Apply to a School

You’ve defined your ideal learning environment, used the NAIS School Search to find schools that fit your child’s needs, and visited schools to finalize your list. Now it’s time to apply.

If your family is new to independent schools, you may feel a bit overwhelmed by the application process. There are several steps, and some have rigid deadlines. Just remember, the school’s admissions office is always happy to assist you.

Gather the documents you'll need to submit

• Again, check each school’s requirements, but the typical application packet includes:
• A completed application form, which you can download from the school website or request from the admissions office
• Your child’s most recent, up-to-date academic transcript, with grades
• Past standardized test results
• Teacher recommendations
• Results of a standardized admissions test and/or school-administered entrance exams
• A formal interview with your child

Elementary schools often replace the interview with teacher observations of the child, school-administered group tests, or individual diagnostic tests, which provide a more useful measure of a younger child’s readiness, intelligence, and developmental abilities.

Depending on your child’s age and interests, some schools may also ask for:

• Parent statements
• Student writing samples
• Student artwork/portfolios

Do not miss application deadlines

Create a calendar or use a checklist to track the various deadlines for each part of the application process at each school. If you miss a deadline, you will not be considered for admission in that round. (Some schools offer rolling admissions, which means they admit students throughout the year. Others will make you wait until next year.)

While each school follows its own schedule, here is a typical admissions timeline.

August (of the year before you want your child to attend)

• Define your ideal school
• Find schools that match your child’s needs
• Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list

September

• Attend local school fairs to gather material and impressions from multiple schools
• Browse schools’ websites to learn more about their programs and philosophies
• Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online
• Review admissions materials to determine which schools to visit
• Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you are considering applying
• Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and make appointments
• Register for any standardized tests required for admission
• Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase test-preparation books
• Call schools to schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and “shadow days”

October

• Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
• Visit schools during open houses, attend information sessions, and take tours
• Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply
• Take required standardized admission tests

November

• Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
• Continue to watch for open houses you may want to attend
• Request teacher recommendations from your child's current school
• Start working on applications, financial aid forms, student questionnaires, and essays

December

• Continue to watch for any open houses or school events of interest
• Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester
• Complete applications, questionnaires, and essays

January

• Pay attention to deadlines: Most applications are due in January or February, along with test scores, references, transcripts, and financial aid forms

February

• Don’t miss deadlines: Most schools’ applications are due in February at the latest
• Visit schools and/or have your child participate in a student shadow day

March

• Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March
• Watch for financial aid decisions
• If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend

April

• Sign and return enrollment contracts and send deposits

May to September

• Attend events and activities for new parents and students

Testing helps schools evaluate a student’s ability to perform and whether the school is appropriate for a particular applicant. Results are also used to place students into appropriate classes once they enroll.

Admissions officers realize test scores do not tell the full story about your child. Most place equal value on the applicant’s interview, record of achievement, teacher recommendations, and student/parent written statements.

Determine which tests the school requires

Preschools and elementary schools usually test students on-site. With you outside the room, a school psychologist or administrator will ask the child to demonstrate number and letter recognition, fine and gross motor skills, and other abilities. There’s no way to prepare other than to ask what will happen during the test and how the results will be interpreted. Knowing what to expect will help your child feel relaxed and comfortable. Many schools will also require intelligence test results, such as from the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI).

Middle and high schools usually require a standardized test that covers math and verbal skills as well as a writing assignment. Ask which test each school requires, and visit the website for testing locations, dates, and registration information. The two most common tests are:

• Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE)
• Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT)

Consider purchasing study guides so your child can practice the types of questions asked on the tests.

Many high schools and some middle schools will ask your child to write an essay, complete a short-answer questionnaire, or submit a writing sample with the application. Here are some tips to help your child approach this task with confidence.

