GEC offers a complimentary 30-minute initial consultation so you can learn more about our college and boarding school admissions consulting services. It is a calm, practical first step to see whether we are the right best-fit partner for your family.

Garrett Educational Consulting guides students and families through boarding school and college admissions, from building a best-fit school list all the way to the final decision. We also offer one-on-one SAT and AP test prep, and we advise on day school placement, gap years, summer and semester programs, study abroad, resumes, and interview prep. We are also an approved SSAT Flex Test administrator.

Your family works with the Garrett Educational Consulting team, led by founder Katie Garrett. Katie is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP), a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and holds a graduate certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from UC-Irvine.

Start by scheduling a complimentary 30-minute consultation. You can tell us about your student in complete confidence, and we will walk you through the process, answer your questions, and tell you honestly whether we are the right fit.

Nothing formal. It helps to come with a sense of where your student is academically, what they enjoy, and what is prompting you to reach out now. Your questions are the most important thing to bring.

Earlier is almost always better. For boarding school, we usually begin with students in seventh or eighth grade, about a year before they plan to enroll. For college, the ideal time to start is freshman or sophomore year, though we work with students at every point in high school. For test prep, SAT students typically start 8 to 12 weeks before their test date and AP students 4 to 8 weeks before their exams.

No. We meet with families in person in Charlotte and Charleston, and we work virtually with students across the Carolinas, the rest of the country, and internationally.

Because personal attention is the whole point. Keeping our roster small means every family gets the time, responsiveness, and thoughtful guidance they came to us for, especially during the busiest stretches of application season.

That's fine. Beyond our comprehensive programs, we offer focused academic advisement at an hourly rate for things like day school consulting, gap year planning, summer and semester programs, study abroad, resume development, and interview prep. Test prep and SSAT Flex testing are also available on their own.

Yes. Garrett Educational Consulting helps students plan structured, purposeful gap years, from deciding whether a gap year is the right fit to choosing programs and experiences that build maturity and direction. We also help students connect their gap year plans to their college plans.

Yes. Garrett Educational Consulting guides high school students through semester schools and study abroad options, helping families find programs that fit the student's interests, academic goals, and timeline.

Yes. Garrett Educational Consulting prepares students for boarding school and college admissions interviews with practice sessions and feedback, so they walk in confident and ready to talk about themselves.

After you sign on, you receive a welcome email with instructions for setting up your accounts. From there we keep things organized with clear timelines, consistent check-ins, and a secure online client account where students and families can track tasks and deadlines.

As involved as you would like to be. We bring parents in as partners from the start. We let you know what is coming and when it is time to act, so you stay informed without getting buried in the details.

No, and you should be cautious of anyone who promises that. As an IECA member and Certified Educational Planner, Katie Garrett follows strict ethical standards. What we can promise is a thoughtful, well-balanced list, a strong application that reflects who your student really is, and steady guidance from start to finish.

Garrett Educational Consulting helps families take the first step with clarity instead of guesswork. Schedule a complimentary consultation, call us at 980-595-4923, or email info@garretteducationalconsulting.com, and we will help you figure out the right path for your student.