Applying to Private Schools: What You Need To Know
There are many reasons that families choose to send their children to private schools: the desire to attend a religious day school, dissatisfaction with local public schools, or benefits such as smaller class sizes and more individualized attention. Whatever the reason, applying to private school is an involved process that takes time and preparation. This is the time of year when private schools open their application process for admittance to the following year. Whether you are applying for your child’s first time in a private school or to advance from one school to the next, here are some tips for getting through the process:
- Make a list of schools: Even if you have one particular school in mind, private school admission can be very competitive, so putting all your eggs in one basket is risky. Think about what qualities you desire in a private school, then do your homework to make a list of potential schools. Talk to friends and colleagues, research the schools online, and make sure the schools offer the type of atmosphere and services that are important to you and your child.
- Visit the schools: You can only learn so much from reading about a school or hearing from a friend how great it is. To ensure that both you and your child feel comfortable, take the time to visit the campuses of all the schools your child will be applying to. Not only does this help you to assess the school, but it also demonstrates to the school that you are genuinely interested in attending. Many schools host open houses for prospective students which include campus tours and informative sessions about the merits of the school. If you are unable to attend an open house or there isn’t one being offered, contact the school to see if you can arrange a private tour and a meeting with an admissions official who can answer your questions.
- Prepare for the SSAT/ISEE: Many private schools require students to take the SSAT or ISEE. Both are standardized tests designed to measure students’ abilities based on their age and grade level. The tests measure basic verbal, math and reading skills. Each test is offered at various levels based on grade level. Since the test score is one of the metrics used to make admissions decisions, it’s important to help your child be prepared so they can perform at their best ability on the day of the test. Synergy Academics offers excellent test preparation tutoring to help students so they are confident and able to do well on the test.
- Prepare for the interview: Private schools often require a one-on-one interview with prospective students. This can be a stressful experience for some students, so it’s important to prepare them and relieve any anxiety beforehand. Find out what the dress code is, and then ensure that your student’s interview clothing is on par with the school’s expectations. Make sure to read up on the school so your student can demonstrate knowledge about the school and what it offers and/or is known for. You should also give your child the opportunity to practice for the interview. For many young students, this will be their first one-on-one interview with an adult. Make sure they know what to expect by reviewing potential questions and ensuring they have practiced and intelligent replies ready. At the same time, don’t over coach them. This will only serve to make them nervous and appear unnatural. Prepare older students to answer potential questions about current events or about books they have read. Synergy Academics offers mock interviews for students to help desensitize them in preparation for their upcoming interview. Be sure to emphasize etiquette such as shaking hands, how to address the interviewer, saying thank you and so on. Lastly, express confidence to your child that you know they can handle this experience — send them off with a big hug and a “you got this!”
- Submit an excellent application: Make sure the application is filled out completely and accurately. Be sure to show your child in his or her best light. Include all activities and accomplishments in order to give the admissions committee a thorough and positive idea of who he or she is. If essays are required, make sure that they are not only creative and thoughtful but also well written with no grammatical or spelling errors. Include all supplemental information required (letters of recommendation, school transcripts, standardized test scores, and so on) as well as items or additional information that might be interesting to the admissions committee. These might include art portfolios, athletic achievements/awards, personal recommendations, community service hours, etc.
- Don’t be late! This should go without saying, but make sure that you meet all deadlines for submitting a complete application, including all supplemental materials. Don’t wait until the last minute just in case you encounter computer issues or other problems that delay your submission. You want to make the best impression possible and a late or rushed application might jeopardize that.
Good luck with the process! Synergy Academics is here to help.
