Head spinning. Can an educational consultant help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:20:33 here, used Pamela Tedeschi. Have referred several people to her since and all have been happy.

Pam is great with students who are strong candidates at any school (in other words, the ones where you don't really need a consultant), but she can't be bothered with kids who are less than perfect on paper. We have one of each, and she completely sold our younger child short. If we had trusted Pam's judgment, we wouldn't even have applied for the younger child. Guess what, though? She ended up at a "Big 3" -- and without any sibling pull. Bottom line: a huge waste of money for both kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice to avoid going through the process twice, but your advice to focus on the near-term seems eminently sensible.

As an aside--I also thought this when we started looking at schools a few years ago. But my kids are now at a K-8 school, and I am completely sold on the model. I like the fact that they will have a chance to reinvent themselves (if they want) as they enter high school. I know that we will have a much better sense of which schools are the best fit when they are 13, as opposed to 4. The process will be much easier because their current school will be behind us, and I think it will be good practice for college applications.

22:25 here again, we also chose a K-8 for the same reasons. Also because we felt their focus on elementary and middle school needs would not get pushed aside by needs of High school population

[Anonymous]

07:18 - I disagree with Pam - she looked at the whole picture for both DCs and they weren't perfect on paper. Ultimately one DC stayed in public because that was a better fit for that DC, but it was worth the exercise of applying to Big 3s and other private schools, to see where they were better (and where they were behind) the Fairfax AAP program.

[Anonymous]

OP,

I vote for using an EC, too, so long as money is not a concern. You will get peace of mind, the consultant will explain the lay of the land. But also go with your instincts, if the education consultant says oh no, DC will never get in there, apply anyway if you feel it's a good fit. I would not invest in the whole package. I think it seems desperate. (Education consultants are great in some instances, like moving to a new area, transferring out to find a better fit, etc.)

[Anonymous]

What is the hourly rate for consultant?