Albert Einstein said: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
I have clients who will contact me after their student has not been admitted to any private schools and tell me that they plan to keep applying year after year in the hopes of gaining admission. This is insanity! If you do nothing different, then you will get the same result year after year.
What do these families need to do differently?
- Be prepared for the test. Strong test scores make for strong candidates. The schools look at the test as a way to measure a student’s skills, and they are looking for students with strong math, reading and writing skills. If your child took the test previously with little to no preparation, then you need to step up your game for the next go around. We recommend an average of 12 months of preparation for these tests.
- Present strong applications and detailed essays demonstrating why the student is a good fit for the school. Many families underestimate the importance of a strong application. I had one parent tell me that she worked on her parent application and essays between breaks at work. When she showed me what she had submitted to the schools the first time around, I could see why her child was not admitted to any of the schools she applied to. A solid application demonstrates strong interest in a school. Private schools want to see candidates who have a strong interest in attending their school. Your applications and essays must show that you have put a lot of careful thought into why you are choosing to apply to these schools.
- Do your homework and be ready with well thought out answers to the questions asked at the interviews. This applies to both the parents and the student. The schools interview many families during the admissions season, and after a while it all blurs together. You want to stand out from the crowd, and you want them to remember you and your child. The way to do this is to have a sense of what they may ask you, and be prepared. We work with parents and students to prepare for interviews by conducting mock interviews using commonly asked interview questions. Parents and students tell us that this work pays off big time when they go to the interviews. They are relaxed and able to articulate who they are, what they want, and why they belong at the school. Admissions staff tell me that my families are very impressive in their interviews and they leave a lasting impression.
If you make sure you hit the top three components of the process out of the park (test, application and interview) you are well on your way to getting the result you want, and not falling into the insanity trap!
Anne Yount Boston ISEE Prep 617-553-8083 www.bostoniseeprep.com - Test Prep for the ISEE & Latin School Exam Boston Tutoring Center 617-553-8083 www.bostontutoringcenter.com - Tutoring Grades K-12 Boston Private School Search 617-553-0540 www.bostonprivateschoolsearch.com - Your Resource for Private School Admissions Follow my Blog - http://privateschoolguru.com/blog/