Founded by an educated teaching professional and parent of 3, the team at SLP have significant experience guiding students with widely differing backgrounds, abilities and interests. We pride ourselves on the early intervention offerings because we know that the foundation of the youthful years set a precedence for learning and success as we grow. Other consultants also pay very little attention to the students behind the grades. Building up the child within is essential for the external flourishment of our little ones. Our life skills focused offerings address the social-emotional side of our children, so the whole child is nurtured ensuring even-keeled and well-rounded growth. 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.

We offer much more than “school stuff,” focusing holistically on the student to foster life readiness. We meet students where they are with an open mind, expecting the unexpected, and attuned to the subtleties of learning differences. Our impact is in our expertise.

We offer a range of services from a single session consultation to our comprehensive guidance services, which will take the student through the entire process of the service you request. Depending on individual needs, Sinclair Life Prep will provide guidance on a student’s academic program, the path to confident potty training, an appropriate list of schools or colleges, a standardized test schedule, subject tutoring, advice on extra-curricular and summer activities, essay guidance, early word recognition, interview preparation, etc.

NOW! It doesn’t matter what stage of life your child is in, it is never too early or too late to have a plan designed for them. Our early years consulting addresses the needs of infants and toddlers who have not yet reached school age. Our elementary school clients are often recommended for gifted or advanced placement services if necessary and are exposed to various options to assess and foster extracurricular interest. Our older children have a number of significant offerings that parents should consider beginning in the 5th grade year, especially if considering an independent or boarding school for high school matriculation. While many families come to us when their children are in 10th, 11th, or 12th grades for the college admission process, 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.

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.

Yes.

Families have many reasons for working with a consultant. Typically they include the search for professional counsel, explanation of unfamiliar educational situations or admissions processes, and extensive support in addition to that offered by a school or college. We provide experienced, expert counsel that is focused on a student’s individual needs and goals. Helping a student and his or her family is the primary mission, and we work independently of the demands and conflicting pressures of a school environment. 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 SLP 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.

Depending on the student’s needs, the packages can range from $250 - $35,000. We work with your goals and budget as best as possible. The cost of education is expensive, but our costs are a fraction of what will be spent if careful planning is not done initially. More importantly, we match and place students in positions that will help them discover their true life goals and prevent a costly change or major later on. This is why so many admission committees respect SLP’s guidance.

The process of education and admissions has grown increasingly complex in recent years, yet the “The Guided Path” approach makes the process straightforward. The most recent published data indicate the nationwide student to counselor ratio is 500:1. This caseload does not allow for counselors to provide in-depth independent college application assistance or personal development counseling to every student. Applications are at an all time high and with that comes greater competition. Making a student’s application rise above the rest becomes a critical part of the strategy.

First and foremost, time is money, and saving time utilizing SLP’s experience is saving money. Other savings arise from avoiding unnecessary campus visits, testing, enrolling in programs or courses that your children dislike, expensive early learning kits, applications or a transfer to a new college. When considering the total cost of a 4-year college education (up to $200,000+) the cost of a consultant (up to $35,500) is justified as a good return on the investment. A small investment now can deliver a long lasting return from a successful college career and prosperous life.

Students should do a lot for themselves as they navigate their life-planning process. Parental over-involvement in the details of the process can serve to undermine and disempower their children. A student’s handling of most of the process sends a clear message about readiness for college and life preparedness and we must listen for and encourage those signals. Parental over-reliance on a consultant or others to direct or manage the process for their children often proves ineffective or counterproductive. Parents can serve a very positive role through

acting as cheerleader, cab driver, logistical coordinator, administrative assistant, sympathetic listener, and occasional nudge. Thus, parents must find the right balance between over- and under-involvement in their child’s learning process, avoiding too much control and too little oversight. Forming a “Family Partnership” is an essential goal in successfully completing this process with as little stress as possible.

Simply put, “no”. Consultants who promise families that their connections at colleges or schools can help students gain admission to more selective institutions are just plain wrong.

Yes. We do not share lists of clients, personal information, or other details with outside groups or individuals without the permission of the client. We do our best to protect the privacy of the families we work with and do not share clients’ names with other current or prospective clients.

Yes, we work with many students who have a special interest and talent in visual or performing arts, including dancers, actors, studio artists, photographers, and classical or progressive musicians. We offer a holistic approach for such students, who typically consider a range of programs, from art or music institutes like Juilliard, Berklee, RISD, or the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, to liberal arts colleges and universities with strong programs in their areas of interest. We help students consider their various options, build an appropriate school list, and understand the unique aspects of audition or portfolio-based admission processes.