Educational Futures
About Us
Alan Haas, president, Carolyn Kalahar, partner and Geoff Stearns, partner.
An educational consultant is an advocate for the student and his/her family in navigating the complex process of selecting, preparing, positioning and applying to schools, colleges and universities. A consultant cannot directly influence the admissions decisions, but he or she can assure that appropriate schools are chosen and that the student's qualifications are presented optimally. A qualified consultant is a member of the IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) and does not accept agency fees or commissions from any institution.
Ideally, a college consultant should become actively involved with the student for the final two years of secondary school to ensure that academic performance is optimized, time is well utilized, engagement in the school and community is maximized and that the student's life is balanced and goal-oriented. For boarding school placement, one year is best.
Alan Haas, founder and Managing Partner of Educational Futures, has over 35 years of experience counseling students and their parents. An alumnus of Wesleyan University (CT), Alan holds two graduate degrees from Harvard University, where he studied counseling, psychology and educational administration. He is a former principal of two leading American secondary schools and served as Deputy Director General of the International School of Geneva, Switzerland. Alan is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, The Headmasters Association and a Board Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association
Geoff Stearns, Partner, works primarily with students seeking college admission or placement for a post-graduate (PG) year. After graduating from Harvard in 1982, he pursued a career in finance while advising students on the college admissions process. Geoff was a member of the Harvard Alumni Schools committee from 1997 to 2009. Geoff has extensive experience advising high school athletes about the recruiting process in multiple sports including lacrosse, soccer, football, baseball, crew and track, to name a few. Geoff travels extensively throughout the US, visiting colleges and meeting with coaches and college counselors. Geoff worked for Dunbar Educational Consultants prior to joining Educational Futures as a partner in 2012.
Carolyn Kalahar has been providing administrative support for Educational Futures consultants, students and families for over two decades. Carolyn has recently been appointed a Partner for her countless contributions to the high standard of performance that we offer our students and families.
Our services are typically utilized by:
- Families needing professional guidance for their children's educational planning
- College-bound, university and transfer students
- Parents seeking an Independent School option for their child
- Students requiring specialized programs in such areas as intensive English, gifted or learning disabilities and interim or gap year opportunities
- Families living outside the United States requiring assistance in planning school visits
