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Monthly Planner - October
The importance of organization can’t be stressed enough during the Private
School Admissions Process. Knowing exactly where each application,
invitation and reference document is located; knowing what needs to be
read, scheduled, studied, paid, mailed or delivered; and knowing who needs
to be where and why, is paramount to the success of your student’s
acceptance into the school of their choice.
Set up a system - computer, file, desk top, box - where information is
kept and easily retrieved. Post a centrally located calendar clearly
noting appointments and due dates (I’ve found that the refrigerator is an
excellent location.) Remember, organization saves time and reduces stress.
During this preparation period your student should
continue to focus on their studies, extracurricular activities and
preparing for the admissions examinations. There are several publications
that provide worksheets and sample tests for your student. Please refer to
the
Publications section for suggested books to use.
Cultivating strong relationships with people who can serve as advocates
for your student is crucial. These people should have connections --
current or past parents, alumni of the school, teachers or administrators,
or be family or friends of these people -- to the schools you are
interested in having your student attend.
If
you don’t know anyone with ties to the schools you are interested in
attending, start the process by just talking to everyone that you know.
You would be surprised to discover the acquaintances known by co-workers,
friends and family once the topic of private school education is brought
up. Also call the admission officers at the schools you are interested in
and ask to speak with current parents at the school. Arrange to talk with
these parents over the phone, invite them to meet with you over coffee, or
ask to accompany them to upcoming school events. Get to know them and
introduce them to your student. Also talk to the current administrators at
your student’s school. Principals and headmasters talk to other principals
and headmasters and teachers talk to other teachers.
What you are trying to form is a relationship with someone that can speak
to the admissions officers on your student’s behalf.
To
better understand why having an advocate for your student is so important,
put yourself in the admission officer’s position. They need to make
decisions on incoming students based on previous school records, test
scores, admission applications, and limited interviews with the student
and their parents. Human nature dedicates, that because the personal
reference thought highly enough of the student to take the time and energy
to contact the school with a recommendation, there is an increase
probability that the admissions officer will view the student in a more
favorable light.
An
admissions application is much like a job application and the process
should be approached as such. First and foremost make at least two copies
of each application before you begin filling them out. These copies can be
used as draft copies, which can be erased and revised.
A
good portion of a private school admissions application form is dedicated
to crafting concise essays about your student. This task can be sometimes
daunting for both parent and student. A strategy to help focus more on
your student’s accomplishments and less on the actual task of "writing,"
is to first compile their resume. This should be an all-inclusive document
of every special task, accomplishment or moment your student has
experienced. Start the process by talking with your student, include your
spouse or other family members, and contact their teachers and family
friends. Unless you have kept a day-to-day journal that you can reference,
something will be forgotten if key people in your student’s life are not
included in this process. The excitement generated from remembering and
chronicling these events will help you view your child for who they are
through their accomplishments and not through the unconditional love of a
parent. This revised focus will aid in crafting a clear message you would
like to communicate to the admissions officers.
Of course actually writing a concise essay still needs
to be done. If you need some basic refresher information on this subject
please refer to the
Publications sections for suggested materials.
After carefully re-reading your student’s résumé you will find that "who
they are" will become apparent. "Josh has always been a leader." "Megan is
an athlete." "Music is a very important part in Scott’s life." "True
expression for Taylor is through his art." With a "thesis statement"
clearly defined, writing main points, sub-points with supportive
statements, an introduction and a conclusion in a conversational format
will come naturally for you.
If
your student is apprehensive about writing the required essays necessary
to complete the application, contact their current teacher(s) for added
writing assignments to be issued in school and make sure you save these
graded papers, so they can be included in the application packet as
samples of your students work. Another strategy to increase the writing
proficiency of your student is to purchase a journal and have them write
in it once a day.
Alice Dickerson, author,
"I’m going to high school. A Guide to the Private High School Admissions
Process"
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