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The admissions season has begun! One aspect of the independent school admissions application process is the Parent Essay. This can be a daunting experience for parents but it doesn’t need to be. Here are some tips for writing an essay that really illustrates why the particular school is the best fit for your child and for your family.
- Many schools will ask why you are applying to their particular school. You will have visited the school in some capacity (Open House, tour, etc.) so show them what about the school makes it a perfect fit for your child. Is it the academic program? Is it their arts program? Is it the community? If possible, include thoughts about how the school’s mission aligns with what you are looking for in a school.
- When describing your child, be honest. Schools don’t expect a “perfect” child. They expect a child who has strengths and weaknesses and since you are the one that knows your child best, you should talk about these honestly. How does your child shine? What are some areas of growth? Give a particular example of something that uniquely describes him/her. Illustrate things that will help your child stand out and make the school want him/her to be a part of their community. Maybe tell a story that will be a window into your child.
- Volunteerism and fundraising is a part of being in an independent school. Describe how you and your family will be a part of the school. Have you volunteered at your child’s current school? Do you enjoy being involved in the life of the school? Have you served on a Board?
The Parent Essay is one piece of the application but it’s an important one because it’s your chance to tell the school about your child and your family. Admissions Committees want to make sure their school is the right “match” for your child so being honest and transparent is important.
Interesting article about choosing the “right fit” school for your child. As an Independent Educational Consultant, I’m always helping parents decide what is most important to them when they choosing a school for their child. There are common themes but ultimately, each client I work with has different criteria they look for when looking at schools.
Multiple colorful magnets with numbers on a blackboard.
By Gabriella Rowe – getting smart.com
In today’s world of standardized tests, we have an abundance of data available about our children. While all standardized tests are not equivalent and some reveal much more about our children’s capabilities than others, parents today have more information about their children than ever before.
As beneficial as such information can be, it also puts a burden on parents to ensure the choices they make for their child’s education are in that child’s best interests. This can be particularly true for those parents whose children test at the higher end of the aptitude scale.
These tests usually raise two important questions for parents: What do these scores mean? And how do they impact the educational choices I make for my child? Some standardized tests, such as MAP (Measures of Academic Progress), make answering the first question simpler, as they give you this information in grade level form. Others, such as the ERB (Educational Records Bureau), give just a percentile.
Regardless of a child’s scores, it’s important to keep in mind that while the memorization and test taking skills reinforced by standardized tests and written exams teach children how to handle stress and repeat the “right” answers to finite problems, they do not require students to solve for new complexities, and can penalize them for thinking creatively or “experimenting” with solutions. To continue to grow as lovers of learning, students need to have a chance to balance solving for the concrete and the intangible.
This is where the tough part comes in: how do you decide which school has that “right” environment? At the most basic level, I encourage parents on any school tour to look into classrooms and see what the students are doing – are they moving around, interacting and working together? Or are they sitting down at their desks filling out a worksheet in near silence?
I also tell parents that the best way to make an informed decision is to evaluate the following four qualities, which I believe are the most important characteristics of a school that is successful in addressing the needs of all K-12 students.
An environment that celebrates learning through successful failure
One of the hardest things for a child to do is to get things wrong. But iterative learning in which a child fails, assesses that failure and tries again is exactly what children need to ensure that they are authentically learning and not just memorizing successive sets of facts. For parents, this means looking for a school where problem solving is more open ended: where students are asked to create their own path to learning through research and experimentation, not just by memorizing outcomes, and where students are given opportunities to test the depth of their knowledge through exams as a supplement.
A cohort of engaged students in a culture of differences
One of the most powerful ways to ensure that a child continues to be intellectually stimulated and curious to learn is to surround them with capable and dedicated children, all of whom have different strengths and weaknesses. Peer influence, for better or for worse, is a powerful motivator, and students can realize their potential in schools filled with children who enjoy learning at a high level. As I often say to my students, there is nothing quite as cool as going to a school where “geeks” rule!
Teachers who are experienced in teaching a wide range of students
Never underestimate the power that an outstanding teacher can have on a student. Because students naturally dislike failure, it is important that they are surrounded by teachers who can objectively assess their strengths and weaknesses, know a student’s personality quirks and background, accommodate their study habits and nuances, challenge them to continually address that which is most difficult for them, and inspire them to push themselves further than they thought possible. The best teachers are the ones who motivate students to go beyond what they imagined was possible and to be the very best student and person that they can be. The best teachers also have teachers and mentors themselves, and participate in their own education. Education is not stagnant, no matter your age.
