How can I help my child through the admission process? Perhaps, the best help you can give your child through "admissions" is to help yourself first. Relax, enjoy the process of learning about schools, and sharing and discussing information, and be confident together that the right match for your child and family will ultimately be made. Affirm your child's gifts and help her or him to understand the evaluative purposes of the admissions process. Middle and Upper School students should be active participants in the research and admissions process and should be encouraged to join in a well-informed choice. When schools and families with a shared sense of purpose "find" each other, it is all worth the effort What factors do school administrators consider when determining whether a child is a good candidate? First and foremost, they want to be able to answer the following questions with a resounding “YES”: "Is our school the school that can best serve this child’s needs and talents?" "Will the student be a highly contributing member of this community?" Evaluative testing is considered in two ways. First, testing allows a school to compare a student against minimum benchmarks for success in its program. Second, test scores allow for a comparison against other candidates. Past academic performance, actual grades showing how the child has done in school, is considered. This factor is probably more important than testing. Implicit in a child’s past performance are his or her academic characteristics, whether or not the student applies himself or herself, and the child's work habits. Further, schools may require recommendations from past teachers. Most schools will also require some form of interview or observation. Preschool and kindergarten applicants are often evaluated in small groups. Older students usually have individual interviews. The interview allows admissions committees to garner important insight into a child’s interests and personal qualities. Schools endeavor to be as family friendly as their mission will allow. When it comes to the issue of giving siblings and legacies preferential consideration, these factors may be considered only after all other admission information has been evaluated. Typically, a school will not accept a sibling or alumnus over a candidate who is more qualified. Indeed, schools try to allocate a portion of each class for new students. How can I prepare my child for any necessary tests? Schools work very hard to make entrance testing/readiness assessment a positive experience for students. Some schools administer aptitude tests. Most assess skill level for mathematics and language arts. While most testing takes written form, some assessment is oral. In the near term, parents can ensure their children’s success by encouraging them to have an open, positive frame of mind, to get a good night’s sleep, to have a good breakfast or lunch, and to be well hydrated. Children pick up on parental anxiety and will, naturally, feel pressured by it. Parents should think positively and keep it all in perspective. Over a lifetime, parents can prepare their children for the educational test of life by modeling passion for learning and making reading, both aloud and individually, a family priority.
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker