Summer Programs 2026

While both services focus on helping your child present their best selves, the scope and strategy for private school admissions are distinctly different from college admissions. For private schools or boarding schools, our consultants focus heavily on the admissions interview preparation, which is often the most crucial component. We guide families through navigating the unique school environment and understanding the mission of the institution. We also focus on profile building, ensuring their coursework and extracurricular activities align with the values of their target schools. College consulting, on the other hand, is much more concentrated on the written application: mastering the Common App essay, developing a strategic college list, and optimizing application sections like testing and recommendation letters. Our educational consultants are experienced in both processes, ensuring a tailored approach whether your goal is admission to a top-tier private high school, elite boarding school, Ivy League college,  or a highly competitive university.

That’s a very common question, and it gets right to the heart of the current admissions landscape. While many schools are test-optional, based on our experience, we know that high scores on the SAT or ACT remain a significant advantage, particularly for competitive universities. If your child’s GPA or high school course rigor isn’t top-tier, a strong test score can act as a powerful differentiating factor proving their academic readiness. Furthermore, the skills gained during test prep sessions, like taking an SAT practice test or an ACT practice test, sharpen academic discipline and time management. As we have proven many times, submitting a competitive score is simply the best way to boost your child’s college application and maximize their chances for admission.

The College List Development service is arguably the most strategic part of our college consulting. The goal isn’t just to list prestigious names; it’s to create a balanced, personalized list that maximizes your child’s success and happiness or what we call the best fit. Our educational consultants begin with a holistic approach, thoroughly assessing your student’s academic strengths, personal interests, and desired geographic location. We then categorize schools into target, reach, and safety schools, using current admissions data to ensure an appropriate balance. We look beyond basic ranking, focusing on factors like departmental specialization, student culture, and job placement rates within their specific area of interest. This meticulous strategic planning prevents wasted time on schools that are poor fits and dramatically improves the effectiveness of every other part of the college application process.

We go far beyond simply telling students to “join clubs.” Our strategic planning approach for extracurricular activities focuses on developing a compelling narrative and demonstrating impact, depth, and leadership, not just breadth. We advise students to choose activities that directly align with their intended major or future career path, making them stand out. For example, a student interested in engineering shouldn’t just volunteer; they should seek a high school internship or fall internship for high school students at a local firm or university lab. Our college admissions consultants help students identify meaningful opportunities, secure these positions, and document their impact and leadership roles effectively. This process ensures that every activity listed on the college application provides powerful evidence of dedication and initiative, essential factors for successful college admissions.