the price of admission for me.