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Monthly Planner - January
During this New Year please
take time to make a commitment to strengthen your resolve for obtaining
the best impossible education available for your student. True
educational reform will be initiated and fostered by parents who are
determined that their students will receive the necessary framework for
them to succeed in this knowledge-based economy -- the only direct path
for this to occur is through education.
It is now time to exercise due diligence.
Schedule time to review all necessary paperwork including application
forms and schoolwork samples. Are they neat and legible? Are they
clearly identified with your student's name, address and phone number?
Also remember to make copies for your records, of all paperwork before
submitting them to the prospective schools.
Follow up with those individuals that you and your students have asked
to prepare recommendations. Inquire if they have accomplished this task
and thank them both verbally and in writing. Offer to provide additional
information or assistance if they haven't and, if necessary, contact the
schools letting them know now that there might be a delay with this
section of your student's application.
If your student has an advocate that has been speaking to the schools on
your student's behalf, speak with them about your student's chance for
acceptance based on the current pool of applicants.
Contact the schools to make sure that they have received all test
scores. If they haven't make a copy and send or fax the test results you
have received to the schools with a note stating you will call the
testing bureau immediately so the scores will be sent directly to the
school.
Compile all your financial records and, if necessary, seek expert
financial assistance for tax preparation to make sure that your taxes
are filed immediately. Accurate and truthful personal accounting records
will assist the financial aid committee make sound decisions on how much
your student should receive in the form of financial aid to attend the
school once they have been accepted. Remember you are asking for a
school to make a financial commitment to your student for their entire
academic career at that institution -- honesty is the best policy.
Continue an open dialog with your student. Reiterate the importance of
education to them. Reassure that their self-worth is not based on what
school they attend but that they are judged by their level of effort and
performance reflected through their schoolwork. Listen to their concerns
and come to a resolve that is satisfactory for everyone involved. Most
importantly, during this very stressful period, verbalize and
demonstrate your love for them.
Last but not least, it is very important that you now start sharing the
knowledge that you and your student have learned about the private
school admissions process. Success is not based solely on if your
student has been accepted into the school of their choice. Instead
success will be realized once the quality of education for all children
improves as a whole. By communicating with other parents with
academically motivated students and sharing what you have learned a
network is established for lifelong learning for everyone.
Alice Dickerson, author,
"I'm going to high school. A Guide to the Private High School Admissions
Process"
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