Expert Guidance for the College and Independent School Admissions Process
Personalized, experienced counseling for families navigating college, boarding school, and private day school admissions.
Our Services
ADMISSIONS SERVICES
College list development with expert guidance through the Common Application and University of California application process
Essay coaching and comprehensive application writing support
NCAA Eligibility Center assistance for prospective Division I and II student-athletes, along with advising on post-graduate year options and alternative educational pathways
Guidance and advocacy for students requiring academic accommodations
Secondary school list development with support through the Standard Application Online (SAO)
Concierge-style private college and secondary-school tours in which Harris ☥ Mead Group manages all logistics—travel, lodging, campus tours, and enriching cultural experiences—for students and their families.
TUTORING SERVICES
NED’S SECTION
Our Experience
The Harris ☥ Mead Group brings deep institutional knowledge and real-world experience to every student and family. Having spent decades in secondary and post-secondary education, we understand how admissions offices think, how schools evaluate students, and how to help young people present themselves honestly and confidently.
At heart, we are teachers. We loved our time in the classroom and carry that same care and empathy into our work with students today. We understand the pressures they face—both academically and emotionally—and we take great satisfaction in building relationships, easing anxiety, and helping each student discover and present their best self.
Slade Mead
Founder, Rhinebeck, NY
Slade Mead has eighteen years of experience in college counseling and served as Director of College Placement at Trinity-Pawling School. He has guided hundreds of students through the admissions process, supported more than 1,000 college essays, and worked with applicants to over 300 colleges and universities. Slade has advised students with diverse academic interests, athletic goals, and learning profiles.
He holds a degree from Yale College and a J.D. from the University of Connecticut.
Founder, Hanover, NH
Ned Harris
Ned Harris spent over two decades at the Gilman School in Baltimore, where he worked closely with students and families navigating both independent school and college admissions. Known for his steady guidance and thoughtful approach, Ned brings extensive experience helping students identify schools that align with their academic strengths and personal values.
Ned holds a degree from Yale College and PhD from the University of Texas.
Schedule a Free Consultation
We welcome the opportunity to learn more about your student and discuss how Harris ☥ Mead Group can support your family through the admissions process.