Real-world learning experiences
Perhaps the most nuanced and arguably most important attribute of the school you choose for your child is that it values the importance of giving your child opportunities to see what the real purpose of their applied intelligence can be. Ultimately, aptitude is not about test scores or grades, but about how you apply what you have learned to real problems with meaningful outcomes that impact the real world. Two great examples of this type of learning are Project-Based and Place-Based Learning. There is nothing more motivating or inspiring to a student than being able to do work or be in a work environment that shows them firsthand the impact that their intelligence can have on the world around them. As a parent, you should make sure that the school you choose for them holds this type of experience as a priority.
Remembering to look for these four qualities can help you ensure that the school you pick for your child allows them to develop a lifelong love of learning that will help them be successful and happy in their adult lives.
Happy New Year! As we approach the independent school decision-making time, many parents/guardians are thinking about whether or not to “redshirt” their rising Kindergartner. This article has some interesting points. As an Educational Consultant, I believe that, in the end, each child is so different and therefore there is no right or wrong decision.
‘Redshirting’ Kindergarten-Age Kids Can Lead to Regrets
Last week we had our 4-year-old’s parent-teacher conference. She’s in pre-K, turning 5 next summer, and so one of her teacher’s first questions for us was, “What are you thinking about kindergarten?”
We’ve been here before. She’s our family’s third summer baby, which in our Ohio school district means that all of our kids turn 5 just under the kindergarten cutoff of Sept. 30. Our youngest is small, a bit shy, and sticks mostly to one or two friends. She’s also bright, capable, emotionally secure, and on the cusp of literacy. What to do?
Five years ago, we had a similar discussion about our eldest, who is an early September baby. He was clearly ready academically, but was emotionally and socially “young.” His preschool recommended another year, a practice that has become known as academic redshirting, and so we waited, but not without some hemming and hawing.
Three years ago, we were back to it with our older daughter, a late-August birthday. She also was academically ready, but was so withdrawn in early preschool that we had actually wondered whether she had selective mutism disorder. It turned out she didn’t have the condition, just extreme introversion and shyness, but the preschool again recommended another year for greater social and emotional maturity. Again, after some angst, we took their recommendation and waited.
Fully 6 years old and fresh off three beautiful, enriching and expensive years of preschool, she had eagerly looked forward to kindergarten. When it began, though, our daughter was disappointed and upset. Despite a wonderful public school and teacher, there were several significant behavioral problems among her classmates — probably a couple of undiagnosed underlying issues, as well as the ordinary chatter and antsiness of typical 5-year-olds. My daughter complained, “Some of these kids don’t even know how to line up. It’s like they never even went to preschool!”
She was probably right, as it turns out. For all my uneasiness about the kindergarten decision, and what’s the Very Very Best for my kid, it’s all a bit of a tempest in a teapot. My children attended a high-quality preschool, and in that respect, they already have an advantage over the notable minority of the kids in my town who do not attend preschool. They also have an enormously wide advantage over the children in our neighboring city of Cleveland, where more than 75 percent of children do not attend a quality preschool, and where, not coincidentally, 54 percent of children live in poverty. (Efforts to expand preschool attendance in Cleveland have grown, but are still in their infancy.)
Meanwhile, inside elite preschools, the preparedness gulf is still widening. Five years ago, when we enrolled my son in his extra “Pre-K Plus” year, only July, August and September birthdays — those just under the Sept. 30 cutoff — were typically eligible to enroll. Occasionally, a June birthday could enroll with special permission, and most typically with an I.E.P., individualized education program, showing a specialized educational need or delay.
Now, as my youngest is rounding the corner to kindergarten, our preschool regularly enrolls June and even May birthdays without any unusual need demonstrated. The fact that my bright, typical, early June daughter is even being considered for a kindergarten delay just goes to show how far things have crept; she would finish kindergarten right around her seventh birthday if we held her back. Somewhere, a line must be drawn.
Of course, I don’t have to hold my child if I don’t want to, and I’m almost certain we won’t this time. Yet, her kindergarten classroom is likely to have a wider spread of ages and abilities than ever. It may very well include children who are just under 5 years old, who have never been to preschool and can’t sit still, and in the same room, mature 6-year-olds who are fluently reading chapter books and ready for advanced math. The increased teacher burden, and the effects on the collective learning experience, seem readily apparent.
We can make the decision only for our own children, of course, and we parents all want to do what’s best for them. Sometimes, that’s another year of preschool. “You’ll never regret it,” other parents and educators alike have often advised me over the years.
