Applying to university


University consultancy
Whether in the UK or overseas, our education consultants can support your application to university
Get in touchHow we can help:
- Planning the right sixth form course
- Deciding to study in the UK or overseas
- Selecting the right course at the best university
- Preparing for entry exams and interviews
- Completing a great application and personal statement
- Open days and interview practice
- Successful applications to Oxford or Cambridge
- Extra curricular activities for US university applications
- Successful applications for post grad (or Master’s) courses
Other services
Find a UK school

Talk to us about how we can help you with anything from finding a school place to navigating the UK education system.
Financial assistance

Come and talk to us about how to maximise your chances of securing a scholarship or bursary.
Find a school abroad

Our global team of education consultants have navigated international education systems themselves and can help you too.
Want to talk?

Shari and her experienced team are here to match you with the right consultant to advise and support you.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all the help you offered for this college application process. I have been offered a secure place. This wouldn’t have been possible without your help. Again, thank you so much.
June 2022The Good Schools Guide is my "go to" (excuse the jargon!) advisor on education, and life has been complicated of late so the ability to research schools in different parts of the country has been invaluable.
November 2022Thank you so much for the detailed report that you sent through. It was great to see that you really understood our son’s issues. You offer such a valuable service and I am much more confident about the meeting in the morning.
April 2023
Some of our team

Shari Lord
Senior administrator
Shari is the senior administrator at The Good Schools Guide and manages the office team as well as running the consultancy with the director.

Lisa Freedman
Education consultant
Lisa is an experienced education consultant and education journalist. She writes about education for a range of leading publications.

Janette Wallis
Education consultant
Janette was a founder adviser of our consultancy and has over twenty years' experience with The Good Schools Guide.
FAQs
Who are The Good Schools Guide education consultants?
Our education consultants are selected from our most experienced school reviewers. All are parents. Most have a professional background in education and/or a great range of educational experience. You can see all our consultants by clicking on this link.
What information will you need from me when I contact you?
How does the process work?
As soon as you get in touch with us, one of our experienced office team will arrange to speak to you to find out more about your circumstances. They will work to match the right consultant to you and offer you a service. All our services start with a meeting with the consultant, usually via video call, but this can be in person.
If you decide you would like to become a client of our premier service the consultant will be in touch with you within 24 hours of payment to work out a strategy with you. They will be available to you when you need them until a school place has been secured.
When is payment taken?
One of our office team will ask for payment when you have agreed a service. Payments for all our services are made in advance of the initial meeting with the consultant. Payment is usually made online but we can also take payments over the phone and we accept bank transfers.
Are education consultants available over the weekend?
Can I meet with the consultant?
Do the consultants only recommend independent schools?
We review state and independent schools and our consultants can give advice about schools in either sector. If you are only interested in state schools, we have a dedicated state school service.
Do the consultants only recommend schools that are covered in The Good Schools Guide?
No, although we do find that these are generally the ones people want. However, in some areas of the country or to meet specific requirements, we may well recommend you consider schools that are not – or not yet – in The Guide.
I want to buy/rent a house according to where good schools are - can you help?
What geographical areas do your consultants cover?
Can The Good Schools Guide use its influence to get my child a place at a school?
Does The Good Schools Guide take commission from schools it recommends?
No, and this is what makes us different from agents who have individual financial arrangements with schools. Our advice is entirely independent and based only on what you tell us you want for your children.
Does the consultant check whether my shortlisted schools actually have places available?
Yes, if you are one of our Premier clients. Find out more about this service here.
What if I am not happy with the schools my consultant recommends?
This has scarcely ever happened but, if you are not happy, please tell us. We take immense pride in delivering what our clients want and our many thousands of happy clients are testament to this. However, we are always honest with our clients. If you are fixed on only one school or a few schools which the consultant knows will not find places for you, or if the consultant is concerned about whether your child will thrive in a particular school s/he will tell you.
Can the consultant assess my child?
Assessments are available to all our clients. It is a useful diagnostic tool for you and for us to help decide which schools to suggest or whether additional support will be needed. Tell our administrator if you want to find out more.
Can I speak to someone about a particular school?
We will always try to match you with a consultant who personally knows a particular school in which you are interested. If it is a school in The Good Schools Guide this should always be possible.
Is what I tell my consultant confidential?
Do you offer group information talks to parents?
Yes, our experts regularly present to parents within workplaces, schools, social clubs and societies, PTAs, groups of local friends or even online chat groups. We are told it’s just the ticket to demystifying the confusing aspects of the UK education scene. And we just love a Q&A session. Email us to find out more.