Why Not Consider…Wednesday: Application Tips for Independent or Private Schools

If you are planning on applying to an independent or private school, here are a few tips to make sure you do all you can to ensure that your child has a better chance of being admitted.

Start Early: Make a List of Important Dates and Note Key Pieces of Information
We recommend starting to look at schools and researching them at least one full year before your child starts school. Do your research on the internet and find out: 1) dates of admissions deadlines, 2) things that you will have to gather together for the school’s application that may take time for you to acquire (ie recommendations from teachers, a report from your current school, is there an admissions test your child will have to take and does the school need your child’s test results), 3) what kinds of essays you will have to write and how many (so you can plan your time accordingly), 4) the date of the school’s Open House and 5) when the school conducts tours and interviews. Paste this list to your fridge and look at it often. Make sure you leave yourself enough time to accomplish each task and call early to schedule tours and interviews.

Show Your Face at School Events and Network With Other Parents
If you start early, you can find out about special events that the school has that are open to the public and make a point to attend and be seen at these events. For instance, some schools have auctions. By attending the auction, you will be able to meet and network with other parents whose children already attend the school. While you are talking to them, you can get information about the school, how they like it there, and what their impressions are of the application process. You might even want to ask the parent if you can have their contact information so you can call them if you have any questions later on. Where your child is old enough to be applying for themselves, your child can attend events, in addition, like school plays or games. Both parent and child should be involved in the application process. During the interview, parents and children can make mention of events they have attended and any positive impressions the event made on the family regarding the school.

Alternatively, you can try to seek out parents in the community whose children go to the various schools in the park, at classes or at other activities. Your child can speak with other children who are students at the school to get information on how they like the school.

Many schools will have a section where they ask you to list parents or families that you know on their application. These parents may be asked for their impression of you and/or your child and what they say about you can help bolster your child’s application.

Show Interest by Contacting the School Early for a Tour
Waiting until the Open House is often too late. By then, most of the spots for tours may have been taken. Show that you are interested by calling the school in September or as directed on the website and requesting a tour.

Attend the School’s Open House and the HFA Open House Even if You have Already Gone on a Tour
Make a point to say hello to the Admissions Officer who gave you the tour and the Director of Admissions. Make sure that you say your name and try to mention something that really impressed you about the school when you went on the tour. At this point, you are trying to have those people who will be making a decision about your child’s application remember your name and face. Where the admissions department looks at the name of the applicant and the parent’s names, and does not do a blind read, you want that admissions officer to say: yes, I know this person and met them several times. They really were interested in the school. Let’s see what they/their child has to say. You do not want the officer to say: Applicant Smith. Let’s see. What do we have here.

Write the Best Essay You Can- Then Rewrite, Rewrite, Rewrite
Remember when you stayed up all night in school to write an essay that was due the next day. This is not what you want to do for your child’s application, and this is not what your child should do for their application. Start early. Write the best essay you can then set it aside for a bit and don’t look at it. Then, reread it and make changes. Show it to your spouse, your friends, your family and have them read it and give you their impressions. Make changes.

Make sure that you answer the questions asked on the application. Additionally, we know it is a lot of work but don’t try to write one essay for each school and then just send that one in for the next school. The admissions officers will probably know what you are up to and not be impressed.  Try to incorporate information about the school in your answer. For instance, if the school asks you why are you interested in the school- find reasons that you are interested in the school that match the way they market their school. For instance, if a school prides itself on being a progressive school, you would probably want to mention that you are interested in a progressive education for your child.

Get the application in a bit ahead of time.

Leave Nothing to Chance: After You Have Sent In the Application Follow Up
Make sure to send the application in a week or so before the deadline. Call the Admissions Director or department and check up to make sure that they received your application. If they haven’t you will still have time to get them another copy by the admissions deadline.

Take the Interview Seriously
Dress nicely- we might even recommend dressing like you would for a job interview. Arrive on time or a bit early. Be pleasant.  Firmly shake hands with the admissions officer.  Smile and make eye contact with the person conducting the interview.  Be aware of what your body language is telling the admissions officer. We recommend not sitting all the way back in your chair and getting too comfortable or crossing your arms.  Both child’s parents should be on the same page regarding why you are at that school and why you want your child to attend. Don’t get into an argument (with your spouse, ex or the admissions officer) at the interview.  Don’t say something in the interview that would contradict what you wrote in the essay.

Make sure you do incorporate the things you have done during the course of the year to get to know the school better and make a decision to apply in the conversation. For instance, one idea might be to mention what a lovely auction the school had last year and how you really enjoyed talking with the parents there. Another idea might be to comment on the school’s play and how impressed you were with the professionalism of the students involved.

Now breathe. . . and go to our schools page  if you live in or around Hoboken and/or go start checking out schools websites. 

Good luck!