Dunbar FAQs

The decision to work with an independent educational consultant is an important one. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.

What services do you provide?

We guide students bound for secondary school, college, and graduate school and have experience in athletic recruiting and performing/visual arts. Additionally, we work with students seeking to transfer from one college to another.

We offer a range of services from a single session consultation to our comprehensive guidance package which will take students through the entire admissions process. Depending on individual needs, Dunbar consultants will provide guidance on a student’s academic program, a standardized testing schedule, extracurricular and summer activities, an appropriate list of schools or colleges and an application strategy, interview preparation, and completion of essays and applications.
What differentiates Dunbar from other educational consultants?

Founded in 1984, we have significant experience guiding students with widely differing backgrounds, abilities and interests. Our consultants collaborate closely with one another when critiquing essays and assessing school and college lists so each student benefits from our team approach and collective experience. We regularly visit schools and colleges around the country and attend professional conferences, sharing our findings on admission trends and what is happening on campuses with our colleagues.
When is the best time to begin working with a college-bound student?

While many families come to us when their children are in 11th or 12th grades, it is helpful to begin our relationship with the student as early as the 8th or 9th grade so that we can develop a four year high school plan encompassing curriculum, standardized testing, and extracurricular activities that will maximize their potential. The high school curriculum is one of the most important factors in college admissions.
When is it the best time to begin applying to boarding school?

Since most boarding schools have application deadlines in January, it is best to start the process in the preceding spring. For those who decide to apply to schools later in the admissions calendar due to unforeseen circumstances, there are always options that can be discussed with one of our consultants. Many schools will consider applications after their published deadlines.
My child has issues in and outside of school; can you help?

We have ample experience working with students with learning differences. More children are experiencing anxiety and mild depression today which is affecting their schoolwork and their life at home. Sometimes the issue is a learning difference that can be remediated by a local change of school or sometimes the child would be better served at a traditional boarding school. We are happy to work with families to identify the best possible solution.
I have a college counselor at my high school; can I benefit from working with an independent consultant?

Yes.

Some families come to us because their children attend schools where the student/counselor ratio is very high and they seek more personalized guidance. Each Dunbar consultant works with a limited roster of students and is not burdened with additional responsibilities.

Others may choose to work with us because they want an additional and impartial perspective that will benefit their child. And some families in locations outside the US work with us because their school has little or no prior experience with admissions to US colleges.

In no way can any independent educational consultant replace the school counselor; in fact, we encourage our students to work closely with their school counselors and we teach them how to fully utilize their school’s guidance resources.
What if we don’t live near one of your offices?
How much does it cost?