• Read the instructions. If the school requests a page, don’t submit five lines or five pages. If answers are to be written by hand, don’t type.
• Start early. Writing under the pressure of a deadline only increases the tension.
• Brainstorm. Ask a teacher, tutor, or neighbor to help the student generate and clarify ideas.
• Tell stories. Vivid anecdotes that illustrate something about the child’s initiative, work ethic, and compassion make the strongest submissions.
• Be creative. If your child has special talents, ask if the school will accept fiction, poetry, or lyrics in place of an essay.
• Repurpose ideas. If you’re applying to several schools, look for common threads among the essay questions. A strong answer for one school could be adapted for another application.
• Proofread carefully. In particular, make sure the essay doesn’t say, “I have always wanted to attend School X,” if the application is for School Y.
• Be honest. Submit the student’s work, not a parent’s. You can make suggestions, and you can certainly proofread the final product, but let your child do the work.

Formal interviews are usually reserved for students entering sixth grade and up. The interview may occur during a walk around campus or in the admissions office. Parents may or may not be included. Here are some tips to help your child prepare.

• Avoid “yes/no” responses. The interview should give the school a sense of who your child is. Help your child practice thoughtful responses that reveal something about him or her.
• Think about what to say. While your child shouldn’t try to memorize answers, you can talk through typical interview questions:
  • “Tell me about yourself.” What makes your child special? Highlight talents, interests, experiences, and goals.
  • “Why do you want to come to this school?” Focus on something specific about the school and connect it to your child. For example, “I’ve been playing the flute for six years, and I know your orchestra is one of the best in the state. I hope I can try out.”
  • “What are you studying now?” Give positive answers to any question about your current school, subjects, or teachers. Don’t criticize or compare the two schools.
  • “Do you have any questions for me?” Absolutely! Help your student formulate a few questions that are not obvious and reflect your child’s interests. For example, “I enjoy creative writing. Does the school have a literary magazine or a writing club?”
• Practice. Ask another adult to spend 15 minutes asking typical interview questions, and then offer constructive advice.
• Don’t over-prepare. You want the school to get a sense of who your child really is, not what the child has been coached to say.

Admission officers consider many factors in deciding which students to admit, and each school weighs these factors (and more) in its own way:

• Past academic performance and previous school records
• Recommendations from teachers and counselors
• Special strengths and talents (academic, artistic, athletic)
• Results of standardized tests
• Insights from your child’s essay
• Impressions gathered from the formal interview
• Your child’s potential contribution to the life of the school
• Your alumni connections to the school
• Your sibling or other connections to the school
• Total number of applicants and spaces available

Deciding which school to attend

If your child is accepted at more than one school:

• Revisit your notes to make sure you’ve fulfilled your priorities
• Visit the schools again to remember what each has to offer
• Arrange for your child to do a “shadow day” with another student
• Ask to meet with teachers, especially in areas of interest to your child
• Talk to alumni and current families
• Encourage your child to talk to other students, especially ones with similar interests
• Follow your heart, and choose the school where you believe your child will thrive

Enrolling

Once you decide where your child will enroll:

• Contact the school you’ve chosen by the reply deadline
• Inform the other schools, so they can contact families on their waiting lists
• Return your signed enrollment contract and tuition deposit
• Celebrate!

What to do if your child is rejected

First, remember that the decision is not a reflection of your child’s abilities or promise. The decision may have come down to how many boys versus girls applied, or how many violinists, or how many soccer players.

In some cases, a “no” may be in your child’s best interest. For example, schools won’t admit a child that has needs the school can’t meet. Schools also seek a balance of students to ensure that all their activities, clubs, and sports are well-subscribed. Your child may stand out better at a different school.

• Ask the school for feedback. Tell the admissions staff you want to get information that can help your child do better in the future. For example, if the teacher recommendations don’t support your application, you can use that to make constructive changes in the future.
• Consider other schools. Look at schools that have rolling admissions, meaning they continue to accept applications until their classes are filled. The test provider, SSAT, also lists schools (searchable by location, type, and name) that may not be fully enrolled by their usual deadlines.

