Private School Consulting
At Principia, our Private School Consulting offers families individualized guidance through every stage of the application process. While most students use the majority of their hours for brainstorming, editing, and refining application essays and student questionnaires, our support extends well beyond the page — especially for families who begin early.
Depending on your needs, your hours can be used for:
● Building a strategic school list — and weighing the merits of local day schools vs. boarding options
● Determining whether an additional SSAT is necessary
● Crafting a compelling, cohesive application narrative
● Brainstorming and revising student essays and questionnaires
● Providing feedback and edits on parent questionnaires
● Preparing for interviews through expert-led coaching and mock interviews
● Asynchronous editing with quick turnaround
Pricing
$3,520 for Principia Team
$7,040 for Founder
Includes up to 8 hours of support, with a mix of personalized 1:1 sessions and asynchronous assistance — from essay editing and family communication to school research.
We tailor our approach to your family’s goals and timeline, always with an eye toward what will best position your student for success.
Our students have been accepted at the following schools (and many more) over the years:
Madeira
St. Pauls
Deerfield
St. Stephen & St. Agnes
Lawrenceville Prep
St. Andrews Episcopal
Potomac
Milton Academy
Choate Rosemary
Georgetown Visitation
Groton
Bullis
National Cathedral
Phillips Andover
Georgetown Day
Sidwell Friends
Gonzaga
The Hill School
St. Albans
Phillips Exeter
Holton-Arms
Landon
Butler
Episcopal
Looking for SSAT support as part of the private school application process?
We offer SSAT Prep through private 1:1 tutoring — customized to your student’s strengths, goals, and areas for growth. Whether they’re aiming to strengthen specific sections or build overall test-taking confidence, we’ll create a plan that meets them where they are and helps them get where they want to go.
Read more here or reach out to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are you different from other consulting companies?
Great question! One aspect of our approach that parents appreciate in particular is our comprehensive brainstorming, writing, editing, and revisions process. It’s an extensive, deeply-involved exploration of each student’s values, character, and experiences—not only is it paramount for admissions, but it’s also an eye-opening process for the student as they continue their journey into high school and eventually college.
When do families typically begin the private school consulting process?
Ideally, the summer before 8th grade. If they haven't already started, students can prep for any applicable testing over the summer and begin brainstorming for their essays. Prompts are typically released early fall and many schools have December or January deadlines.
Do you offer consulting for students outside the Northern Virginia and DC Metro area?
Yes, we have students across the country and as far away as Hong Kong and Seoul; we meet regularly over platforms like Pencil Spaces or Google Meet and can arrange in-person meetings where applicable.
Is there really homework after each session?
Definitely — whether it's completing a school research guide for their list of schools, forming descriptions for ECs, or drafting an application essay, students are expected to put in the work. That said, we adjust to each student's needs and routinely work with students who are unable to complete work outside of sessions—in those cases, we'll continue to tackle the applications at a slower pace.
Does consulting include sessions focused on preparing for the SSAT or HSPT?
While test prep sessions are not included in these packages, we do offer 1:1 test prep for high school admissions exams, so we'll be happy to make instructor recommendations (maybe even your consultant) depending on availability and fit.