The Journey to Enrollment

They Didn't Accept My Child!

You thought everything was set. The test scores were excellent. She had glowing teacher recommendations. The visit and the interview went well. But the school didn't accept your child. What do you do now?

A private school does not have to accept your child. Nor does it have to give you any reason why it has refused your child admission. How can this be? Indeed, there must be some federal or state laws that govern the situation. There is no legal recourse because private schools don't take public funding. They pride themselves on their independence. They admit who they choose for whatever reasons they decide are best.

Most of the time, parents find themselves in this frustrating situation because they think they can choose a private school for their child by themselves. Of course, technically, you can do it. You can also write your own will or buy a house without consulting an attorney. But would you? Should you? Do you trust your limited knowledge of private schools? That is why you need to hire a professional educational consultant. A consultant offers you a wealth of experience for a very modest fee. While she can't guarantee that your child will get into a particular private school, a consultant knows private schools. He understands the process and knows who to call and what questions to ask.

So unless your father endowed the school or was its first headmaster, don't take a chance. Seek and pay for

Many people find the admissions process to private schools intimidating, confusing, complicated and, perhaps, a tad invasive. "Why do they have to know so much about me?" is the question which keeps popping up as you peruse all those admissions materials.

The truth is that admission is more than test scores and a faultless transcript. The school wants to get to know you as much as possible. Who are you? What subjects do you like? What sports do you enjoy? What is your favorite pastime? Behind all those recommendations and test scores is a real person with dreams, aspirations and hopes. A private school wants to encourage you and help you be all you can be.

The other thing which the admissions staff looks for is the fit. Are you a good fit for their school? Can you do the academic work? Will you be a congenial member of the school community? Yes, those are the same questions which you and your parents have been asking as you evaluate schools. Your admissions profile offers the school a fairly complete picture of you, your academic strengths and weaknesses, the sports you like, your hobbies, and so on.

While this video describes a college admissions profile, private school admissions profiles are very similar.

What Are They Looking for?

The admissions staff are not looking for geniuses or stars. If you have good math grades and think that

You have spent many hours selecting schools online. Some of the schools' websites were so good that you almost felt as though you had explored every corner of their campuses. You watched videos of classes, sports, and extracurricular activities. So, what more could you possibly need to know about the schools? After all, you have identified three or four to which you want to apply. That's the next step in the process, right? Not exactly. The next step is for you to visit those three or four schools on your shortlist. You really have to set foot on each campus. The schools will insist on meeting you and your child in person.

Here is an example of what I am talking about. This excellent video presents Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minnesota, and its fine campus and programs in the best light possible. But you still need to visit the school and truly experience all it has to offer.

Visit schools on your shortlist

Don't skip visiting the schools on your shortlist. Why? Because you need to inspect the campuses yourself. It's like buying a house or renting an apartment. A website and a video will not show you what you really need to see. Professionally done photo galleries and videos are no substitute for experiencing the school. All of those videos and photos are produced and positioned to present the school precisely

Once you have agreed on a short list of schools to visit, you must call and make arrangements for The Interview. Typically, this will take place while you visit the school. What is involved?

Almost every school wants to meet candidates for admission. The admissions test scores, teacher, principal, extracurricular recommendations, and the applicant's essay and parent's statement all offer a snapshot of an applicant at a particular time and place. Conversely, the interview gives the admissions staff a chance to fill in the missing elements and assess the applicant's character.

Schedule well in advance.

Be sure to schedule your interview and school visit well in advance. Do not do this on a Friday afternoon, expecting to turn up the next day. There are only so many hours a day with limited interview appointments. If possible, get your interview out of the way by the end of November. Most applications, including the interview, need to be completed by the deadline.

What does the interview entail?

How long is the interview? It's usually about 20 minutes. What will the admissions staff ask? The person who interviews you wants to get to know you. He already knows who you are and what you have accomplished. He will be looking to see what kind of person you are, how serious you are about your school work, what your hobbies are, and so on.

This video describes the interview process and how to prepare for it.

Visiting schools is a critical part of choosing a school. Yes, a website can give you a pretty good idea of school programs and facilities. But remember that the school is presenting itself precisely as it wishes to be seen, in a highly edited and sanitized manner.

Accordingly, you must see the school, inspect the facilities, meet some students, and chat with the staff. After all, you are considering entrusting your precious child to these people. You must determine if they are a good fit for your child. Your child won't be just a number in a private school. Small class sizes and a low student-to-teacher ratio mean she won't get lost in the shuffle. Consequently, she needs to be in a setting that will nurture and bring out the best in her. Your practiced eye can root out any potential problems. Use a Checklist for Comparing Schools to keep track of your observations and answers to your questions.

This video from Your School Marketing explains how open houses are part of the admissions process.

Remember: a school doesn't shape just educational outcomes; it also strongly influences attitudes and critical thinking. The culture of a school has a lot to do with this. Visiting the school allows you to evaluate all these essential aspects.

Many schools have open houses. These offer you an excellent opportunity to