Applying to Independent and Private Schools: Advice from Students
Whether you’re an eager student or an anxious parent, we know just how intimidating applying to independent and private schools can be. Our Director of Placement, Laurie Geromini, sat down with two students who recently completed the process to learn more about their experiences, as well as the lessons and tips they learned along the way. Check out what advice they have for other students who are going through the process this year.
Meet the Students
Laurie spoke with Ajay and Sofia, two bright students who applied to 9th grade. While much of the application work happened in the fall of their 8th grade year, Ajay and Sofia both started the process in the spring of 7th grade. They worked with Laurie, who guided them throughout the process as their admissions coach.
After a lot of hard work and dedication, they were accepted to two fantastic schools. Ajay is attending Phillips Exeter Academy, and Sofia is attending St. Paul’s School.
Keep reading to learn about Ajay’s and Sofia’s experiences with the application process!
Tell us about your experience applying to independent schools.
Ajay explained that schools like Phillips Exeter Academy and Phillips Academy Andover were always at the top of his list. After visiting the two schools in person over spring break and talking to current students and faculty, Ajay not only felt confident in his decision to apply to these schools, but was inspired to research other boarding schools to add to his list of options.
Sofia, on the other hand, visited seven boarding schools in person before deciding on her final application list. She set aside ample time to research schools and meet with staff and faculty to figure out where she might be the most comfortable. In the end, Sofia only applied to four schools, but she felt confident knowing that she had done her research and selected the best schools for her.
What did the interview process look like for you?
Ajay spent a lot of time practicing for his interviews with both his parents and Laurie. His first two interviews were held virtually, and he noted that this helped him gain confidence for the in-person interviews he had later on. Ajay advised other students to not script their answers, but rather to have a general idea of what they’d like to say in response to a given topic. This will help students’ answers be more authentic in their interviews.
Sofia practiced interview questions with her parents any chance she could, including in the car on the way to school, and she was very grateful for their feedback. A challenge for her was sounding too stiff or scripted, so practicing aloud with her parents helped her gain experience and with that confidence in her interviewing abilities.
What advice do you have for the interview?
Ajay said that practicing with his parents and Laurie ahead of time was tremendously helpful in calming his nerves. Even though he wasn’t attending his interviews with a specific script in mind, he had a general idea of what he wanted to say in response to a wide range of questions. Ajay said that practicing for the interviews also allowed him to speak more fluently, with less pauses, breaks, and filler words. For virtual interviews, he warned students to not allow themselves to relax too much just because they aren’t physically sitting in front of the interviewer. You still want to make a good impression!
Sofia encouraged students to spend ample time talking both about their academics and their personal interests. She also recommended that students prepare as much as possible before the interview with flashcards and sample questions to help them speak more confidently. Sofia recalled a specific piece of advice from Laurie after noting the difference between a 7 minute interview and a 35 minute interview that she had: “The longer they keep you in there, the better.”
Laurie also noted the importance of showing up to your interviews with questions of your own. Interviews are as much of an opportunity for you to get to know the school as it is for them to get to know you!
What advice do you have for students who are going through the admissions process?
Ajay stressed the importance of attending the admissions events that are hosted by the schools that you’re applying to, such as open houses. Ajay explained that he attended a local event that allowed students to meet and introduce themselves to the admissions officers for multiple independent and private schools. He was able to ask questions about their programs and get additional information on what life might be like at each school.
Sofia explained that it’s important to meet and express your interest to as many people as possible. After attending a few events in her city, Sofia was approached by the dean of admissions at one of the schools on her list. The dean already knew her name and was incredibly excited to meet her. Sofia explained that you can never start building your bridges too early. She also stressed the importance of staying organized by creating some sort of document or filing system that allows you to keep track of where you are in the process to prevent anxiety and being overwhelmed down the road.
Did you take the ISEE or the SSAT?
The majority of independent and private schools require their applicants to take a standardized test like the ISEE and SSAT. Ajay decided to take the SSAT. He explained that he utilized the Test Innovators platform to practice. Ajay found the verbal section and the essay to be the most difficult sections on the test due to the time constraints. He explained that he and his dad created multiple flashcard sets to practice vocabulary whenever they had a free minute. Ajay also grew his confidence with the essay by practicing writing under a time limit, allowing him to get used to the time he had on the real exam.
Sofia also took the SSAT. She explained that she treated the first test like a benchmark, a jumping off point to see which subject areas she needed to focus on improving the most. Similar to Ajay, Sofia struggled the most with the verbal section, and noted that flashcards were really helpful not only for learning vocabulary but also for studying for all sections of the test. Sofia also found it challenging to work with the time limitations that come with each section of the SSAT but felt less nervous the more she practiced.
Did you submit any additional materials with your applications?
Ajay is passionate about singing, so he submitted a voice sample with his applications. He also requested personal recommendations from his choir teacher and his academic competition coach. Sofia explained that one school requested she submit a recorded monologue because of her interest in their theater program. Both students felt that these additional submissions allowed them to present themselves more accurately to the schools that they were applying to, ultimately leading to them finding their best fit.
What was the most challenging part about applying to independent schools?
Ajay said that even though he and his family tried to get started as early as possible with the process, he still felt stressed with the deadlines he was up against. Since the process is so long and involved, he said that he often felt worried about whether things were moving fast enough. Ajay also said that his previous school struggled with understanding the process of applying to independent schools, making it difficult for him to obtain letters of recommendation and transcripts. Finally, Ajay noted the importance of creating a list of schools that you’re happy with. Each of the schools on your list should be viewed as real possibilities, so be mindful of the list that you make.
Sofia explained that the most stressful part of the process for her occurred at the very end. She felt that she was constantly needing to check on her materials, recommendations, and scores to be sure that everything was submitted in a timely manner. This resulted in a lot of anxiety surrounding her final application submissions. Sofia also wanted to be sure that she clearly expressed her interest, so she was attending as many virtual events hosted by the school as possible.
Final Thoughts
The process of applying to independent schools can be time consuming and stressful, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Both Ajay and Sofia agree that as long as you stay organized and true to yourself throughout the process, you’ll end up right where you belong.
Sophie Brenner
Sophie holds bachelor’s degrees in Rhetoric & Writing and Conversational Artificial Intelligence from the University of Texas. With a passion for design, equal opportunity, and student success, she envisions a future where technology and education seamlessly intertwine. Leveraging her unique background, Sophie works with her team to blend creativity and strategy together to drive impactful marketing campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences.
