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K-12 Private School Admissions Process
Resources Directory |
Monthly Planner - March
By now your student
has received the Admission Status Letters in the mail. The schools that
your student has applied to have responded to your student’s Application
for Admissions by Accepting your student for admissions, Wait Listing your
student for admissions, or have denied them admission.
Please note each response requires immediate action on you and your
student’s part.
If you and your student spent the Private School Admissions Process
Waiting Period - the time between completing the process and receiving
notification from the schools of your student’s admissions status --
proactively (refer
to April's newsletter for details) and you received Acceptance Letters
to your student’s first, second or third place schools a decision has
already been made as to which school your student will be attending.
Congratulations, your student is now on the path to what should be an
enriching experience!
Immediately after the initial "celebration," contact the school and tell
them your student will be attending their school. Each school is different
but most provide a means to communicate your student’s choice with them,
via mail or by phone. There might also be a payment or contract that will
need to be signed and returned to satisfy any commitment or financial
obligations.
If your student is receiving any financial aid from the school make sure
that you are clear on all benefits associated with these funds as well as
any restrictions or obligations.
Please contact all the other schools that you might have received an
Acceptance for Admissions or Wait List Letters from and explain to them
that your student has been accepted for admissions at another school and
will not be attending their school. This is extremely important. There are
other students who might be on the Wait List for these schools that are
anxiously waiting to find out their status -- this notification will open
up an available spot.
If your student has been put on the Wait List for Admissions contact the
school and explain how important it is that your student be considered
when a spot is made available. Again, each school is different but most
provide a means to communicate your student’s interest to remain on or be
deleted from the Wait List for Acceptance. When you contact the school,
make sure that you note a contact’s name and phone number that you can
follow up with periodically until the Admissions Process for that current
period has been completed. Please note that this process can continue
through the first month of school in the fall.
Remember there are several factors that have been considered in the
Admissions Process including the overall combined "personality" of the
class appropriate to your student’s grade and the targeted school
demographics. Most Wait Lists are not based on what name is at the top of
the list.
If your student has been denied admission to the schools that you have
applied to it is now time to activate Plan B -- the alternate educational
path your student will take to receive the best possible education
available to them. Alert your neighborhood school that your student will
be attending or finalize age appropriate curriculum regarding home
schooling. And as always continue to network with other parents to
exchange ideas and pool resources.
It can’t be stressed enough that the Private School Admissions Process is
on going. Do not become defensive and not take advantage of the wisdom
that you can receive from the admissions officers that have reviewed your
student’s application, test scores, transcripts and recommendations.
Contact the school and ask to speak with an admissions officer for the
sole purpose of finding out what you and your student need to accomplish
over the next 12-18 months to increase their chance of acceptance for next
year.
March and April are also the prime months to research and finalize your
student’s summer plans. A student’s time spent idly during the summer is
detrimental to their academic success.
There are several enrichment programs - free and for a cost -- available
for all age groups. Summer school is also an option and recommended if
available at the student’s new or current school. If your student is old
and mature enough summer employment or community service provides
immediate financial and emotional gratification and is also highly
recommended.
Alice Dickerson,
author,
"I’m going to high school. A Guide to the Private High School Admissions
Process"
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