By an IvyWise WiseStart™ Counselor
Congratulations! You’ve made the decision to apply to an independent or boarding school. There’s a lot to consider in this process, and often families are unsure of how this process works and what to expect. Here is an in-depth look at the private, independent, and boarding school admissions process, including where to start and how to prepare.
Your child’s age will determine how much input you, as the parent, should expect and require. The older your child is, the more your child should take ownership of this journey. It’s also important to keep your child’s grade level in mind. The key entry points for most independent schools are kindergarten (or pre-K, depending on the school), sixth grade (although some schools have a seventh-grade entry instead), and ninth grade. All other grades are dependent on attrition. Applications, regardless of the entry point, usually open around Labor Day each year.
Regardless of the entry point or grade to which you are applying, I recommend starting your applications as early as possible so that neither you nor your child get overwhelmed. The application process and materials will differ depending on your child’s age, so I have broken down a few common entry points to make it a little more digestible.
Parents, you are in full control of this process! Before diving in, however, you’ll need to consider your needs and goals. For example, if you are looking for pre-K or kindergarten, do you want a school that ends after fifth grade, eighth grade, or a school that goes all the way to 12th grade? If your child’s current school only goes to eighth grade, research which secondary schools their middle school graduates attend.
Remember that much like the college admissions process, the independent school admissions process is multi-faceted. In addition to your parent statement(s) and parent interview, there will more than likely be a small group playdate for your child. Here, the admissions representative will be assessing how engaged your child will be, how they get along with others, etc.
Many schools will also likely require an assessment to be done on your child — the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (OLSAT), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence™ (WPPSI™-III), or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) are the more popular ones. Practicing letters, numbers, and shapes daily with your child before applying will help prepare them for this assessment well in advance.
This should be a joint decision: Parents will need to take the lead without doing all the work. Think of this as guiding your child if they are going into sixth grade versus partnering with them if they are going into eighth grade. It’s important to start promoting college prep skills for middle schoolers, such as self-awareness and self-advocacy, so your child has the confidence to take control of some of this process themselves.
If your child is entering sixth grade, you will probably want to find a school that goes from sixth to 12th grade so you don’t have to repeat this process in a few years. Identify several choices that are a good fit for your child’s preferences, needs, and goals.
This boat needs to be rowed by your young adult. Of course, they might not be gung-ho about test and interview prep or essay writing, so a little nudging might be in order — after all, they will have to go through the same process when they apply to college. Beyond that, let them take the lead.
When it comes to private school admissions at the high school level, there is a lot to consider. All four years of high school will be evaluated by college admissions committees, so it’s important to choose schools where your student will be successful and happy.
Consider these factors to help you identify best-fit schools:
Once you’ve done your research, make a list of reach, target, and likely schools using your child’s standardized test scores as a guide. Independent schools require applicants to complete either the SSAT or ISEE, so check with each school about which they prefer — most will accept either. (If your child hopes to improve their SSAT or ISEE score, these test-taking strategies can help.)
Based on your child’s scores, you can determine whether each school they are applying to falls within the reach, target, or likely category. It is important to apply to a balanced list of schools for the best chance of admission.
During the application process, both you and your child will be required to write admission essays. Parents, be prepared to talk honestly about your child, both in the essay and interview. You will be asked about their strengths, challenges, likes, dislikes, what makes them unique, and why you think the school(s) to which they’re applying would be a good fit. Answering each question honestly will not only help the schools determine whether your child is a good fit for them, but also whether they are a good fit for your child.
As for your child’s essay, ensure your middle schooler or high schooler thinks deeply regarding their essays. Resist the urge to take over their essay writing, however tempting it may be. The essay portion of the application is extremely important, and it is imperative that your child’s essays are written in their voice and are reflective of who they are and their values, hopes, and dreams. They should think about the essay prompts, answer the question asked, and remain within the word or character count.
The interview is also very important. Your young adult should be able to answer questions about their favorite (or least favorite) subject, the books they read, what they will bring to the school, etc. Remember that there is no magic right answer the interviewer is seeking. These questions are all about your student and are the school’s attempt to get to know them better.
Some students don’t like “bragging” about themselves, but the more information they can give the interviewer, the better. In the end, the school — as well as the student and their family — are all looking for the best fit. Just as they are interviewing you, you are also interviewing them. You want a school community where your child will not just survive but THRIVE!
The objective of open houses and school tours is for prospective students and families to learn as much as possible about the school to determine fit, including:
This information will help you understand how the school will live up to your expectations for your student.
If you’re applying to a private school, it’s a good idea to research the specific values and programs of the schools you’re interested in and be prepared to articulate how your student aligns with them during the application process. Private schools typically look for a combination of qualities in applicants to ensure they are a good fit for their community and academic programs — in fact, what they value is similar to what college admissions committees look for in applicants.
Both hard and soft factors are evaluated in the private school admissions process, with academic performance and potential being the key factor. They also look at applicants’ extracurricular involvement, character and behavior, alignment with school values and culture, and what kind of diversity the student can bring to the school community. Private schools at the middle and high school levels may require a Character Skills Snapshot from applicants, which provides further information to help them make admissions decisions.
The admissions process for primary, middle, and high school can be complex — making decisions about where to apply and how to have the best chance of admission is critical. At IvyWise, we work with families through every part of the independent and boarding school admissions process, no matter when you choose to start. Our WiseStart™ counselors are experts who have worked directly in independent and boarding school admissions. They have nuanced knowledge of the entire process and what schools are looking at when making admissions decisions.
Are you considering applying to independent or boarding schools? If you are not sure where to start, contact us today for more information.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. In general, the key entry points for most independent schools are pre-K or kindergarten, sixth or seventh grade, and ninth grade. Ultimately, the best age to start private school depends on your child’s unique needs and the specific benefits you are seeking from the private school experience.
It’s a good idea to start touring private middle and high schools well in advance to ensure you have enough time to make an informed decision — we recommend undergoing this process in the fall a year prior to your child’s planned enrollment. Starting the process early also gives you time to prepare for any entrance exams, gather recommendations, and complete applications without feeling rushed.
Choosing the right private high school can be a significant decision. Key factors to consider include the academic programs and extracurricular activities they offer, the school’s culture and values, class size and student-teacher ratio, location and commute, cost and financial aid, college admissions success, and reputation and reviews. Of course, gut feeling can also be a good guide.
When it comes to private school admission, academic performance and potential are the key factors. However, admissions committees also look at the student’s extracurricular involvement, character and behavior, their fit with the school’s values and culture, and what the student can contribute to the community in terms of diversity.
We say this all the time: the earlier you start on college prep the better. But how early is too early? The reality is that colleges look at everything from 9th grade on – meaning students need to show up to day one of high school ready to go.
In Semester 5 Episode 6 of our podcast, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Robin (formerly at Georgetown University and Vanderbilt University), Executive Functioning Team Leader Lorenza, and Executive Functioning Coach Nicki share their top tips on how school high school students can further develop their executive functioning skills and practice stress management and self-care during the college application process.
As the college admissions process becomes ever more complex and competitive, parents often ask, “When should we start?” While my colleagues and I work in age-appropriate programs with students in all high-school grades, there is value in laying a strong, early foundation.
While many families are aware that the college application process is comprehensive and multi-faceted, far fewer anticipate a similar process for admission to K-12 independent and boarding schools. Although there are significant differences, many younger students will still need to complete testing, interview, and submit an application for middle and high school admissions.