Is it possible for a problem parent to blow a good candidate’s chances? Definitely, say admissions directors. One says she’s written “no” on the file after meeting with a parent, before even meeting with the child.

Make sure you’re helping—not hurting—your child’s chances.

Do:

• Return calls from the admissions staff promptly
• Make time for school visits
• Be on time for appointments
• Meet all deadlines

Don’t:

• Call the admissions office too often
• Try to impress the staff with your business or social contacts
• Badmouth the school the child attends now or his or her current teachers
• Lie about the child’s needs
• Put excessive pressure on the child to perform
• Ask inappropriate questions like, “Is this school better than X School nearby?” (Schools don’t draw comparisons. They leave that to you.)
• Cancel appointments—especially more than once
• Miss deadlines

Though NAIS schools all meet rigorous standards, the differences among them are great. As useful as admission materials are, they don’t always convey a school’s atmosphere. That’s why a campus visit and personal interview are crucial.

Inquire at each school about how the tours and interviews are handled. Some schools schedule both at one time. Others offer tours first (sometimes in a group) and then invite students back later for an interview and a half-day or full-day classroom visit. Some schools ask the parents to sit in on the interview with the student; at others, an admissions officer will talk to the student alone. 

The Tour

When you schedule your visits, allow enough time to get a feel for each school. (Ask how much time you’ll need for a complete tour.) Bring your wish list, and, once again, be prepared to take notes.

Among things to notice during the tour:

• Do the students you see seem productive, engaged, and happy? 
• Is the campus clean, well-lighted, and secure?
• Does what you see reflect the school’s stated mission?
• Does the school feel like a community? Are students interacting with teachers outside and inside the classroom? 

How many questions are too many questions?

On the one hand, admissions officers definitely appreciate thoughtful questions. You’re there to find out if the school is a good fit for your child, and they want to provide you with the information you need in order to decide. 

On the other hand (especially during group tours) no one likes a time hog — the type who dominates discussion with questions that pertain only to their child or that could easily be answered in admissions materials or on the website. You don’t want to get yourself labeled as picky and difficult from the start. 

The Interview

Think of the interview as a two-way process: You should find out more about the school. And you should help the admission officers to better understand your child. It’s an opportunity to honestly discuss your child’s candidacy as well as ask questions of your own.

• What will students of your child’s age be expected to study? (This information may be available in a curriculum guide the admissions director can give you.)
• About how many hours of homework does the typical student have each week?
• How does the school measure individual achievement and progress — through grades, portfolio review, or something else?
• Does the school use a system of faculty advisers to guide students? How does it work?
• What is the school’s educational emphasis: Is it competitive? Nurturing?
• How deep are the offerings in any areas of particular interest to your child, such as music, writing, or a certain sport? 

About the teachers

• What’s the student-teacher ratio in your child’s grade?
  If this is an elementary school, how many teachers are in each room? 
• What are the backgrounds of the faculty? (You may be able to get this information from faculty profiles on the website or in admissions materials.) 
• Is the faculty diverse enough to provide a variety of kinds of role models?
• Do teachers have opportunities for continuing professional development?

About the administration

• Are faculty and staff involved in decision-making and curriculum development?
• What kind of counseling and support services are offered?
• What kind of leadership and governance does the school have?

School-family relations

• How does the school encourage parents to get involved?
• How, and how often, does the school communicate with the family?
• Can you call or email teachers when you need to? How difficult is it to make an appointment with the school head?

General questions

• Have students from schools your child has attended also attended here? Did this seem to be a good fit?
• What is the school’s attrition rate? 

Most important of all, at the end of each interview and visit, ask yourself:
Can you picture your child growing in this environment? 

Two tips for better interviewing

1. For comparison’s sake, ask the same questions at every school, and consistently look at the same factors that might be important to your child.
2. If your child has a strong talent or interest you hope will be nurtured, ask to meet with the appropriate staff adviser, whether the school newspaper supervisor or the lacrosse coach or the drama instructor.