Boarding School Admissions Consulting

A proven pathway to the right boarding school and a smooth transition.

Wondering how to choose, and get into, a boarding school that truly feels like a second home?

CareerPaths helps families with children secure places at top U.S., UK, and European boarding schools.
We handle learner profiling, curated shortlists, chaperoned campus visits, entrance-exam prep, applications, and ongoing liaison with house staff, so your child arrives confident, supported, and ready to thrive.

Schedule your free 30-minute consultation today.

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Boarding school Advising cartoonish artstyle. Mother and daughter talking to an advisor.

Why Choosing the Right Boarding School Matters?

Choosing a boarding school isn’t just an academic decision.
It’s about where your child will live, grow, and feel at home.

Here’s why a careful, well-guided search makes all the difference:

Growth

The right campus shapes study habits and character.

Your child will gain independence, resilience and friendships.

Fit > Prestige

Culture, class size & teaching style must match your teen’s personality.

Even a “top-ranked” school can miss the mark.

Tough Admissions

Many leading schools admit ≤ 15 %.

A clear strategy and standout profile turn odds in your favor.

Peace of Mind

Knowing your child is safe, supported and happy lets you focus on cheering them on.

No need to worry from afar.

Our Boarding School Admissions Process

We take a holistic, step-by-step approach to boarding school admissions.
Our seasoned consultants will be by your side from the first conversation until your child is settled into their new school – and beyond.

Here’s how our process works:

Free Consultation & Plan

A no-obligation, 30-minute call to understand your family’s goals, your child’s background, and any specific concerns.
We will outline the timeline, and confirm we’re the right partner.

Student Profile Assessment

Next, we get to know your child as a whole person.

Through one-on-one interviews, academic record reviews, and interest/aptitude surveys, we build a comprehensive student profile.
This covers their academic strengths, extracurricular passions, learning style, and personality.

By understanding what makes your child unique, we can pinpoint schools where they will thrive.
(This evidence-based profile guides all our recommendations.)

Personalized School Shortlisting

With the profile in hand, our team researches and curates a shortlist of best-fit boarding schools worldwide.

We consider academics, sports/arts programs, school culture, location, size, and any special criteria you have (e.g. single-sex or co-ed, religious affiliation, etc.).
Each recommended school comes with a detailed explanation of why it’s a strong match for your child.

We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each option with you, helping you confidently decide where to apply.

Application Game Plan

Once you’ve chosen target schools, we develop a step-by-step application game plan.

Boarding school applications can be complex – often requiring essays/personal statements, recommendation letters, transcripts, and interviews.
Your consultant will organize all deadlines and requirements, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.
We also coach your child on their application essays and personal statements – from brainstorming ideas that showcase their personality, to editing drafts until their story shines.

Additionally, we prepare them for any admissions interviews with mock interview practice and feedback, so they can speak with confidence and poise.

Boarding School Entrance Exam Preparation

Most top boarding schools require standardized tests as part of the application.

Whether your child needs to take the SSAT, ISEE, SAT/ACT (for older grades), or an English proficiency exam (TOEFL/IELTS), we’ve got it covered.
Our test prep experts provide a customized study plan and one-on-one tutoring to boost scores.
We begin with diagnostic tests to identify strengths and weaknesses, then coach your child through practice questions and proven test-taking strategies.

By exam day, they’ll feel prepared and perform at their best.

Campus Visit Coordination

Visiting a campus (in-person or virtually) can be a crucial way to assess a school’s fit.

We help coordinate campus visits for your family – crafting an itinerary of school tours, class sit-ins, and meetings with faculty or students when possible.

You’ll receive tips on what questions to ask and insights on what to observe during visits.

If travel isn’t feasible, we arrange virtual tours or open day events.

Our goal is to ensure you gather all the firsthand impressions you need to make an informed decision.

Ongoing Mentoring & Support

Our relationship doesn’t end with an acceptance letter.
Transitioning to boarding school is a big step, and we continue to support your child after enrollment.

In our comprehensive package, an experienced mentor will check in periodically during your child’s first year to monitor academic progress, well-being, and adjustment to their new environment.
We’re available to advise on course selections, help troubleshoot any issues, or simply be a reassuring resource as your child adapts to life at their boarding school.

This continuity of care means your family is never alone – we’re invested in your child’s long-term success.

Throughout the process, we also liaise with schools on your behalf whenever appropriate – from clarifying application requirements to advocating for your student.

You’ll have a dedicated expert in your corner every step of the way.

