| If you live in a highly competitive preschool or | | | | package? Are you able to call the consultant as often |
| kindergarten admissions market like New York City, | | | | as you wish or or calls and e-mails limited? Do they |
| L.A., San Francisco or Washington, D.C., you may be | | | | help you through every step of the process or just |
| thinking of hiring a consultant to help you through the | | | | some. Do they offer hourly rate options where you |
| process. Admissions consultants offer an insider | | | | can access their expertise on an as-needed basis? |
| perspective, are loyal only to you, know what schools | | | | Make sure you are comfortable with the services you |
| are looking for, can help you judge fit and serve as a | | | | receive for the money you pay. |
| knowledgeable sounding board. As you evaluate | | | | * Is she accredited? Admissions consultants do not |
| educational advisors, here are some things to ask: | | | | necessarily need to be accredited. Often, a former |
| * Do you share the same beliefs? Talk to the | | | | admissions director will become a consultant and you |
| consultant on the phone and see if you share the | | | | can trust that she knows what she is doing. On the |
| same philosophy and approach to education. Does she | | | | other hand, there are professional associations that |
| make you feel comfortable? Is she someone you can | | | | give accreditation to advisors who have met their |
| easily communicate with and trust? Shop around a bit. | | | | criteria. To be designated a CEP (Certified Educational |
| You are likely to "click" with one advisor over the | | | | Planner), the consultant must pass an exam, have a |
| others you meet. Trust your instinct on this. | | | | master's degree or an equivalent, have practiced for a |
| * Does she have experience relevant to the needs of | | | | certain number of years, visit a certain number of |
| your child? Does she normally work with kindergarten | | | | schools, and take continuing education classes. |
| or nursery school admissions or is most of her clientele | | | | * What do other mothers say? Check the advisor's |
| aiming for higher grades. If you are interested in | | | | web site. Does it include comments from satisfied |
| exploring public gifted programs and private schools, | | | | customers? Will the advisor give you the name and |
| does she have experience placing kids in both types | | | | number of past customers to call for a |
| of schools? | | | | recommendation? Even though this is a private matter, |
| * How well does she know the schools? How often | | | | most consultants will have arranged for references. If |
| does she visit the schools in the community? Does she | | | | she hasn't, I'd probably steer clear. You can visit |
| know the directors of admission personally? What can | | | | parenting websites such as and ask other mothers |
| she tell you about the schools you are most interested | | | | and fathers if they have had experience with this |
| in that you don't already know? | | | | advisor and if so, what they thought. |
| * Does she want to meet your child? For nursery | | | | * Does she talk about "fit" versus getting into A-List |
| school admissions, it may not be necessary that she | | | | Schools? There are consultants out there who prey |
| meet your child. At that level, what you want is most | | | | on the fears and insecurities of parents, pointing out |
| important. At the kindergarten level, she must spend | | | | how impossible the odds are and how unlikely it is that |
| time with you and your child to determine fit. Find out | | | | you could get a good result without help. If you get this |
| how much time she plans to spend with you both and | | | | vibe from a consultant, run the other way. If an advisor |
| how she will assess your child to make appropriate | | | | makes guarantees that she will get your child into a |
| recommendations. | | | | particular school or says she always gets families their |
| * What do you get for what you pay? Before you | | | | first choice, be very suspicious. If she talks about |
| decide on an advisor, talk to a few. What is the going | | | | finding the right "fit" for you and your child versus |
| rate in your community? If the advisor offers | | | | getting her into an A-list school, you are probably in |
| packages, what services do you receive with each | | | | good hands. |