Did anyone get debriefed by Georgia Irvin?

[Anonymous]

I'm a little miffed that after all that money, she hasn't contacted us to ask where DC is going to school, how we like it, if we have any further questions, etc. (Yes, I know I'm being passive-aggressive--something like $3000 worth of passive-aggressive.)

[Anonymous]

Future potential customers would certainly like to hear if your DC is doing well at selected school and to what extent you found a consultant helpful to the whole process of selecting a school and getting admitted.

I agree with you that a follow-up call would seem polite as well as useful input for her future clients ... but I am not specifically looking for dirt here!

[Anonymous]

I have to say I found her a pill. She quickly determined that my son would not get into an elite school and pushed us toward schools that are easier to get into (great schools, but not as competitive). We then had our son tested and he scored in the 99%. He is very social and athletic as well. Believe it or not, after all of this, we have decided public school in MOCO is the best option for him. I ended up rather ashamed of myself for consulting her and spending all of that money. The only way I think it makes sense is if you are new to the area and need help navigating quickly the system.

[Anonymous]

If you chose the same option that she recommended, then what is the problem, other than the "waste" of money?

[Anonymous]

My friends have not found school admissions counselors to be particularly helpful. The people I know who used them did not have as much luck in the admissions process as those, including my family, who did not. We did our own research, took the test, applied, and got into every school to which we applied -- Sidwell, Maret, Field, Holton, and NCS. Similarly situated friends who used consultants did not have the same results at all. I wonder how schools interpret the use of a consultant.

[Anonymous]

OP, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think the whole process of trying to find an "ideal" school for one's child is stressful, so I don't think it is a waste of money, per se, to seek professional advice. And ultimately choosing to send your child to a very good public school system does not change the need for such advice. But I have often wondered if just reading Georgia Irwin's book wouldn't provide about the same amount of input and at a must lower cost!!

[Anonymous]

I didn't choose the option she suggested. She suggested a middle of the road (in terms of competitiveness) private. We decided on public. We were admitted to so called "elite" private, though she thought we had no chance.

[Anonymous]

I think a lot of consultants work harder at managing the expectations of parents than at getting kids into really good schools. If you're not afraid of a wait list or rejection letter, I would just apply on your own to the schools you would like your child to attend, and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

We did one of those "mini-consultations" with her, and I found her unbearable. She first mistook whether my child was in a certain organized playgroup in an exclusive neighborhood with the comment, "Well, if you are in XYZ playgroup, what could you possibly be worried about?" When I explained my daughter did not go to that playgroup, but rather she had been suggested by a friend in that playgroup, she then started a series of questions that I refer to (from my time living in the deep South) as, "Who ARE your parents?" I was so put off that we did not hire her for the "full" consult, where she supposedly does stuff to help you get in.

It's funny, because we ended up at a really great preschool (well, on the second try) with fabulous outplacement, and then at our very close #2 choice for Kindergarten. Our second child did attend THE playgroup and will go on to the same preschool. I don't think our outcome would have one bit different if we hired her. But, I know people who have hired her and liked her, and they got into a top name school we wouldn't even consider because we thought it was a pressure cooker, so maybe we do not have our priorities straight. It's quite true that when our kids get asked, "Who ARE your parents," the answer will be "nobody you would know or have heard of, but they were decent people." In this city, I am not sure that counts.

[Anonymous]

I know this sounds harsh and really snarky but I'm going to say it anyway:

Anyone who would spend thousands of dollars on a so-called "consultant," thinking that this most-enlightened person can evaluate their oh-so-unique toddler to help them find the "right" preschool, deserves to feel embarrassed about the money they spent....

[Anonymous]

Yes, you are being snarky. Was this helpful to the conversation?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely, to anyone who is even for a moment considering using these services....

[Anonymous]

Anyone who would spend thousands of dollars on a so-called "consultant," thinking that this most-enlightened person can evaluate their oh-so-unique toddler to help them find the "right" preschool, deserves to feel embarrassed about the money they spent....

I'm not offended by what you said at all, but I nevertheless disagree. I know of a few families who have hired consultants and in all cases, these families have piles of discretionary income. Literally, these few thousand dollars they spent on Irvin (and her competitor -- can't remember her name) and nothing to them. Nothing. It's like me splurging on a new $5 Starbucks flavored drink. If I don't like it and toss most of it out, eh, I'm only out $5 and I don't stew about it all day.

For these families, spending $3500 on a consultant and not liking the experience is also nothing to fret about.

[Anonymous]

that's "are" nothing to them.

[Anonymous]

We plan on meeting with a consultant and don't have any embarrassment about it. Choosing schools is a very big decision for us for a variety of reasons, and we want as many data points as reasonably available. We've done our independent research (talked to friends, neighbors, and colleagues, reviewed school web sites sites such as this one and ratings sites, attended various schools' events as guests of friends, and are planning visits to the schools this fall), but the additional view of a consultant may provide additional insight. So we spend some our our discretionary income in a way that others wouldn't. As with most services, its value in our case may be great, could be useless, or could remain unknown. Really, though, who cares that our family plans to do this and why the heck would we be embarrassed?