The Boarding School and College Placement Consulting Landscape
The independent educational consulting industry has grown significantly as competition for seats at elite boarding schools and selective colleges intensifies. With acceptance rates at top boarding schools like Phillips Exeter, Andover, and Deerfield dropping below 15%, families increasingly turn to professional consultants who bring insider knowledge of the admissions process.
Industry Structure
The field is anchored by two professional associations. IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association), the largest, has approximately 2,800 members who meet rigorous professional standards including campus visits, continuing education, and adherence to ethical guidelines. HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association) adds another 1,000+ members, though with a heavier focus on college-only advising.
Consultants range from solo practitioners to large firms like Solomon Admissions (100+ consultants) and boutique specialists like The Bertram Group, which Fortune Education has named a top boarding school advisor in the United States.
What Placement Consultants Actually Do
- School List Development
- Matching student profiles—academic ability, learning style, extracurricular strengths, social needs—to specific schools. Experienced consultants typically visit 30-50+ campuses annually.
- Application Strategy
- Managing timelines across SSAT/ISEE testing, school visits, interviews, essays, and teacher recommendations.
- Family Coaching
- Preparing parents and students for admissions interviews and campus visits, and advising on financial aid strategy where applicable.
Choosing a Consultant
Key differentiators include IECA or HECA membership (indicating professional standards and ethics compliance), Certified Educational Planner (CEP) designation, direct boarding school admissions experience, and a track record with the specific tier of schools a family is targeting. Fee structures vary widely—from ,000-,000 for basic guidance to ,000+ for comprehensive multi-year engagements at elite-focused firms.