How to get rejected from private school
Regardless of how well you score on an admissions test, there are some pitfalls that even the best candidates can stumble into. Here are a few “What Not To Do’s” that we at Test Innovators recommend avoiding in your application process.
Don’t: Only Apply to the Most Competitive Schools
If a school is well-known and highly regarded, it’s generally extremely difficult to get into. Just because a school ranks on the top lists of private schools (check out our 2017 list here!), it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the ideal choice for every student who applies. When conducting your research, consider which schools will be the best overall fit, rather than focusing solely on status and reputation. Additionally, some ultra-competitive schools receive so many applications that they don’t even look at applications below a certain cutoff for test scores. These schools look for a diverse array of candidates every application season, so even if you are an internationally ranked field hockey champion, the quota for internationally ranked field hockey champions may have already been met that year. Often it just comes down to luck.
Don’t: Share Too Much in Your Personal Essay
It’s a true story–a student who wrote their application essay about their shoplifting experiences ended up getting rejected from every school they applied to (regardless of having test scores in the 90th percentile).
Keep in mind that the schools you’re applying to don’t know you as a person; and they likely will not want to accept someone who mentions illegal behavior in their essay, even if you know you learned a valuable life lesson.
Don’t: Procrastinate
Most admissions officials recommend starting the research process at least one year prior to application dates–that’s two years before you actually plan to enroll in the school. There are many parts of the application process, so it’s important to give yourself enough time to dissect it all.
For standardized testing, we recommend starting with a full-length practice test at least 6 months prior to your test date. That means if you are reading this in the spring or summer, you should start as soon as possible!
Do: Build a Timeline For Your Admissions Journey
It’s important to have a plan as you navigate your admissions journey. If you aren’t careful, things can sneak up on you and before you know it, your deadlines have passed. We recommend using our Timeline of Independent School Admissions to break down the process into digestible phases and set manageable deadlines for yourself.
Last Thoughts:
Remember that whether or not you get admitted to a certain school is not a reflection of who you are or whether or not you have the skills to succeed. Additionally, if your heart is set, there’s always the possibility of wait lists or applying again next year. You can ensure that test scores don’t hold you back by starting your test prep today.
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Originally published on June 20, 2017. Updated on December 18, 2025.
