What’s the biggest mistake families make during the application process?

One of the biggest and most common mistakes families make, even before navigating the admissions process, is choosing a boarding school based on prestige rather than fit. It’s easy to be attracted to big names like Exeter or Andover, but will your child really thrive in those schools? Sure, they may get in, especially if you’ve got expert admissions consultants to help you. But is your child going to be happy there? Remember, it’s your child’s future we’re talking about. What truly matters is finding a boarding school where your child will feel supported, challenged, and genuinely happy. We want them to be ready and prepared for college, not traumatized by their high school experience. 

Another common mistake is starting too late. Between essays, teacher recommendations, interviews, testing, and all the other in-betweens, the preparation and entire admissions process takes time, and rushing can make everything feel stressful and produce less authentic materials. Some families also over-edit their child’s essays, which can make them sound more like an adult than a student. Admissions officers can tell when it’s not a student’s voice. 

So the best approach is to start early, stay organized, and focus on letting your child’s real personality shine through.