Boarding School Admissions Consulting

Unless a parent has a detailed and current knowledge of boarding schools, the search for a new school can be difficult. School websites and brochures look alike, and usually don’t tell the whole story. We work with students who are high-achievers looking for a greater challenge, as well as students with diagnosed learning differences, students with particular sports or extracurricular interests, and very often with students who simply would do better in a structured, nurturing environment. We commonly work with students applying to enter boarding school in grades 9 through11, but we also do middle school and post-graduate placements. Finding a school where your child will be successful and happy is the ultimate goal of boarding school consulting.

Consulting Services Include:

Developing a list of “good match” schools: By getting to know your student’s academic and personal background, along with the family’s goals for boarding school, we will develop an appropriate list. For selective prep schools, particular attention is paid to your child’s grades and test scores so that we can advise on your child’s likelihood of acceptance at each school. We revise and discuss this list over several weeks, (in some cases it takes months), as you research and visit schools and start to get a feel for what is available for your child.

We know the schools through our own visits, consultant conferences, school admission director visits to our offices, and most of all through our former clients who are now enrolled in many of the schools throughout the northeast.

Advise on the admissions process and timelines: Whether you started the process one year or only two weeks ahead of the expected entry date, we will outline the process for you and work with you through it.

Review of student essays & parent statements: We do not write anything for you, but help to make your essays the best they can be.

Interview preparation: Most students have never been on an interview before and don’t know what to expect. Practicing in our offices with commonly asked questions is very helpful.

Contacting schools on your behalf: For those applying outside the normal application period, or those with special circumstances or special needs, we call schools to see if placement is possible or appropriate for the situation.

Evaluating admissions offers: If you were wait-listed or undecided about where to go, we guide you through this part of the process.

What type of students have you worked with?
Just as there are many types of boarding schools out there, I have worked with a range of students.
*Each year, I work with about 5-7 clients who are high-achieving students who have excelled in school both academically and in extra-curricular and have very high test results. I help them find schools which are rigorous academically, yet also fit their personality and interests. We work on polishing their applications and preparing for interviews.
*I work with a few students each year who are applying to boarding school for its athletic offerings. Top hockey players have traditionally been drawn to boarding schools, but there are also schools which have top ranked teams in basketball, wrestling, soccer, and alpine sports. Sometimes I work with students who love sports, but are unable to make the team at their large high school, and are attracted to the boarding school policy of a team, at some level, for every student.
*Many families come to me because their child is uninspired at school. He might not be working up to potential, might complain of disliking school, or he might be frustrated with his inability to succeed academically. Sometimes there is a social issue at school, or just a desire to make a change and start fresh. These students are especially gratifying to work with because the enrollment in boarding school usually has a very quick and positive impact on their lives.
*Although most boarding schools start in 9th grade, more than half of my clients are already in high school and are applying for 10th or 11th grade. Many students voluntarily repeat a year of school.

What are the procedures for working with Summit Academic Advisors?
I work with clients from all over the world. Local families can meet in my Chatham, NJ office or in midtown Manhattan, and out of area families can have meetings via the phone.

We start with a consultation. I “interview” the family, and review the student’s grades, test scores and interests. I map out the admissions process for you and answer all your questions. I give you handouts with data on all the boarding schools, along with interview tips and admissions information. I follow up with a list of recommended schools. A few families pay the fee for this one meeting and go through the process themselves.

Most continue on with “full service consulting” where I will be available to the family throughout the admissions year. We will revise the list of schools as new data comes in—test scores, campus visits, and their own research usually causes families to change their list. We will do interview preparation, essay brainstorming and review, and overall application strategy. For some clients, I call the admissions officers on their behalf to explain an unusual situation or to ask for feedback. When admissions decisions have been made, I help with the final school choice decision or wait-list advisement.

2007 Client Acceptances: St. Andrew’s, Taft, Deerfield, St. George’s, Hotchkiss, Peddie, Lawrenceville, Kent, Master’s School, Blair, Hun, George School, Loomis Chaffee, The Gunnery, Miss Hall’s, Trinity Pawling, Dana Hall, St. Margaret’s, Portsmouth Abbey, Cushing, New Hampton, Hebron, Purnell, Marvelwood, Brewster, Newark Academy, Morristown Beard School.

2006 Client Acceptances: Phillips Exeter, Lawrenceville, Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Peddie, Milton, Blair, Hill, Loomis-Chaffee, Kent, Canterbury, The Gunnery, Westover, Miss Porter’s, Northfield Mount Hermon, Dana Hall, Williston Northampton, Cushing, Winchendon, Berkshire, Master’s, Knox, Storm King, Emma Willard, Northwood, Fork Union, New Hampton, Brewster, Putney, Santa Catalina, Delbarton, Morristown-Beard, Princeton Day School, Hun, Pennington.

Client Testimonials

“Thanks for guiding us through this process. You were helpful and gave us both reassurance and confidence along the way. We could never have gone from first considering boarding school in September to knowing which ones for Pete to apply to in December, without your help!” - Parent of 9th grader

“Kyle was accepted at all three schools he applied to during the late application period. I only wished we had worked with you during the fall.”
- Parent of an 11th grader who signed on after poor results during the regular admissions period.

“Kevin was accepted at Andover and wait-listed at Exeter. We are happy with the results. We thank you for the interview preparation for our son.”
- Parents of a 9th grader

“We never expected to be in this wonderful position. Thank you for all your help. We will certainly recommend you to anyone who is embarking on this journey.”
- Parents of an 11th grader

“Your fee is worth every penny! This is an important, life-changing experience for my son and I didn’t want to risk enrolling him in the wrong school. We would never have known about the schools you suggested. I saw his eyes light up on campus and we knew this is the right school for him.”
- Parent of an 11th grader

“We got her report card today and were elated! After years of C’s and D’s, she has improved to 3 B’s and 2 C’s. She also seems happier and more confident. I really think boarding school is going to change her life.
- Parent of a 10th grader