One of the most common things parents say to me is: We want to make the right decision, but it's very hard to see clearly when it's your own child. That’s exactly where my parent advisory sessions come in. Last night, after a one‑on‑one session with a family navigating some complex educational decisions, I received … Continue reading Private Parent Advisory Sessions for Thoughtful Educational Decision‑Making
NYC Families Navigate a System That No Longer Works for Everyone
Troy Closson’s New York Times piece, Rising Costs and Competition at NY Private Schools Have Parents on Edge, offers a clear view of how New York’s school system actually works. Families with resources move smoothly through the process, while everyone else is left navigating a system that is opaque and uneven. There is no exaggeration … Continue reading NYC Families Navigate a System That No Longer Works for Everyone
The End of the “Common Calendar”? What It Means That Top NYC Schools Have Left ISAAGNY
In a meaningful shift that hasn’t gotten enough attention, Horace Mann, Ethical Culture Fieldston, Riverdale, Collegiate and Brearley have left ISAAGNY and are no longer following the shared admissions calendar. That calendar used to create some order in an otherwise stressful process—everyone applied, heard back, and decided on roughly the same timeline. Now, these schools … Continue reading The End of the “Common Calendar”? What It Means That Top NYC Schools Have Left ISAAGNY
Soaring Private School Tuition in NYC: What to Know
Private school tuition in New York has reached a point that would have seemed unimaginable a decade ago. Schools that once hovered around the $40,000 mark — even Avenues charged about $40,000 per year when it opened and in its early years — are now demanding well over $70,000 a year. Thanks to Amanda Gordon … Continue reading Soaring Private School Tuition in NYC: What to Know
The Truth About NYC Private School Admissions and Consultants
Families sometimes ask me: “Do you advocate for your clients with schools?” The answer is no—and that’s exactly as it should be. NYC private schools want to evaluate each child and family on their merits, not on their consultant. Admissions officers consistently make clear that they do not give preference to applicants because of a … Continue reading The Truth About NYC Private School Admissions and Consultants
Harrow School Launches $75K Co-Ed Campus in New York
As reported by Bloomberg’s Erin Hudson, the iconic British boarding school Harrow is opening a $75,000-a-year co-ed campus on Long Island this fall. Harrow International School New York will serve grades 6–12, offering both day and boarding options, and awarding the International Baccalaureate diploma. Students will wear British-inspired uniforms—with the school’s famous straw hats saved … Continue reading Harrow School Launches $75K Co-Ed Campus in New York
Client Testimonials on NYC Private School Admissions
Thrilling day as more clients write in with their NYC private school success stories! Dear Emily, We received our acceptance letter from <1st Choice Private School>. Thank you — We would like to highlight how much we appreciated your professionalism, keen insights, intelligence, and responsiveness throughout this process. Sincerely, <Dad, Mom and Child> and Thanks … Continue reading Client Testimonials on NYC Private School Admissions
Success Stories: NYC Private School Admissions
Today has been a truly wonderful day at Abacus Guide, filled with exciting news from families celebrating their NYC private school acceptances. I'm honored to have guided these parents and children through the admissions process, and their kind words mean the world to me. From a thrilled family: Dearest Emily, We want to say thank … Continue reading Success Stories: NYC Private School Admissions
Why Miami Parents Come Back to NY for Schools
Michael Smith at Bloomberg writes that Miami private schools struggle to adequately pay their teachers as a surge of wealthy parents seek schooling for their kids. “I’ve had families who moved back to New York because theyjust couldn’t find a school in Miami that met their standards,”said Emily Glickman, founder of Abacus Guide EducationalConsulting, a … Continue reading Why Miami Parents Come Back to NY for Schools
Why AI in NYC Private School Applications Can Backfire
Artificial intelligence is here with a vengeance, and many NYC private school applicants as well as NYC private school admissions officers are using it. The problem is that AI is very easy to spot. I asked one client if she wrote her thank you note using Chat GPT because it was blatantly obvious. Yes, she … Continue reading Why AI in NYC Private School Applications Can Backfire