Anonymous wrote:I think I might find this service very helpful. We are new to the city (and country - we moved here from London) and I have no idea about the various different schools and which would suit my kid who will go to high school next year. I wouldn’t have used a service like this in London where I also grew up and know all the schools, but here the whole system is so different that this might be a really great way to help us understand the differences between the schools. Do you think she would be helpful in suggesting schools for someone with a different educational background like my kid?

yes - we moved here from outside the city with a very different educational background for our kids and she was amazing in helping us tease out the nuances of our kids and figure out the best fit for them. We didn't hire her for "pull." We hired her to help us navigate which schools would be best for our kids because this forum is obviously pretty useless for nuanced, balanced perspective and if you don't know the schools or know people in the city, you're a bit blind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why rich people are dumb. Exeter grad — my parents had no “pull”, did not make much money, and the only knowledge we had was a book from the library and a catalogue from the private secondary schools association. How will your kids go through life? With parents paying fixers at every turn?

You do realize you had socioeconomic diversity, right? I'm from New England and know that the prep schools have always had spots for kids from regular backgrounds including kids from the area who were financial aid/scholarship recipients. You are not applying to the same pool and based on what I saw, your "credentials" (test scores, grades, extracurricular interests) were of a higher standard than the middling/average student from a wealthy/famous family. That's just life in America and I agree that having your parents make life too easy can lead to problems down the road.

Pp here. You’re right about all of that.

I think I might find this service very helpful. We are new to the city (and country - we moved here from London) and I have no idea about the various different schools and which would suit my kid who will go to high school next year. I wouldn’t have used a service like this in London where I also grew up and know all the schools, but here the whole system is so different that this might be a really great way to help us understand the differences between the schools. Do you think she would be helpful in suggesting schools for someone with a different educational background like my kid?

We worked with Clare for two students. Both for high school.

She was instrumental in our boarding school search, which was a flat fee of a a few thousand dollars. She and our kid met, they strategized and formulated a plan. She offered up a few choices, noting which one was, in her opinion, the best fit. She could not have been more right. Prep schools are a totally different animal. She teased out a few significant characters of our student, and talked about the nuances of each prep school choice. Helped with introductions to admissions, and pretty much changed the course of our family life. Could I do it on my own? Sure. But my student definitely felt more in control vs. being a byproduct of parental influence.

For my other kid, she was gracious to bow-out when my knowledge base was clearly wider, and offered to review test scores, give advice of the search, helped me weed out a few schools that "sound great, but in reality are not as promised." She literally said, "You don't need me on this one." So she just charged me a nominal charge for test review, application essay advice, with her consulting fee of by the hour.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I am interested in an educational consultant because we have a rising middle schooler coming out of public, he is a little quirky and I don’t know the first thing about these schools, or which ones would be a good fit for our kid. So I think I’m in the “truly clueless” camp. Is Clare useful for middle or high school or just for younger entry years? Is there anyone else that others on the board would recommend?

Use Rachel Goldsten if your kid is quirky...she is formerly of the River School and really knows where kids who learn differently might fit in...

goldstenrachel@gmail.com

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I am interested in an educational consultant because we have a rising middle schooler coming out of public, he is a little quirky and I don’t know the first thing about these schools, or which ones would be a good fit for our kid. So I think I’m in the “truly clueless” camp. Is Clare useful for middle or high school or just for younger entry years? Is there anyone else that others on the board would recommend?

Clare specializes in older kids - high school preferably but will do middle school too. She is very good.

Anonymous wrote:NP here. I am interested in an educational consultant because we have a rising middle schooler coming out of public, he is a little quirky and I don’t know the first thing about these schools, or which ones would be a good fit for our kid. So I think I’m in the “truly clueless” camp. Is Clare useful for middle or high school or just for younger entry years? Is there anyone else that others on the board would recommend?

