This book that you are currently holding in your hands contains expert advice and precious nuggets of wisdom, previously guarded by the privileged few. For generations, parents (let's be honest, mostly mothers) used these highly effective strategies to send their children to prestigious and popular independent schools in San Francisco. As an independent school graduate, an independent school teacher, and an independent school parent (with a Master's degree in Education), consider me the ultimate insider, ready and eager to pass my decades of knowledge on to you. In the coming chapters, I will share priceless tips and tricks, illuminating stories and real-life examples, teaching you the insider's method of applying to K-8 independent schools. In other words, reading this book will significantly increase your chances of earning a spot for your child at a top choice independent school in San Francisco.

But perhaps you're asking yourself, is this book really for me?

The answer is a resounding yes, without a doubt, this book is for you.

Here's why:

IF YOU ARE NEW TO SAN FRANCISCO, this book is for you because outside of New York City, there is no place in America more competitive than San Francisco. The most popular schools list Kindergarten acceptance rates as low as 25% because this city is awash with an extremely impressive population of wonderful families dying to secure a spot for their child. There are also more than 25 schools from which to choose with vastly different cultures and communities. So, how do you navigate this competitive and diverse environment? That's right, you need this book.

IF YOU ARE A SAN FRANCISCAN, this book is for you because the independent school landscape has dramatically changed since you were a kid. New, dynamic and innovative schools have been built from the ground up and long-established schools have changed their curriculum and culture dramatically. In short, this book will help you navigate this new landscape and guide you through this extremely stressful process.

IF YOUR CHILD IS TRANSFERRING INTO AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL, this book is for you because the world of independent schools operates differently from the public school system. Each of the approximately 25 independent schools in San Francisco has unique attributes that may or may not resonate with your child's needs or family's values. So whether you're new to the independent school universe (and at one stage I was too!), or this isn't your first rodeo, this book is for you.

Regardless of which category describes you best, you are sure to find this book extremely valuable in the coming months. So, are you with me? Are you ready? Take a deep breath and let's do this. Together.
About the Author: Tiffany Claflin grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, where exceptional schools are the norm and elite colleges and universities are a dime a dozen. As a young girl, Claflin was taught to embrace the core values of hard work and the pursuit of intellectual excellence, immersed in the world of independent schools: The Park School, Milton Academy and Middlebury College. Eventually, she earned my Masters in Education in 1996, then moved to San Francisco, ready to work hard and put her teaching skills to the test. As luck would have it, Claflin was quickly hired as a substitute teacher by several independent schools (San Francisco Day, Chinese American International School and French American International School), but ultimately chose to teach at a Japanese bi-lingual preschool as the English teacher.

The first few months on the job, Claflin consistently witnessed preschool parents freaking out about the Kindergarten application process. Because she had first-hand knowledge of their children and because she had inside information about these school communities, Claflin got to work. She met parents at the local coffee shop after school and started unofficially teaching them about the application process. Claflin also wrote recommendation letters, hoping to gently persuade admissions directors that these wonderful families deserved a coveted spot at their schools.

After several years of successfully coaching on the side, Claflin finally decided to quit her teaching job and make placement counseling her full-time profession. Since founding Claflin Educational Consulting, she has helped many parents, teaching time-tested strategies and insider tips and tricks of the trade.