Ben Bolté Admissions and College Counseling Placement

What is a quote that you love?

Two actually:

“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them.”  – Albert Einstein

“Some things are too strange to be believed but nothing is too strange as to have happened.” – Thomas Hardy

What is your favorite smell?

Gardenia – it smells like what I imagine ambrosia of the gods must be like.

What is your favorite book?

“The Sun Also Rises” by HemingwayThe first time I finished reading it I immediately started it again – the clear and tightly wound prose of love, lust for life, loss, and little moments.


Ben is Practice Leader for the Key Administrator Practice in our Search & Consulting Group. He also serves as a Placement Associate for Admissions and College Counseling. During a 35+ year tenure with Carney, Sandoe & Associates, Ben has amassed a deep network of education professionals. His work since 2002 has centered on retained head of school and senior administrator searches, both domestic and international.

Ben’s recent assignments have included search work at Packer Collegiate Institute (NY), Avon Old Farms School (CT), Taipei American School, American School in Paris, Shorecrest Preparatory School (FL), Polytechnic School (CA), American School in London, New Canaan Country School (CT), Breck School (MN), and Lake Highland Preparatory School (FL).

Previous Experience

Prior to 2000, Ben served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CS&A, managing all operations, placement services, candidate recruitment, technology development, and conference services. He began originally as a CS&A Placement Associate conducting mathematics and science placement, and then as Senior Placement Associate and Director of Placement Services, conducting top administrator placement and search for division and assistant heads, deans, and directors of admission, college advising, finance, and development.

Ben taught English and served as Director of Admission at The Community School (ID). He has also worked as Director of Administration and Finance for a major Boston church, as a consultant to non-profit organizations in the areas of management and strategy development and implementation, and as a lacrosse coach for Belmont High School and for Belmont youth soccer and lacrosse associations. Growing up an Army brat, he moved 19 times in his first 22 years after being born in Germany.

Education & Interests

Ben graduated from the Hill School (PA), then from Oberlin College with a B.A. in English and from Middlebury College (Bread Loaf School of English, Middlebury & Oxford) with an M.A. in English.

Ben spent 10 years as a H.O.P.E. volunteer, is a father of three, and is a past parent at Fessenden School, Brooks School, and Belmont Hill School. He enjoys hiking, cooking, tennis, travel, and watching professional soccer and college lacrosse.