I’m afraid it’s not quite that simple — not for me, and not for elementary school classrooms. Although my older kids are doing well, I admit I’m still a little conflicted about holding them. Perhaps their success in school has less to do with any inherent advantage to their being older, and more to do with the fact that any child whose parents have the financial ability to wait probably already has the decked stacked in his or her favor. Most of these kids, like my youngest daughter, will be more than fine either way. But what about the rest of our children?
Sharon Holbrook is a freelance writer and the founder of Green Up Cleveland. Follow her on Twitter: @216Sharon.
I had a wonderful experience
Here are some things to look for when trying to choose a school for your child:
1. How does the community feel? Is it a place you can see your family? If it’s an elementary school, do you feel like it’s “your community?” In elementary school, many of the parents will become your friends so you need to feel like it’s your “home.” In middle and high school it’s more about if your child feels like it’s his/her community.
2. Can you see evidence of the school’s mission when you visit? Every aspect of a school should come back to their mission and it should be apparent. Does the mission talk about a strong academic program? Does it mention a commitment to global learning? Is diversity important?You should be able to see pieces of the mission when you tour the school. This also relates to what the school values and what your family values.
3. What is the academic program like? Is it rigorous? Will your child be challenged there? Will he/she struggle with academics? Is the school’s focus more about social-emotional learning? Is it traditional or progressive? Do they have a focus toward gifted education? Do they offer an athletic program? Arts? Is there a focus on standardized testing?
4. Is the school accredited? If so, by whom? Accreditation processes and standards vary. Some are more detailed and rigorous than others. Is the school a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)?
5. Cost and financial aid. What is the tuition and what does it include? Does it include after school care? Does it include class trips? What is the average financial aid award given? How is an award determined? Is it need-based or merit-based?
6. Faculty and Staff. Can you see the evidence of teachers enjoying teaching? Are the classes mostly teacher-led or student-led? Are the students engaged?
Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. Using the above guidelines will help you evaluate a school.
Stress Free School Selection:
Top Tips from an Education Consultant
It’s school shopping season and we want to make sure you have all the information you need to feel supported in your school search. Our last post featured an interview with college admissions counselor Heather Parry, helping us put college worries aside until high school. Today, Education Consultant Christy Haven, shares what parents need to be thinking about when searching for preschool through middle school options.
Christy Haven knows what she is talking about. She has been an admissions director at area schools for over 15 years, and during that time has helped over 150 families through the middle school application process. Christy’s knowledge of Seattle area schools runs deep, as does her ability to help families move through this process with confidence and ease. Her guidance was just what we needed as we moved through our own middle school search and application process last year. One of the best parts of working with an education consultant is reducing stress and helping parents and kids work together through the process.
I sat down with Christy recently to get her top advice on finding the right school for your child; here’s what she had to say:
When do I need to start thinking about school options for my kid?
Christy: Deciding when to begin the process of looking at schools can really vary from family to family and it also depends on the age of the child. Some families prefer to look ahead of time (before the admissions season) so they feel calm when the season approaches. Others don’t want to think about it until they absolutely have to. Either way is perfectly ok! Here are some guidelines.
Preschool – Most Preschools in Seattle have an application deadline of the first week of February so beginning your search process in the late fall is ideal. Some Preschools have rolling admissions and will accept children all throughout the school year based on number of openings. Tour dates can vary but are usually in the late fall and throughout the winter.
Pre-Kindergarten – This can definitely vary. If you are considering a school that is only Preschool and Pre-K (for 2’s, 3’s and 4’s for example), the deadlines are usually in February. If you are considering a Pre-K that is part of an elementary school, those application deadlines usually fall on the same date as the elementary, middle, and high schools (mid-January).
Elementary, Middle and High School – Application deadlines are usually in mid-January so tours usually begin late September/early October. Many schools hold Open Houses in the fall as well.
There are so many schools; it’s overwhelming! Where does a parent start?
Christy: First, take a deep breath! The best way to begin this process is to start early so you don’t feel stressed and more importantly your child (if he/she is applying to middle/high school and a big part of the process) doesn’t feel stressed. Start by thinking about what is important to you – Are you willing to commute to take your child to school? Do you want more of a neighborhood school? Do you want a large or small school?
Once you’ve identified what’s important to you as a family, then you can look at some school websites and see if they speak to you. From there you can narrow down your search and start visiting schools that interest you and meet your initial criteria.
