Harvard Square Educational Associates
Education is not a preparation for life;
education is life itself.
— John Dewey
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed,
and some few to be chewed and digested.
— Francis Bacon
Education is not the filling of a pail,
but the lighting of a fire.
— William Butler Yeats
To be truly ignorant,
be content with your own knowledge.
— Zhuangzi  ·  庄子
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We look forward to building an educational future with you. Harvard Square Educational Associates offers private, individualized counsel to students and their families navigating the American educational system — from primary school through graduate school.

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Our Work

A different approach to understanding American elite education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

What We Do

Associates with over 85 collective years in American educational institutions — professors, directors of admissions, trustees, and legal counsel.

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Harvard Square

Process

Each student is unique. We provide a service tailored to the individual — from initial consultation through post-enrollment follow-up.

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Columbia University

Placement & Admissions

Students we have assisted have been accepted at Harvard, MIT, Yale, Columbia, Oxford, and more than forty other distinguished institutions.

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Whig Hall, Princeton University

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about our services, our timeline, and how we may be of assistance to your family.

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"The only permanent wealth is what you carry around in your head."

Felix Rohatyn  ·  Special Adviser to the CEO of Lazard Fréres & Co.
Former United States Ambassador to France

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Our Team

Edward Cunningham

Edward Cunningham

A graduate of Milton Academy and Georgetown University, Prof. Edward Cunningham also earned an A.M. at Harvard University and a Ph.D. at M.I.T. He brings to HSEA an understanding of elite American academic institutions and how they select students, how they evaluate candidates, and what they genuinely value. He has advised families navigating the most competitive admissions environments and speaks and writes on education, institutional culture, and the evolving landscape of American higher education. He also teaches and directs research programs at Harvard Kennedy School.

Nancy Humick

Nancy Humick

Nancy Humick brings rare institutional insight to every family she counsels and spent more than two decades inside some of America's most selective independent schools. As Director of Admission and Financial Aid at Kent Place School, ranked by the Wall Street Journal among the top 20 secondary schools in the United States, she reviewed thousands of applications and developed a nuanced, firsthand understanding of what schools are looking for in students. Nancy has worked closely with public and independent schools regarding admission candidates and educational issues in both the United States and internationally. She holds a Masters Degree in Teaching, and has been active for many years with educational associations such as the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Coalition of Girls' Schools, the Secondary Schools Admissions Test Board, Educational Records Bureau and the College Board. Nancy and her husband Tom have a daughter, Nicole Colson, who teaches English at Milton Academy, and who was educated at The Peck School, St. Paul's School, Williams College, Oxford University and Harvard University.

Thomas Humick

Thomas Humick

Thomas Humick is an attorney with over 30 years of experience representing and serving on independent and public school boards across the Northeast. As a former partner at Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP, he developed a deep working knowledge of how schools operate, govern themselves, and make institutional decisions. This knowledge proves invaluable when counseling families through the admissions process. A published author on educational law, he is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has been recognized in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Law.

At HSEA, our associates are recognized leaders in education and have served for over 85 collective years as professors, directors of admissions, board members, and legal counsel for top US and European academic institutions. We possess rich and varied experiences. Some of our associates are professors at leading American universities with long-standing ties to American educational systems. Others have unique insight into primary and secondary school options gained through their work as directors of admissions or trustees of leading independent schools.

We work with students who are seeking an education at a primary school, secondary school, college, university or graduate school in the United States. Through a partnership with both the student and their family, we customize an approach to the admissions process that allows the student to find the best match for his or her interests and abilities.

The process of selecting and applying to the right schools can feel complex and overwhelming. Harvard Square Educational Associates' depth of knowledge about secondary schools and universities allows us to navigate confidently the process of applying to and selecting the right school. Each school has its own distinct culture. We are unique in the way that we combine a broad spectrum of cultural experience and expertise — allowing us to achieve a successful educational match for each student.

A Note on Integrity

Harvard Square Educational Associates are not agents and we do not accept money from the tutors we recommend or any schools or organizations for placement. This independence is the foundation of our counsel. We are therefore able to maintain full integrity throughout the process, tailoring the experience exclusively to the needs of the student and their family.

Education is not simply a matter of admissions. We are committed to guiding students towards a successful matriculation and a fulfilling academic experience that will serve them throughout their lives.

If you are interested, please contact us with any initial inquiries.

