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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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