As soon as schools begin to schedule open houses, put those on your calendar and attend. Feel free to bring your child to the open houses unless your child becomes overwhelmed in environments with lots of people! Your child will have their own visit to be able to experience the school and give you their thoughts (even Kindergarten applicants have thoughts about their school visits).
What factors should I consider when looking at schools?
Christy: This really depends on your family’s values. As I mentioned above, location is important to some families, size of school is important, etc. From there you need to get more specific about what is best for your child and your family. Does your child need an environment with a lot of structure? Does he/she need to be where he/she isn’t sitting a desk and is allowed to sit on the floor at times or in a quiet space in the classroom? Is academic rigor important? Is a social emotional programming something your family values?
Most importantly, does the school feel like “your” community? This is especially true for elementary schools. Your child’s friends’ parents become your friends during the elementary school years and it truly becomes your community so it needs to feel like “home” to you. In middle and high school, it’s more about what is best for your child. What is he/she like as a learner? What has worked in elementary school and what hasn’t? Are competitive sports important to your child? Are the arts important?
I want my child to get in to a good college, how do I know if a preschool or elementary school is going to put them on the right path from the start?
Christy: Unfortunately, no school is going to put your child on the right path to college. Some schools are more academically rigorous than others but that doesn’t mean that your child will get into a good college by attending there.
Middle schools and high schools do have lists of where their graduates have attended college; review those closely when deciding on a middle or high school. In the end, though, what is really important is that a school looks at the whole child whether it’s in elementary, middle, or high school. Research shows that colleges want well-rounded students; those who have a strong academic record but who also have a resume with extra curricular activities, community service, etc.
What goes in to the application process?
Christy: Each school is different but here’s some ideas about what to expect.
In preschool, it’s usually a parent visit and an application. Some Preschools do have the child visit as well. Elementary schools will definitely have a student visit. Some schools have parent interviews as well. The parent completes the application for both preschool and elementary school.
Middle and high school have student visits, and most have parent interviews. They also may require specific testing as a part of the admissions process. Both parent and student will have pieces of the application to complete.
What is education consulting? Why might a family choose to work with one?
Stress Free School Selection:
Top Tips from an Education Consultant
By Sarina Behar Natkin, LICSW. Co-Founder, Grow Parenting
Christy: Education consulting involves many different things. It could be helping a family narrow down their school search by getting to know the student and family. It could be helping the student or parent write their admissions essay. Consultants are committed to reducing the anxiety and stress that this process can bring and assure the family that there is a school for every child!
If you could give parents one piece of advice around choosing and applying to schools, what would it be?
Christy: To try not to worry. It’s important that your child isn’t stressed and they will pick up on your stress. The most important thing I’ve learned after being an Admissions Director for 15 years is that things always work out the way they are supposed to and there is a school for every child that is the right fit!
Choosing and applying to schools can be an overwhelming process and we hope these tips from Christy can get you off on the right foot. If you are looking for support in the application process, you can find Christy at Mindful Education Consulting. For more on choosing a preschool, check out one of GROW Parenting’s most popular posts, Preschool Shopping 101.
Christy truly is a ‘parent whisperer!’ She listens and responds, in a caring and tender way, to the concerns, questions and anxieties that accompany the process of choosing the right school. Then, she uses her amazing knowledge of Seattle-area independent schools to guide parents to the right ‘home’ for their child. Christy is totally dedicated to her craft, and it’s easy to see that she genuinely cares about her clients. Most of all, she has a special way of making this whole process peaceful, hopeful and even exciting!
I have always known Christy to be dedicated to the students and families with whom she works. She devotes a lot of time and energy to helping families understand the admissions process and to understanding the mission and programs of the various public, independent and religious schools. Christy approaches each situation with an individualized plan and is responsive to the strengths and challenges which each student brings to the process. She works well with people with varying degrees of understanding and experience with the world of schools and knows how to help people journey through the process with the least amount of anxiety and fear. Her calming nature makes her the perfect person to help families!
– Joan Beauregard, Head of School, Hamlin Robinson School
As a parent and educator, I am very aware of how stressful education decisions can be for families, and I highly recommend Christy Haven to anyone navigating this complex world. In addition to her extensive knowledge of area schools, her calm and caring demeanor helps decrease anxiety as families strive to find the right fit for their children.
I’ve worked professionally with Christy for years — but she was a life-saver when my own children were going through the application process as well. Her expertise, combined with timely communication and follow-through, allowed our family to make informed and mindful choices while still keeping our sanity. I know she can do the same for your family.
– Sarina Behar Natkin, LICSW
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