Our Process

We start by getting to know you and your child.

At The Bertram Group, each candidate is celebrated as a unique individual. Through comprehensive interviews and in-depth research, we discern a student’s strengths, needs, and goals. Going beyond academics, we consider the whole of a child’s personality. We consider goals, values, athletics, interests in the arts and community service, social skills, and anything else that is a priority for the candidate.

Similarly, in refining an applicant’s list of desired schools, we look beyond test scores. Some schools provide more support than others to nurture students’ increasing independence. Academic communities also vary widely in tones of formality, competitiveness, and campus culture. We know the world of independent day schools, boarding schools, and universities inside and out. We also have in-depth knowledge of strategies for working with students with a variety of learning styles, as well as those who would benefit from therapeutic educational options.

We assist families in developing and implementing an educational plan, with its different phases and complex deadlines, from start to finish. During this process, we serve as the liaison between schools and families, fostering positive relationships and active communications. We also empower students to advocate for themselves—encouraging candidates to reflect upon their own strengths and weaknesses, to set goals, and to learn how to put their best foot forward. We often hear from parents that in addition to the successful outcome, they value the new maturity they see in their children as a result of our work together.