Anonymous
05/18/2026 14:08
Subject: Private school consultant
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:i thought Parents league was a very good use of money. I think you should definitely do that.
Consultants are hit or miss. We didn't dislike ours or like ours.
one thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the purely transactional nature of the relationship. For example, the consultant wanted $1k to call a school on our behalf and while we paid it, we didn't like it at all.
at the end of the day, we actually went to a different school after getting a bit of new timely information on one of the schools on our list. So a waste of $1k.
we are not connected and were coming from Public school.
Was this for K? How would it help for a private consultant to make a call? A lot explicitly do not.
Middle school.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 12:00
Subject: Private school consultant
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Depends on how determined you are to go private and how selective the private you are looking to be admitted to.
If you have the resources, I would do consultant and prep classes.
For K? I don’t understand the value they provide. Why would a school put weight on their advocacy and calls when you are paying them?
For prep class, it about getting a second opinion on your child development and helping them feel comfortable and familiar with the environment.
For consultant, there is are different packages. At the most basic, help with strategy for applying and reviewing the application. Avoid any noticable mistake that come from a lack of experience going through the process. There are consultants at different budgets so you don't need the luxury package unless you are very busy and can afford it.
It is more of putting your best foot forward as a family.
Any particular consultants you’d recommend for a family targeting TT or bust?
We optioned out quickly from going private given the cost and will consider going private in MS/HS. I first went with the low budget strategy of Alina Adams (free material and workshop), Parent League (free online school fair), Be Evolved by Mary Miele (free podcast), The Manhattan Family Guide to Private Schools by Victoria Goldman, and Testing for Kindergarten by Karen Quinn.
I have seen Dana haddad recommended on FB often and Little Learning was recommended to me. I also enjoyed the Getting In... Kindergarten youtube documentary (Wendy Levey).
Anonymous
05/18/2026 11:38
Subject: Private school consultant
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Depends on how determined you are to go private and how selective the private you are looking to be admitted to.
If you have the resources, I would do consultant and prep classes.
For K? I don’t understand the value they provide. Why would a school put weight on their advocacy and calls when you are paying them?
For prep class, it about getting a second opinion on your child development and helping them feel comfortable and familiar with the environment.
For consultant, there is are different packages. At the most basic, help with strategy for applying and reviewing the application. Avoid any noticable mistake that come from a lack of experience going through the process. There are consultants at different budgets so you don't need the luxury package unless you are very busy and can afford it.
It is more of putting your best foot forward as a family.
Any particular consultants you’d recommend for a family targeting TT or bust?
Anonymous
05/18/2026 11:34
Subject: Private school consultant
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Depends on how determined you are to go private and how selective the private you are looking to be admitted to.
If you have the resources, I would do consultant and prep classes.
For K? I don’t understand the value they provide. Why would a school put weight on their advocacy and calls when you are paying them?
For prep class, it about getting a second opinion on your child development and helping them feel comfortable and familiar with the environment.
For consultant, there is are different packages. At the most basic, help with strategy for applying and reviewing the application. Avoid any noticable mistake that come from a lack of experience going through the process. There are consultants at different budgets so you don't need the luxury package unless you are very busy and can afford it.
It is more of putting your best foot forward as a family.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 11:24
Subject: Private school consultant
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Depends on how determined you are to go private and how selective the private you are looking to be admitted to.
If you have the resources, I would do consultant and prep classes.
For K? I don’t understand the value they provide. Why would a school put weight on their advocacy and calls when you are paying them?
This is where my brain goes as well.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 11:20
Subject: Private school consultant
Anonymous wrote:Depends on how determined you are to go private and how selective the private you are looking to be admitted to.
If you have the resources, I would do consultant and prep classes.
For K? I don’t understand the value they provide. Why would a school put weight on their advocacy and calls when you are paying them?
Anonymous
05/18/2026 11:17
Subject: Private school consultant
Dana haddad. I think she’s pricey but gets results
Anonymous
05/18/2026 10:35
Subject: Private school consultant
Depends on how determined you are to go private and how selective the private you are looking to be admitted to.
If you have the resources, I would do consultant and prep classes.
If you have the resources, I would do consultant and prep classes.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 10:23
Subject: Private school consultant
OP: we are at a public prek and our principal is great and supportive wherever families want to go, just wondering if consultants can advocate for us in case we need it.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 10:19
Subject: Private school consultant
Anonymous wrote:i thought Parents league was a very good use of money. I think you should definitely do that.
Consultants are hit or miss. We didn't dislike ours or like ours.
one thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the purely transactional nature of the relationship. For example, the consultant wanted $1k to call a school on our behalf and while we paid it, we didn't like it at all.
at the end of the day, we actually went to a different school after getting a bit of new timely information on one of the schools on our list. So a waste of $1k.
we are not connected and were coming from Public school.
Was this for K? How would it help for a private consultant to make a call? A lot explicitly do not.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 10:11
Subject: Private school consultant
i thought Parents league was a very good use of money. I think you should definitely do that.
Consultants are hit or miss. We didn't dislike ours or like ours.
one thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the purely transactional nature of the relationship. For example, the consultant wanted $1k to call a school on our behalf and while we paid it, we didn't like it at all.
at the end of the day, we actually went to a different school after getting a bit of new timely information on one of the schools on our list. So a waste of $1k.
we are not connected and were coming from Public school.
Consultants are hit or miss. We didn't dislike ours or like ours.
one thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the purely transactional nature of the relationship. For example, the consultant wanted $1k to call a school on our behalf and while we paid it, we didn't like it at all.
at the end of the day, we actually went to a different school after getting a bit of new timely information on one of the schools on our list. So a waste of $1k.
we are not connected and were coming from Public school.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:16
Subject: Private school consultant
We didn’t use one, just relied on our preschool director (“feeder” preschool). I think if you have a good director you don’t need a consultant.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 07:32
Subject: Private school consultant
Are you at a school that helps at all? Why do you need something else?
If you are starting from scratch, start with the Parent League. It is like consultant light. We found them helpful for HS apps and it is very reasonably priced. Some people were better than others - I forget who was who. They will at least help you to structure your thoughts a bit.
If you are starting from scratch, start with the Parent League. It is like consultant light. We found them helpful for HS apps and it is very reasonably priced. Some people were better than others - I forget who was who. They will at least help you to structure your thoughts a bit.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 06:37
Subject: Private school consultant
Do I need one? Not legacy, not sibling. Going into kinder next next year