Private School Admission Planning Calendar

Ideally, you should begin the private school admission process eighteen months prior to the time that you plan to enroll your child. An early start will reduce the pressure and confusion that can accompany the private school search and admission process.

This calendar provides a general timeframe for the private school admission process. School visit dates and application deadlines will vary from school to school; but your search should include all of the steps that are included in the calendar.

Careful and diligent use of the tools provided through links included in the calendar will increase your awareness of your options and help you and your student make good choices. Like anything else that is important in life, there are no shortcuts to success.

April - May

PARENTS:

• Complete the Student and Family Assessment
• Identify the type of schools that you are interested in having your student attend
• Visit school Web sites — pay particular attention to recent school and classroom activities, school news, and messages from administrators and faculty members
• Contact schools to request admission information, application materials and a curriculum guide

June-August

PARENTS:

• Review admission information and application materials provided by the schools
• Create a system to organize admission information and application materials
• Talk with parents of children that currently attend the schools that you are considering for your child

STUDENTS:

• Prepare for admission test — read, build vocabulary, practice math problems, and take sample tests
• Review admission information and application materials provided by the schools
• Talk with students that currently attend the schools that you are considering

September

PARENTS:

• Develop a short list of schools that are of interest to you and your student
• Obtain a schedule of open houses for schools that are of interest to you and your student
• Confirm dates for admission testing and student application and financial aid application deadlines
• Schedule SSAT, ISEE or other admission test required by schools of interest
• Arrange for student full-day school visits and interviews where necessary

STUDENTS:

• Continue to prepare for admission test

October

PARENTS:

• Attend open houses for schools of interest and complete the Parent School Visit Record for each school

STUDENTS:

• Attend open houses with parents
• Participate in full-day school visits and interviews, where necessary
• Take SSAT, ISEE or other admission test required by schools of interest

November

PARENTS:

• Attend open houses for schools of interest and complete the Parent School Visit Record for each school
• Begin to narrow school choices — complete the Private School Decision Table

STUDENTS:

• Attend open houses with parents
• Participate in full-day school visits and interviews; complete the Student School Visit Record and share with your parents
• Take SSAT, ISEE or other required admission test, if not already taken
• Begin to compose admission application essays, if they are required

December

PARENTS:

• Together with your student, narrow school choices — complete the Private School Decision Table
• Monitor progress of essay and application completion
• Complete financial aid application, if aid will be requested

STUDENTS:

• Attend remaining full-day school visits and interviews; complete the Student School Visit Record and share with your parents
• Complete and submit applications that have December deadlines
• Take SSAT, ISEE or other required test, if not already taken

January

PARENTS:

• Monitor progress of essay and application completion
• Periodically, call the admission offices to check on the status of your student's file
• Complete and submit financial aid application, including required IRS forms

STUDENTS:

• Complete and submit applications to schools that have January and early February deadlines

February

PARENTS

• Call the admission offices to confirm that your student's file is complete

March

PARENTS:

• Review the acceptance and enrollment materials provided by the schools to which your child has been accepted
• Together with your student, refer back to the Private School Decision Table to help you select among the schools to which your student was admitted
• Confirm that your school of choice will fully meet the goals and expectations you identified in the Student and Family Assessment that you completed at the beginning of the private school admission process