1. Research Schools

The first step you should take when applying to independent schools is simple: research! The is a great place to start.Ěý

Create a list of potential schools that align with your child’s academic goals, interests, and values. Consider factors such as location, size, academic programs, extracurricular activities, and diversity.Ěý

Visit school websites, attend open houses, and talk to current students and alumni to understand what each school is like.Ěý

Tip: When creating your initial school list, make sure to consider several different types of schools, such as day and boarding, and co-ed and single-gender. Look beyond the ‘popular’ schools in your area. There may be a school that surprises you!Ěý

1. Finish and submit your applications.

Make sure you submit your applications before the deadline provided by the school. This will prevent any day-of scrambling for materials or accidentally missing a 5:00pm cutoff. Additionally, be mindful of the application due dates set by each of the individual schools that you’re applying to, as these can vary from school to school.Ěý

Check to ensure that you have completed all necessary application items, including your writing samples and graded essays. Remember that your recommendation writers and current school will need to submit your letters and transcripts directly to the schools that you are applying to. If you notice that any of these materials are still missing from your application, be sure to follow up with your writers or current school to confirm that everything will be submitted on time. The majority of schools will not accept additional materials after the deadline has passed, so start checking in now!

1. Write your application essays.

If you’re applying to multiple schools, you’ll have several essays and short-answer questions to juggle. If you haven’t already started, now is the time! The application essays are the responsibility of the student, not the parents/guardians. While it is okay for an adult to review the writing and offer feedback, the application essay must be the student’s work, in the student’s own words.

Check out our for on-demand activities to help you craft compelling essays or our live for an interactive experience with an admissions writing expert.

1. Attend interviews.

A good interview is a conversation that is enjoyable for everyone, so try to relax and ask thoughtful questions. Remember that it’s your opportunity to get to know the school just as it’s the school’s opportunity to get to know you. Check out these interview dos and don’ts and individual interview practice sessions for additional support.

1.ĚýContinue learning about schools

Keep studying websites, reading school publications, and talking with current families to learn as much as you can about these schools.

1.ĚýMake interview appointments

It’s best to do interviews between late-October and mid-November so that students have a few months of school under their belts. However, it’s important to schedule interviews now because appointments (especially the good slots) fill up quickly. You should aim to have all your interviews completed by mid-November if possible.Ěý

ĚýIf your student will be missing school for interviews, make sure to communicate that with your student’s teachers so they can plan for any work missed ahead of time.Ěý

1. Register for the ISEE and/or SSAT

In order to determine which test (ISEE or SSAT) you need to take, check with the schools you are interested in to see which test they accept.Ěý

When registering for the ISEE and/or SSAT, there are five important things you need to consider: applying for accommodations, requesting a fee waiver, choosing the format, sending scores, and testing more than once.

a) Applying for accommodations (if applicable)

Testing accommodations for the ISEE and SSAT must be approved before you register for the test. Applying for accommodations can involve several steps, so it’s important to start the process sooner rather than later to avoid any last-minute scurrying for paperwork. Examples of accommodations include additional time, use of a calculator, a reader, and selecting answers in the test booklet.

b) Requesting a fee waiver (if applicable)

Fee waivers are available to students in financial need. Fee waivers cover the registration cost for the ISEE, and they can be obtained from schools to which you are applying. It’s best to make your requests early. Students will need a waiver each time they take the test.

c) Choosing the format

The ISEE and SSAT are offered on paper and on the computer. Students can take the test on paper at a test center or at an educational consultant’s office, or on the computer at home or at a Prometric testing center.Ěý

When deciding whether your student should take the test on paper or on the computer, consider their comfort level with paper versus a computer. Do they prefer writing by hand or typing on a keyboard? Are they good at keeping multiple pieces of paper organized or are they better at navigating on a computer? Are they good at using a paper bubble sheet? Are they able to read from a computer screen for several hours?Ěý

d) Sending scores

When you register for the test, you have the option of selecting schools that you’d like your scores sent to. However, it is best to wait to send your scores until after you’ve had a chance to review them first.Ěý

e) Testing more than once

It’s always a good idea to plan to take the test more than once. That way, if the first time doesn’t go as well as you’d hoped, you’ll have another chance. Because most applications are due in January, it’s best to take the test in October or November and then again in December if needed.Ěý