You’ve created your wish list, researched several schools, and gone to open houses. Now it’s time to create a short list of the schools your family wants to pursue and begin to apply.
Applying can be confusing if your family is new to independent schools. You have to complete several specific steps, some with rigid deadlines. It should help to keep in mind that the school’s admission office is there to assist in the process. The staff wants to be sure that the match between your child and the school is a good one.
What you’ll need to provide in the typical application package:
- A completed application form, available from the school website or by calling the admission office;
- Your child’s most up-to-date academic transcript, with grades, from his or her current school;
- Past standardized test results;
- Teacher recommendations;
- Results of a standardized admissions test and/or a school-administered entrance exam; and
- A formal interview with your child. (Note: Elementary schools often require other forms of evaluation, such as teacher observations, school-administered group tests, and/or individual diagnostic tests for young children. These methods offer a more useful measurement of a child’s readiness, intelligence, and developmental abilities.)
Depending on your child’s age, some schools may also ask for:
- parent statements;
- student writing samples; and
- student artwork/portfolios.
Don’t forget:
- All schools have different admission procedures. Review each school’s requirements carefully.
- Generally you must complete each selected school’s application form to trigger the rest of the admission process and be considered by the school. It’s up to you to keep track of what each school requires and make sure all the parts get turned in by that all-important deadline.
- Do not miss the application deadlines. But if you do: Realize that some schools have what are called rolling admissions and admit students throughout the academic year and during the summer.
