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Process Overview

Independent schools come in all shapes and sizes. From the more local day options to boarding schools, families can choose to apply to schools based on size, distance, philosophy, and setting. There are 300 Boarding Schools in the United States and even more day school options. Applying to these schools can be a bit labor intensive and competitive.

 

Process

1. The first step is for a family to determine how far their search will take them. Will you stay local with only day school options or expand the search regionally or even beyond this region? How far away are you willing to go for a day or boarding option?  Reach out to the schools you are considering to request a catalog and application.
2. Make your list. There really isn’t a magic number for how many schools you should apply to, although 3-6 is common. The list should be populated mostly by schools that are in a strong admissibility range. These would be schools that the student has a good (75%) chance of being accepted to. Stretch schools are where a student can dare to dream. It is a great fit for the student, but it is also extremely competitive. Talk to admissions personnel at the schools you are interested in about the profiles of students who do well at their schools so you will know if it is a good fit.
3. Once the list has been honed down, make your appointments for tours and interviews. A good time to call about this is in August and September. Independent schools begin their process in the fall, where students will typically tour and interview at a school. Try to time your visits for days that your current school is not in session to limit the amount of days your child is missing school.
4. Most schools have application deadlines in January or very early February. Filling out the application can be the longest and most laborious part of the process. Applications will ask for general information, as well as contain essays for students and parents, and graded essays. Most schools will also require the students to submit SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) scores or the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). More information on standardized tests can be found in the standardized test collection (http://digitalhandbookssap.omeka.net/collections/show/2). The schools will want a copy of your current school transcript. The stronger your academic record at your school the more impressive the transcript. They will also want recommendations from the English and Math teachers. Request recommendations and transcripts from your current school early enough so you have them on time for the application deadline. Most schools require a third recommendation. It is important that this recommendation shed a different light on the student than the English and math recommendation. This could be a teacher who knows your child in a very different way or has worked very closely with him or her. It can also be the child’s advisor. Many families opt for a coach, music teacher, drama teacher, voice coach, etc. to write a recommendation and shine a light on a student’s particular passion. It is also polite to have the student formally ask the teacher as well. Please do this in a timely manner, no later than mid-November so that the person writing your recommendation has ample time to prepare and submit the work. It is recommended to make copies of your work. If the application is submitted online, it is wise to do your writing on a word document then cut and paste your work into the online form. Make sure that you submit or have your school submit completed applications on time. Double check those due dates!
5. The independent schools notify families of their decisions on or around March 10. Some schools will do this online or via email, while others stick with the traditional vehicle of the US Post Office. Accepted students are given roughly a month to decide on whether or not to enroll. Schools will invite accepted students for a “second” visit day. These days are designed for the family who really has not made up their mind on whether or not to attend a particular school and not for those who are definitely going to attend. Once a deposit is made, it is not refundable. It is usually 10% of the total tuition for the year. Once you have decided to enroll in a school, it is important and proper to promptly notify other schools that you were admitted to or waitlisted at that you will not be attending.
6. A student who is denied admission to a school first and foremost needs support from their family and peers. It can be difficult ― and perhaps even the first time a student has experienced this. Know that schools look long and hard at each applicant to determine whether or not a student is a good fit. In most cases, there are many more applicants who are good fits than the school has spots for. Admission offices encourage families to call and ask why the student was denied admission. The wait pool is the most complicated of the situations. Students in the wait pool must indicate promptly whether or not they wish to remain on the list. Remain positive, let the schools know you are happy that you were not denied and you hope you will be able to move off the wait list if the school is your first choice.