When do private schools send acceptance letters

Extracurricular activities show private schools what your child is passionate about and help them see where he or she will fit into the student body. Activities in which he or she interacts with others, cooperates on a team, and helps others all show maturity and empathy. Just like colleges, most private schools use some form of standardized test scores to evaluate their applicants.

These standardized tests are another reason to start early, as doing so will allow your child time to prepare through self-study or tutoring. Other private and independent schools use a school-specific entrance exam or admissions test. This is common at charter and Catholic schools, among others.

Most private schools ask for two recommendations, often from math and English teachers. Additionally, you may be able to submit additional letters of support. If your child intends to play a sport at the new school, consider getting a letter from a coach. In addition, if your child is an athlete, get a letter from his or her coach. A musician? Then the band leader or music teacher. Your child does volunteer work? Get a letter from the organization. Make it as easy as possible for these people to help you.

Give them stamped, self-addressed envelopes. Remember to check with the school to make sure the materials have arrived. Virtually all schools will then schedule an interview with your child. Try to remind your child to take the interview seriously, without making him or her too nervous. If your child is applying for sixth grade or above, the school may schedule a writing exercise on the same day as the interview.

Although schools take the writing sample seriously, there is no need to hire a tutoring agency to prep your child. Read more interview tips from admissions directors, here. Many schools like to interview parents as well.

Your best strategy is to talk honestly about what you want for your child. Again, remember to relax. You are talking to an admissions director, not a dean of rejection; the person sitting across from you is genuinely interested in your child. Once your application process is complete, the best thing to do is sit back and relax.

You are not alone, nor the first to work through this process. While it is true that the most selective schools are full and have only waiting lists by the spring time, many good schools have openings, and as a result, they offer rolling admission programs throughout the summer.

Schools with Available Spaces. Visit www. Financial Aid Realities for the Late Applicant Before embarking on the late application process, families need to know a blunt fact.

At almost every school, financial aid is not available to late applicants. Financial aid deadlines are firm and aid was awarded earlier in the school year. If you need aid, check with each school you are interested in prior to completing an admission application.

How to Begin the Search? How does a family arriving late to the admission process approach a late spring or summer application? As we explain, the usual and systematic approach for the late applicant-albeit with compressed and accelerated steps -works best.

Before beginning the application process, ask yourself these questions:. Short Notice Application Resources However, even for a family familiar with private schools, a compressed admission time frame presents challenges. Do we have time to learn about each school? Can we build a complete picture of our child quickly? How can we focus on schools that will be appropriate places for our child?

Begin by reading Mastering the Private School Admissions Process , which provides a reference backbone for the application process. Admission Testing Admission tests will be a required part of any admission application. You will need to check with each admission office as to which test the school requires and when they want you to take the required exam s.

The goal always is to find a school where your child will be happy. Observe those deadlines scrupulously. Remember that your acceptance requires the return of the acceptance forms together with payment of a deposit for next year's tuition. If you applied for financial aid, you will also have received a letter detailing the terms of your financial aid package.

It is very important to read all the materials which the schools send you and deal with them immediately. You have a limited window of opportunity in which to respond. If, for some reason, you do not reply to the acceptance letter, the school will most likely give away your child's place. It is possible that the financial aid award letter will contain some perplexing news. What are your options? Discuss your situation with the school.