ibidPREP HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE
Applying to high school can be difficult for students and their families. In addition to being a competitive and complex process, applying to high schools in NYC can also be a challenging emotional process. In our guidance program, we consult directly with parents and students every step of the way to achieve goals and mitigate anxieties. ibidPREP customizes school lists and help students narrow down their choices and understand their chances.
Once the process is underway, we create, as we go, lists of appropriate schools along with application checklists that include all the necessary websites, forms, applications, supplements, short answers and essays required. We also help, as needed, to schedule testing, tours and informational meetings; make calls; support all writing; and maintain the calm throughout.
Over and above the technical and emotional support we provide, our two greatest contributions to the high school application process are:
Stuart Servetar has been helping students find their way to the right middle schools, high schools and colleges for over 30 years—first as a private tutor and then as owner and with the support of ibidPREP. He knows NYC schools and NYC kids and where they best intersect. As he does this every year, Stuart also knows the trends and pulse of high school admissions. Furthermore, as a published journalist (e.g., Art in America, Esquire, Time Out New York), Stuart knows how to help students find their voices. He helps shape their writing through however many drafts necessary to achieve truly personal, personal statements. For the High School Admissions process he also helps parents hone their statments.
Throughout the revision process, Stuart shows students how to strip away the platitudes and less than helpful mannerisms their writing may have accrued through their schooling. Ultimately, students learn how to express themselves in a real and gripping manner unique to them.
When is a good time to start the High School Admissions process?
Families come to us as early as the beginning of 7th grade (and sometimes earlier) to begin to map out the process. Usually we have a plan in place by January of 7th grade. However, many hop on as late as the fall. Whenever you are able to start is the right time to start!
How much or how little help do you offer?
We work in packages, so we can do as much or as little as needed. Some families look forward to our help from day one, some come to us looking to polish personal statements, and most want something in between. We work to your needs.
Many services offer personal statement help. How are you different?
Stuart Servetar, ibid's founder, does all our editing. He has decades of experience working as a journalist and with students (and parents) on their personal statements and supplements. Stuart shows his students the difference between good, strong, truly personal writing and the sometimes empty boilerplate others tend toward. The results are remarkable and often give students that extra boost to get into the schools of their dreams.
IBID Prep and Stuart Servetar have supported my family in test taking, essay writing, and prep for the last decade. Stuart brings expertise, humor, and kindness to his students, their families and his work. We are so appreciative of him and the IBID Prep team!
E. Brooks
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Self administered
with Evaluation
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• Qualified instructor with solid academic background
• Fully trained in proven test prep strategies
• Expert guidance for score improvement
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We recommend 1-hour sessions for 4th-7th graders (except Hunter test), and 1.5-hour sessions for the Hunter, SHSAT, ACT, SAT, and beyond.
| Hours | Remote | In-Person |
|---|---|---|
| 3h | | |
| 6h | | |
| 9h | | |
| 12h | | |
with our founder, Stuart Servetar.
