Navigating the Private School Admission Process
Narrow down your choices.
Choose what school interests you most, but have a list of several you are considering. Then request the application and information about each. There may be something that helps you narrow your choices such as classes offered or cost.
Schedule a visit and interview.
Schedule a visit with each school. You can either visit at open house or have your own tour. Some schools allow the prospective student to shadow another student in the same grade for a day to get a feel for the school.
You may want to schedule your interview for the same time as your campus visit. Some schools interview the parents and student together while others interview them separately. It’s a good idea to discuss ahead what questions might be asked and what answers are most appropriate. You might even role-play the interview with your child.
Find out about admission tests.
At the interview, be sure to find out about admission tests. For younger children, standardized test scores from the previous year are probably enough, but high school students are often required to take the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) or the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). Both tests have short essay and multiple choice aptitude questions that test math, reading, and comprehension and use of language. It may be beneficial, especially for students who don’t test well, to get a SSAT practice book well in advance in order to prepare for the test.
Fill out the formal application.
Once you’ve made your final choice, fill out the formal application. Be sure to send everything requested. That might include a registration fee, teacher recommendation letters, transcripts from previous years and standardized test scores. The deadline for applications for many schools is mid-January for the following fall. Some schools have rolling admissions, which means there is not set cut off, but spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Apply for financial aid if needed.
Apply for financial aid as soon as possible. This is one reason it’s important to apply early. Scholarships and financial aid go quickly, and you can miss out if you don’t pay attention to deadlines. Apply as soon after the financial aid starting date as possible for the best chance of receiving aid.
If you feel a private school is the best choice for your child, it’s important to start now by collecting and filling out admissions forms, scheduling visits and testing, and applying for financial aid.
For more information:
Secondary school admission test:
http://www.ssat.org
Private school reviews:
http://www.privateschoolreview.com/ county_private_schools/stateid/FL/county/12021
http://www.greatschools.org/florida/naples/schools/?st=private
Katrina (Kathy) Cassel, M.Ed., lives with her husband, seven of their children, and an assortment of pets in the Florida panhandle.