Service Packages

Feature	Orientation	Comprehensive
Consultation & Student Assessment	✓	✓
Shortlist of 3 Best-Fit Schools	✓	✓
Application Roadmap / Timeline	✓	✓
Add-on Services (essay help, tutoring)	add-on	✓
Hands-on Application Support	—	✓
Entrance-Exam Prep	add-on	✓
Campus Visit Planning / Virtual Tours	—	✓
Ongoing Mentoring (1st-year check-ins)	—	✓

Our Comprehensive Package is a concierge-level service,
where we handle every detail from sign-up to your child’s first report card.

Prefer to steer the process yourself?
Start with our Orientation Package and add expert help only where you need it.

Not sure which tier fits best? Click below to schedule your free 30-minute consultation and we’ll map out the right plan together.

Schedule your free consultation here

Benefits For Your Family & Child

Why families choose CareerPaths?

Total peace of mind – our experts guide your every step, so you never feel lost ✓
Perfect-fit placement – happy child = stronger grades, confidence, and wellbeing ✓
Stand-out applications – polished essays, higher test scores, better acceptance odds ✓
Time back for parents – we handle research, deadlines, and paperwork for you ✓
Long-term development – skills like interview confidence & independent living last well into college and adulthood ✓

(Many families also add a short-term summer program or our Curriculum Advising to boost their child’s profile before boarding-school applications)

Frequently asked questions

When should we start the boarding school application process?

It’s best to start at least 12-18 months before your child would enroll.

Most boarding school applications are due in the fall or winter one year prior to enrollment (for example, applications for Fall 2026 admission are typically due by January 2026).
By starting early, we have time to build a strong profile, schedule any required tests, and ensure all deadlines are comfortably met.

That said, it’s never too late to reach out!
We can often accommodate tighter timelines with intensive support.

Which entrance exams will my child need to take?

It depends on the schools and your child’s age.

Many U.S. boarding schools require the SSAT or ISEE (standardized tests for secondary school admission).
Schools in other countries might have their own exams or accept alternatives.
If English isn’t your child’s first language, an English proficiency test like TOEFL or IELTS may be needed.

During our initial planning, we’ll identify exactly which exams are required for each of your target schools, and we’ll incorporate test preparation into your child’s plan.

Do you help with boarding schools in the U.S., UK, and other countries?

Yes.

Our consulting team has experience with top boarding schools across the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Europe (as well as select institutions in Asia and Australia).
We understand the different curricula and admission systems, from American prep schools and British independent schools to International Baccalaureate programs.

No matter where you’re considering, we can provide informed guidance and a tailored strategy.

What ages or grade levels do you work with for boarding school placement?

We assist students typically from about age 11 up to 18.

Most families come to us for high school placement (grades 9–12, roughly ages 14–18).
However, we also help with junior boarding for middle school years (some boarding schools offer entry for grades 6–8).

If you have a younger child, we might suggest trying a summer program first and planning ahead, but we’re happy to start advising early to set the stage for a future boarding school application.

Do you advise on financial aid or scholarships for boarding schools?

Absolutely.

We know that a boarding school education is a significant financial investment.
As part of our school research and shortlisting, we consider your budget and discuss each school’s tuition range.
Many boarding schools offer financial aid or scholarships to qualified students.
We help identify which schools might be good candidates for aid, explain how the financial aid application works, and ensure you meet relevant deadlines (for forms like the CSS Profile or school-specific aid forms).

While we can’t guarantee aid, we’ll make sure you approach this aspect with eyes open and a strong strategy.

What if we aren’t sure about sending our child to boarding school yet?

No problem – our role is to help you make the best choice for your child, even if that ends up being a different path.

In fact, we offer advisory services beyond boarding school admissions.
If you’re undecided, we can use our Curriculum Advising service to compare options (like local international day schools, bilingual programs, or other education routes) versus boarding.
Sometimes families try a short-term experience first – for example, enrolling in a summer program abroad – to gauge their child’s readiness for living away from home.
We’ll support you in evaluating all these options.

Ultimately, whether or not you choose boarding school, our priority is that your child ends up in an environment where they can flourish.

Success stories

“"We felt overwhelmed until CareerPaths stepped in.
Our daughter was accepted to all three schools on her list."”
Italy → UK, Grade 9– Parent, Milan

“"From SSAT prep to interview coaching, the team rebuilt my son’s confidence. He got into his first-choice school, truly life-changing!"”
14-year-old, New England admit– Parent, Belgrade

“"We didn’t know where to start. CareerPaths took the pressure off completely.
Our son is now thriving at a school we’d never even considered before working with them."”
Germany → U.S., Grade 10- Parent, Munich

Ready to Start?

If you’re thinking about boarding school and want expert support along the way, we’re here to help.

Book a free consultation so we can talk through your goals and create a personalized plan that fits your child’s needs.