22:37 here

We used Mary at Independent School Options to help with our preK questions and really felt we got some good insight into the different programs.

What's you public op? I'm not necessarily advocating it, but plenty of people go private in MS.

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.

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

Hey, OP! I have some ocean-front property in Kansas I'd like to talk to you about! You may be interested!

OP, if nothing else, a consultant should help you identify a broader range of schools. (Of course, you could also do that yourself.) Don't put all your eggs in Maret/GDS/Beauvoir/Sidwell basket no matter how gifted your child may be.

Think of a consultant as a form of therapy. If you pair your consultant with the firm doing the WPPSI - you get a little bit better picture.

I don't think a consultant solves your problems - but if you are trying to get some perspective with educators who have been around the block in the community - worth the hourly charge.

Again, we had twins, sat down with a consultant twice - and I think it was helpful to give us some clarity. I don't think they are magical problems solvers or anything.

OP again. Forgot to thank 21:30 for the recommendation of Fran Turner. Thank you!

22:00 and 22:33, appreciate the reminder that this is not an irreversible decision. It would be nice to avoid going through the process twice, but your advice to focus on the near-term seems eminently sensible. I think I should drink more wine whenever I'm thinking about this slightly mad game of getting kids into private schools and definitely when reading DCUM.

22:35, thanks for your recommendation of Theodra Washington. We will give her a call.

20:29, 20:33, and 22:37, could you share the names of the consultants you used? TIA!

The consultant we used had hourly rates so we were able to work through our questions and the process and stay within our budget. It was really helpful just to have someone help me work through my questions and understand how a school could match up with my DC.

I was the first to post here on this thread saying we used a consultant. OP, You might want to contact Theodra Washington, I do think she would shed light on your decision. She knows her stuff.

I'd also say that you should remember that kids change over time, and their school needs do too. Given how painful the private school application process can be, we'd all love to find that one school that is a perfect fit....and stay there forever! But the reality is that there is not likely to be a perfect school for most people - there are always things you would like to be different. And for some kids, their needs may necessitate a change in schools at an atypical transition time. At 3 your child is so young, look at what you think they need in lower school, or even just up to 2nd grade and be sure to find a place that fits him/her now. If you find you need to change later, you CAN...this really is not some ireversible decision. Change is never easy (esp kids moving schools) but sometimes it is the best thing you ever did... So try not to take on too much future weight in your current decision.

Good luck!

Take a deep breath and realize that it is truly impossible to gauge what school will be the perfect fit for K, much less 3rd grade or 11th grade for a kid that is now only 3. So realize that the first school may not be the last or even second to last school, even if it happens to go from PK through 12. We used an educational consultant when switching schools in elementary school and really she didn't tell us anything we didn't know, but if you have the money and it decreases the stress, then no downside really.

Frankly the only "fit" that seems to matter for PK is the family with the school not the kid. The programs for PK are really not all that different anywhere, the experience much more a random combination of the particular group of kids in the class and how great the teacher is or is not.

There are loads of great options locally, but this is not an irrevocable decision and therefore try to approach in a relaxed way, read DCUM only rarely, and while drinking wine, and good luck.

Wow, OP, you have the most special child ever. I've never heard of a spirited, active 3 year old boy who is already showing signs of being gifted...

I used Fran Turner and think the world of her. They are all expensive.

Same here PP - consultant evaluated DD after our first choice school did not work out as we had expected and found a great fit that we were not considering.