Many parents are actively seeking to enroll their children in elite private schools to remove barriers to admission into top universities. A recent study from 2023 revealed that Ivy League schools have a significantly higher number of students from high-income families compared to those from lower-income backgrounds, highlighting the increasingly fierce competition for these prestigious institutions. As a result, many parents are proactively consulting admissions advisors for opportunities to get their children into private schools, which they see as a crucial step for future university admissions.
According to a Newsweek report, elite private schools in New York City, such as Horace Mann, Trinity School, and Spence School, offer programs from kindergarten through 12th grade, with annual tuition exceeding $60,000. Many parents are striving to help their children squeeze through this narrow entrance to success.
Dana Haddad, an admissions consultant in New York City, commented, “My job is to balance parents’ expectations with what’s truly best for the child.” She emphasized how parents’ visions for their children’s education often shift after discussions about their strengths and weaknesses.
Once parents and children reach a consensus, Haddad creates a shortlist of schools for her clients. “Parents usually want their children to attend academically prestigious schools renowned for extracurricular activities, but we must also consider the child’s personality and individual needs,” she explained.
After extensive communication with her clients, Haddad selects suitable schools and guides them through the admissions process, which includes prep for independent school entrance exams (ISEE) or the secondary school admission test (SSAT), interviews, and writing compelling personal statements that showcase the child’s strengths, interests, and talents.
Haddad’s clients range from preschoolers to high school students, but she asserts, “Holistic development is key. Test scores are only part of the equation; elite schools will also evaluate student and parent interviews, teacher recommendations, and academic transcripts.”
However, the competition for admission into these prestigious schools is growing fiercer, requiring greater preparation and guidance. Haddad candidly acknowledged, “It’s not always possible to achieve your goals, and parents quickly realize that their friends are also competitors.”
Although most of her clients come from affluent families, Haddad is committed to offering discounts to those with financial constraints. “I help them present their best selves to ensure they have a fair chance of being accepted,” she stated.
Statistics reveal that by 2022, one in ten American schoolchildren attended private schools. Furthermore, 19% of Yale’s graduating class in 2024 came from private education, while nearly 40% of Harvard’s 2025 graduates were also private school alumni. The percentage of private school graduates at Dartmouth College’s Class of 2026 even surpassed 40%.
