What can an educational consultant do for my family?
An educational consultant is a skilled professional who
provides private counseling to help the student and family
choose a school or college that is educationally sound,
growth producing, and socially appropriate.
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How does an educational consultant help in the search and
placement process for schools?
Educational consultants provide individual attention to the
student and family. They provide unbiased advice and
recommendations based on their professional judgment of a
student's needs and abilities. With a consultant the
student has the opportunity to explore options and discuss
possibilities in a meaningful way. Because of their
independence from schools and colleges, consultants and not
burdened with unrelated duties and they are available at
time other than school hours during the year.
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Who pays for your services?
IECA has established strict guidelines for the ethical
and professional practice of its members. Members
pledge to maintain the highest ethical standards and not to
accept compensation from any school. college, or other
program for referral or placement of a client. IECA
member consultants are compensated directly by their
clients. For a fee schedule,
go to apply online.
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How long does this process take?
Ideally the school search process should begin in May of
the year preceding the desired fall entrance. The
summer months serve as a time to discuss what you would want
in a school and then schools visits begin in the moth of
September and October with application deadlines occurring
in January and February. In some cases this process
can be greatly shortened depending on the student's
circumstances, type of school or interest and the openings
available.
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How do you decide what schools and best for my child?
There are many factors that go into the school selection
process such as location, size, academic rigor, athletics,
extra curricular activities, facility, ambiance, reputation,
college placement, special services, and mission.
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Do you personally visit the schools? If not, how do
you know enough about them to recommend them?
Educational consultants pride themselves on their
first-hand knowledge of educational institutions.
Spending approximately twenty percent of time visiting campuses,
consultants keep up-to-date on the environment of a wide
variety of schools and colleges and their changing
admissions policies. Should a school that the
consultant has not visited be selected, it would only be
after carefully checking with the other member of IECA that
have visited and that can recommend it.
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Do you work with students who have special needs? If so,
with what type of needs can you work?
Yes, we do work with students that have special needs
including Dyslexia, non-verbal learning differences, ADHD,
Autism, Aspergers, mild emotional & physical handicaps.
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Are you a member of any professional organization?
The Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA)
and The Small Boarding School Association.
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Do you offer SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) Prep?
Yes, group classes begin in October consisting of six, ninety-minute
sessions. Private sessions may be arranged.
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What happens if my child needs additional evaluations or
reports?
When appropriate, a consultant will recommend testing for
purposes of psychological or academic assessment with
qualified and trusted professionals.
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How often are you in contact with the schools under
consideration?
The frequency of contact depends on the type of placement
requested. Normally there are numerous phone calls and
emails early in the process until all applications and
interviews and complete. back to top
What information is kept confidential and what
information is shared?
When a family contracts with Schools to Know, the only
information that is shared is with the written premission of
the parent or student if they are over 18 years of age.
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What if my child is not accepted at any of the schools
applied to?
Every effort is made to provide realistic school choices
early on in the process. Should the
student's circumstances change and there
is no acceptance then the process would begin again.
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What if my child is accepted and then is asked to leave
the school once he/she is enrolled?
If a student is asked to leave a school, a second
placement will be arranged for an additional reduced fee.
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How much information should we share with you and with
the schools?
I
encourage families to be upfront with me and I ask them to
share their concerns or issues. The truth finds its way
out over time and withholding it can be a great disservice
to the student over time. The situation may
effect the child's choice of schools but we mustn't forget
that we are looking for the most appropriate placement that
best meets the needs of your child. back to
topHow much does this cost?
- No Charge: Initial Consultation with Parent or Parents (1 hour)
Sharing of background information about the student
Explanation of services and fee structure
- Completion of Registration Form and Parental Permission Form.
$
3,500 – Traditional Boarding or International Day School Search
$4,000 - Search with SSAT/ISEE Preparation
(Additional placements within one year - $1,250)
$4,000 – Special Needs Placements (Learning Differences & Attention Issues)
(Additional Placements within one year - $1,500)
(If a family changes their mind after the search is completed and does not
enroll their child there is no refund. If that family returns wishing to enroll
their child for the next school year there is a renewal fee of half of the
original placement fee).
$4,500 – Therapeutic Placement – Wilderness Program or
Therapeutic Boarding School
Retainer Includes:
- Meetings with parents and students
- Review and evaluation of all testing and school reports
- Interviewing teachers and other professional references
- Preliminary calls to potential schools with requests for information.
- Presentation of school list to parents and student
- Assistance with planning of school visits
- Assistance with management of school application process
- Interviewing help for students
- SSAT preparation – practice test and five tutorials
- On-going consultation as needed
- Monitoring of student progress for one year
Additional Services:
Miscellaneous consulting services - $100/hr
SAT Prep: Diagnostic test, materials and 5 prep classes - $550
Parent requested visits to programs or to visit students outside of Bermuda:
Travel Expenses and $100/hr
Review of school list proposed by parents with input - $500
Review of school list proposed by parents with input and additional
suggestions of schools - $1,000
Terms:
Payment is due in full upon receipt of billing and not at time of actual
school placement. Payment arrangements are available upon request.
Request for payment in advance
of the completion of service is due to the fact that so
much of the research begins a long time before the
parent comes into the office. To be an informed
educational consultant, it is necessary to travel
outside of Bermuda at least one week a month to visit
schools, programs and to attend conferences. Training
and experience in the field accounts for a large part of
the cost of being the eyes and ears for the parent and
students we consult with.
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