We found her useful. One kid was definitely quirky and she helped explain the differences between the schools and what she thought would be a good fit. As has been mentioned, this is obviously a luxury, but people in this area pay for lots of things that are not "basic needs". We needed help to place a kid who was definitely not mainstream and she was very helpful.

Anonymous wrote:This is why rich people are dumb. Exeter grad — my parents had no “pull”, did not make much money, and the only knowledge we had was a book from the library and a catalogue from the private secondary schools association. How will your kids go through life? With parents paying fixers at every turn?

You do realize you had socioeconomic diversity, right? I'm from New England and know that the prep schools have always had spots for kids from regular backgrounds including kids from the area who were financial aid/scholarship recipients. You are not applying to the same pool and based on what I saw, your "credentials" (test scores, grades, extracurricular interests) were of a higher standard than the middling/average student from a wealthy/famous family. That's just life in America and I agree that having your parents make life too easy can lead to problems down the road.

NP here. I am interested in an educational consultant because we have a rising middle schooler coming out of public, he is a little quirky and I don’t know the first thing about these schools, or which ones would be a good fit for our kid. So I think I’m in the “truly clueless” camp. Is Clare useful for middle or high school or just for younger entry years? Is there anyone else that others on the board would recommend?

Anonymous wrote:We are thrilled with the guidance provided by Clare Anderson & both of my kids landed in schools she suggested as good "fits". She's worth every penny!

Spoken from the Chevy Chase Club!

This is why rich people are dumb. Exeter grad — my parents had no “pull”, did not make much money, and the only knowledge we had was a book from the library and a catalogue from the private secondary schools association. How will your kids go through life? With parents paying fixers at every turn?

Anonymous wrote:OK HERE is the BIG 5: SIDWELL, GDS, CATHEDRAL SCHOOLS, MARET, POTOMAC- Don't want to get more detailed than that- Our 2 kids got into at least 2 schools in that group, and yes one was one of the SUPER- COMPETITIVE ONES.
In the past her rates started at around $900 for a general counseling session. There is nothing on her rate sheet even close to 11K.

I think Clare is great, but disagree with your use of "Big 5." I don't even have a girl, but think Holton is better than some of the schools on this list.

She has a website with lots of information, and you could call or email for specific rates instead of speculating.

OK HERE is the BIG 5: SIDWELL, GDS, CATHEDRAL SCHOOLS, MARET, POTOMAC- Don't want to get more detailed than that- Our 2 kids got into at least 2 schools in that group, and yes one was one of the SUPER- COMPETITIVE ONES.
In the past her rates started at around $900 for a general counseling session. There is nothing on her rate sheet even close to 11K.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$11k for her services. Not worth it

We thought our second child had no chance at a big 5 school, but she looked at the profile and scores and disagreed- she believed in the child and told us to go for it, advised us on small details through the process and it worked out. She wants your child to end up in a school that is a good fit for the child and your family.

So pay thousands for "counseling" to be "encouraged" to apply vs. simply roll the dice with an $80 application fee and apply on your own -- wildly different costs, same outcome --- seems like a no brainer! I wish admissions people judged parents' boneheaded decisions like these!

PP IT WAS NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO 11K- if you are actually interested, call her and you will see her rates are nothing even close to that. That is a troll. To the question above- no I do not think it is a big deal to spend $80 to apply to a school that was thoughtfully presented as a good option by someone who met with our family and knew our kids and looked at all the child's testing and history. She does work with the schools after the application is in. If you think having a counselor is "bone headed", that is your right, however this thread specifically asked if anyone had used her which we did, and we had great experience. And both our kids are in "Big 5 schools" (so I think the admission people disagreed that we are boneheaded idiots- or maybe Clare intervened and explained we are actually nice intelligent people). We viewed whatever we spent as a good investment. I really wish I knew how to talk to people off line because I would be happy to provide an actual non- anonymous recommendation to someone who is genuinely interested in using her and not a troll.

Outside of Big 3, you know that Big 5 just means "fill in the blanks with 2 other schools that are not Big 3"... So this really doesn't mean much.