School Search Timeline

AUGUST

• Finalize schools that you plan to inquire about.

SEPTEMBER

• Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online.
• Check with schools to see if they’re participating in a local school fair where you can gather material and impressions from several schools at once.
•  Review admissions materials to determine which schools to visit.
• Note and keep a calendar of pertinent deadlines for admission and financial aid and procedures, such as when schools start taking reservations for individual tours and interviews.
• Register for standardized tests—the SSAT or ISEE (for middle school and high school).
• Review the test websites to learn procedures and see sample questions; consider whether you want to buy a test-preparation book.
• Call to schedule individual tours, interviews, class visits, and “shadow days.” Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and how to make an appointment.

OCTOBER

• Visit open houses.
• Call to schedule tours, interviews, class visits, and school-based tests if you haven’t already.
• Attend information sessions and take tours.
• Finalize school(s) to which you will make application.
• Take standardized test.

NOVEMBER

• Follow through on activities you may not have completed, such as scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests.
• Continue to watch for open houses you may want to attend.
• Start lining up teacher recommendations.
• Start working on applications, financial aid forms, student questionnaires, essays, etc.

DECEMBER

• Continue to watch for any open houses of interest.
• Complete any remaining applications, questionnaires, etc. Most application materials are due in January or early February.

JANUARY

• Pay attention to deadlines: Most schools’ applications, tests scores, references, transcripts, and financial aid forms are due in January or February.
• Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester.

FEBRUARY

• Don’t miss the deadlines: Most schools’ applications are due in February at the latest.
• Do school visits or shadow days for the student if you haven’t already.

MARCH

• Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March.
• Watch for financial aid decisions about this same time.

APRIL

• Sign and return enrollment contracts and deposits.

MAY TO SEPTEMBER

• Attend events and activities for new parents and students during spring and summer.