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5 Essential Tips for Navigating Private School Admissions and Finding the Perfect Fit
Discover 5 essential tips for navigating private school admissions. Learn how to research schools, attend key events, determine school fit, engage with top choices, and ask important questions.
1. Research Thoroughly
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Research area schools, this can be checking out websites or talking to family and friends. You have to start somewhere when building your list of schools. Make sure that you are utilizing various methods to help you get a full picture of the institutions. Remember “private schools” is a broad term and could mean an independent school or parochial (religious affiliated). In your research figure out which approach best fits your family values.
2. Attend School Events
Visit the admission page on the schools you are interested in, and peruse the events available to attend. If your student is interested in the arts or sports those are also non-admission events to attend and further explore the school community. It is important when going to events that you get a sense of a school’s culture and community to identify does it fit your needs.
3. Find the Right Fit
4. Engage with Top Choices
As you identify top schools on your list, make contact. Engage in the process whether that is attending areas of interest events, completing surveys or sending a personal note after you have attended an event. Let’s be real and acknowledge that private school is expensive, when you reach out to schools do inquire about the financial assistance program. Most families would be surprised to know you DO qualify for support. First things first though, you need to make contact with financial aid offices.
5. Ask Questions
2. Attend School Events
Visit the admission page on the schools you are interested in, and peruse the events available to attend. If your student is interested in the arts or sports those are also non-admission events to attend and further explore the school community. It is important when going to events that you get a sense of a school’s culture and community to identify does it fit your needs.
3. Find the Right Fit
“Fit” is interesting, because how can you determine what your student might want in future years. However, my rule of thumb is to pursue what aligns with your family.... academic program, size, extra curricular offerings, transportation and financial considerations. Additionally, throw brand names out the window and keep your desired aspects of a future school top of mind in your search. Let these prompts guide what might be a good fit. As you engage with schools what you like and don’t like will become more clear.
4. Engage with Top Choices
As you identify top schools on your list, make contact. Engage in the process whether that is attending areas of interest events, completing surveys or sending a personal note after you have attended an event. Let’s be real and acknowledge that private school is expensive, when you reach out to schools do inquire about the financial assistance program. Most families would be surprised to know you DO qualify for support. First things first though, you need to make contact with financial aid offices.
5. Ask Questions
Your student’s education is important and the admission process is a two-way street. Just as they are considering various applicants, it is your opportunity to determine if given a spot do you want it. It’s best to be asking questions throughout the process and not wait until the end. Schools spend an entire admission season taking you on a journey to hopefully answer your questions, and it’s okay to be curious!
Seattle Girls' School
Located in the Central District, Seattle Girls' School is an independent school for girls and gender nonconforming students in grades 5-8. Our mission is to inspire and develop courageous leaders who think independently, work collaboratively, learn joyfully, and champion change.
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