Frequently Asked Questions
My child is already so busy. How much time does this program require?
Many of our students tend to enroll in too many extracurriculars and APs so they often come to us already experiencing tremendous overwhelm. So we always ask, “What can we accomplish in the given time that your child has?” We work in concert with your child’s commitments by amplifying their exposure in areas they already love and often where they are already involved, helping them discover where there are opportunities to cut out what doesn’t ultimately serve their goals.
-
Do you help with the college admissions process?
Absolutely! For 20+ years, Elizabeth has worked with hundreds of high-achieving students applying to tier colleges and universities. She has a deep understanding of all the ins and outs of the admissions process. We can help your child map out a strategic, joyful, and empowering plan to get into the very best school for them, if that is part of their plan.
-
What kinds of projects do your students create?
Our previous students have created documentary films, written children’s books, started nonprofits, developed a passion for cooking, built apps, become political activists, started clubs, been published in the New York Times, launched musical festivals, and much more. It’s incredible what they’re capable of creating when they’ve got the right support!
What is the process you use to help a student tap into their creativity/passions?
Your child’s mentor helps them discover their distinguishing factor—what makes them unique, what gifts they possess, what areas really light them up. With the answers to these questions in hand, they begin the process of building their projects.
The remainder of the year is focused on continuing to build their projects to a very high level, connecting with mentors, and learning how to manage time well. We also go into depth about personality type, confidence-building, communication, and a wide range of other skills that are foundational to creating a successful life.
What if my child isn’t motivated to do the work you assign?
The Dream School Project is a mentoring program rather than a traditional teacher/student experience where students are simply assigned tasks. That means that we partner with your child to create an experience that truly delights and empowers them. We help them discover what they want to create, and then we support them to go out and do just that. That said, when a student loses momentum, and we ALL do at some point, we use it as an opportunity to help them recommit to their personal growth and their project development.
By the end of the program, they walk away incredibly resilient after such a beautiful opportunity to learn inside a safe space from the more challenging times they will inevitably face in the program and in life.
What if my child can’t figure out a project they want to focus on?
That’s what we’re here for. Never once has a student not figured out a project they’re interested in. Sure, sometimes it takes several months, which is why the program is at least a year long. But with our consistent in-depth support, they always end up with a breakthrough that leaves them feeling proud and excited. That’s what makes the work with our students so gratifying!
How do I measure my child’s success in the program?
We know it takes a lot of trust for you to bring us in to support your child. We also know that teenagers don’t always talk openly with their parents (ha!). So, every week after each call, we send an update to the parents outlining everything the mentor and your child discussed, along with the next steps they will take that week.
You’ll be able to see slow, steady progress, particularly after the first few months when your child is establishing a strong connection with their mentor and is determining which area they want to focus on with their projects.