Each student is unique, and at HSEA we are committed to providing a service that is tailored to the individual. We do not believe in a "typical" application process. A successful admissions approach generally includes the following steps:

i. Meet with students and their families

Communication is essential. Through structured conversations, we work towards the best possible match for each student. Through articulating interests and desires, the student often arrives at a clearer sense of what they seek in an educational experience — understanding that is crucial to success both in and beyond the application process.

ii. Provide ongoing advice on courses and activities

We believe in the value of long term guidance, preparation and communication. This is why we provide ongoing advice throughout the year on academic courses and extracurricular activities to explore interests, develop strengths, and create a genuine narrative.

iii. Assess needs for summer programs or language preparation

Preparation is essential for admission and for long-term educational success. We identify key resources to advance the student's preparation, ranging from English language programs and test preparation (TOEFL, SSAT, PSAT, ACT, SAT) to cultural immersion experiences.

iv. Design a considered list of schools

We help students create a list reflecting their abilities and interests. By categorizing schools as "likely", "possible", and "reach", we help students avoid lists that are too narrow or insufficiently ambitious.

v. Review applications and essays

We guide students through every element of the application: brainstorming essay topics, organising teacher recommendations, and refining application materials for each school's supplementary requirements.

vi. Accompany students to interviews and campus visits

Campus visits can be decisive in identifying the right match. We prepare students for interviews and are willing to accompany them — ensuring each visit is enriching, well-prepared, and informative.

vii. Manage the timetable

From testing through final applications, we create a personalised calendar clarifying deadlines across Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision timelines. We help students navigate the strategic advantages of each.

viii. Counsel on matriculation decisions

When acceptance letters arrive, our work continues. We consult with students and families to assist in a final selection that will lead to long-term satisfaction and success.

ix. Follow-up after enrollment

When a student matriculates, our conversations continue. We can work with the student to identify advanced internships, laboratory programs, travel experiences, and other activities that further their educational goals and strengthen their professional future.

Please contact us with any inquiries to begin a conversation about your student's educational future.

The following is a list of schools that have accepted students we assisted:

Bishop Strachan
Branksome Hall
Far Hills Country Day School
Havergal
Marymount School
Milton Academy
Pingry
St. Clements
The Park School
The Peck School
Belmont Hill School
Bergen Catholic
Blair Academy
Choate Rosemary Hall
Christian Brothers Academy (CBA)
Concord Academy
Dana Hall School
Delbarton School
Emma Willard
Ethel Walker
Groton School
The Hill School
The Hotchkiss School
Kent Place School
Kent School
Lawrenceville School
Marymount
Milton Academy
Miss Porter's School
Phillips Academy Andover
Phillips Exeter Academy
Pingry
St. Andrews School
St. George's
St. Paul's School
Tabor Academy
Virginia Episcopal
Westminster School
Babson College
Bentley University
Boston College
Boston University
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon
The College of New Jersey
Colgate University
Columbia University
Connecticut College
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Gettysburg College
Harvard University
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Johns Hopkins SAIS
Lafayette College
MIT
McGill University
Middlebury College
Mt. Holyoke College
Muhlenberg College
New York University
Providence College
Rutgers University
St. Lawrence University
UC Berkeley
UC Los Angeles
UC San Diego
University of Chicago
University of Delaware
University of Michigan
University of Oxford
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rochester
University of Southern California (USC)
University of Toronto
University of Vermont
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College
Villanova University
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University
+ Why should I use Harvard Square Educational Associates?

We are committed to providing an individualized plan for every student who is interested in attending school in the United States. Providing personalized attention through every step of the application process, we tailor a process that fits a student's unique needs and interests. Our combination of expertise and care allows us to transform the process from an experience that is overwhelming to one that is inspiring.

+ What makes us different?

Our combination of experience makes us uniquely suited to counsel students through the process of succeeding in the American educational system. We are also committed to the educational experience beyond the admission process. Success is not merely measured by where the student gains admission, but in that student's experience where he or she matriculates.

+ At what point should families contact us for support?

Students in the United States begin submitting applications in the fall prior to the year of their matriculation. However, many students start the testing process a year to a year and a half prior to submitting applications. The earlier we hear from students and their families, the better we can serve them in crafting a personalized and appropriate timeline. We can also work with students already enrolled in a US institution who would like to identify high-impact internships, travel programs, and other experiences that will strengthen their résumé.

+ Where do we begin?

Please contact us with your inquiries. We will respond promptly and with full discretion to begin the conversation about your student's educational future.

We welcome inquiries from families.

Whether you are beginning to explore options or are ready to begin the application process, please do not hesitate to reach out. All inquiries are treated with complete discretion.

Address

Harvard Square Educational Associates, LLC
P.O. Box 882
Osterville, MA 02655 USA

Telephone

+1 (862) 251-2233

Harvard Square Educational Associates, LLC has no affiliation with Harvard University.

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All information submitted via this form is treated with complete discretion and will not be shared with any third party. Harvard Square Educational Associates, LLC has no affiliation with Harvard University.

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