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At first, applying to private school can seem overwhelming. But by being prepared and knowing the items below that are expected, it will be an enriching experience that helps you learn more about your child and family.
› Submit applications early:
Once you’ve made your
school choices, don’t put off applying.
› Be open to options:
Don’t pin all your or your child’s
hopes on one particular school. Your child would likely
prosper at more than one school and several schools
might be an appropriate fit for your family.
› Look beyond the bells and whistles:
Consider
whether they are important to you. Riding stables or
a skating rink may be impressive, but are these your
child’s interests?
› Be realistic about your child’s academic abilities:
Don’t push them into a school where they will feel
overwhelmed.
› Be honest and upfront:
Don’t withhold pertinent
information about your child. The goal is to ensure his
or her needs can be met at the school.
› Don’t stress out your child about the entrance exam:
Be prepared to deal with less than stellar results and
remember most schools will consider more than just
test scores.
› Be clear about what you want:
If you are not prepared for
your child to be assigned two hours of homework a night,
don’t sign up for a school where this would be expected.
› Ask about extracurricular activities:
These are an
important component of many private and independent
schools. Find out the level of participation expected and
consider how this suits your child.
› Find out what’s expected of parents:
Expectations
vary and you want to be comfortable with the level of
involvement and type of contribution.
› Ask lots of questions:
Admissions officers expect and
welcome them, so go in with a written checklist.
› Inquire about financial assistance if this is a concern:
Bursaries or other financial support might be available.
—Maureen Murray
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