4 Things You Should Be Doing This Summer if You Are Applying to Private School
Applying to private and independent schools can be daunting. The process spans several months, and there are a lot of moving parts. But with some planning and preparation, it can be a rewarding experience.
Here are four things you should be doing this summer if you are applying to private and independent schools in the fall:
1. Do your research.
Start by checking out school websites, and then reach out to the schools you are interested in to get more information and application materials. Remember that websites and brochures are sales and marketing tools, so it’s important to look beyond the surface and dive into the more substantive content.
For each school, make sure to:
- read the curriculum guide and student handbook
- review the calendar to get a sense of the events and assemblies offered
- find copies of parent newsletters and student publications
Pro Tip: Do you know any current or former students, faculty, or staff from the school? If so, talk to them! Firsthand experiences and perspectives can be very insightful.
2. Make your preliminary school list.
Based on your research, make a list of all of the schools you are considering applying to and would like to visit.
Remember, this process is about finding the best fit for you, so it’s important to keep an open mind. In that spirit, we encourage you to visit at least one school in a category you hadn’t considered. For example, if you are only looking at all-gender day schools, consider visiting a boarding school or a single-gender school.
Pro Tip: Be sure to visit your local public school as well.
3. Plan for admissions events, school visits, and interviews.
Schools often host admissions events, such as open houses, to give prospective families an opportunity to visit the campus and learn more about what the school has to offer. While these events aren’t necessarily required, it is important to attend. These events give you the chance to learn more about the school, meet the admissions team and demonstrate your interest. Keep in mind that many schools keep track of who attends these events as a way to gauge an applicant’s level of interest.
In addition to making a schedule for admissions events, you will also want to start scheduling your campus visits and interviews as soon as possible. Schools often open up interview dates at the end of the summer or early in the fall, and the convenient slots tend to fill up quickly, so don’t put off this step. Many schools offer both virtual and in-person interview opportunities, so pick the option that best serves your family’s needs. It is best to visit the campus in-person if you can!
Campus visits and interviews usually take place during the school day, so that families can get an accurate picture of student life. However, that means you will miss a half or full day of school. Be sure to communicate these absences with your current school early and make arrangements for missed work, so that you can maintain your good academic standing.
Pro Tip: There is no advantage to interviewing early, so try to schedule appointments after October 1st. That way, you have more experiences to discuss from the current year.
4. Prepare for admissions tests.
If admissions tests, such as the SSAT, ISEE, or HSPT, are required or optional at any of your target schools, you will want to start preparing now. Summer break is the perfect time to prepare because you don’t have to juggle school work and test prep.
Additionally, long-term, consistent practice is the best approach for test preparation. Check out 3 Reasons to Start Studying Now, as well as our SSAT student growth percentile data and our ISEE student growth percentile data, for more information on the benefits for long-term studying.
Pro Tip: Plan on taking the test at least twice to help mitigate test-day nerves. Many students perform better knowing that they will have another opportunity to take the test. If you get a score that you’re happy with on the first try, then you’re set! If you don’t do as well as you’d hoped, then you have another chance. You don’t have to share both sets of scores with the school — you can choose which report to send.
Keep in mind that if you are taking the ISEE, you can only take the test once per testing season. The testing seasons are Fall (August-November), Winter (December-March) and Spring/Summer (April-July). Most students take the ISEE during the Fall season and the Winter season.
Test Innovators is here to help!
Test Innovators is committed to helping students get into their top-choice schools. We help students prepare for the SSAT, ISEE, HSPT, PSAT, SAT, and ACT so that they can put their best foot forward on test day. Our online platform provides each student with the most impactful practice, teaching them test-taking skills and helping them build confidence.
Test Innovators also helps students and families prepare for other aspects of the admissions process to private and independent schools. Our online Admissions Prep course includes interactive exercises to help families understand how schools evaluate prospective students, prepare for the student and parent interviews, and craft excellent essays.
