Skills private schools are looking for

Applying for private schools can be a daunting task. It’s hard to know where to start, as there are so many private schools, each offering something a bit different.  Additionally, it can be confusing knowing how to complete the applications.  Not to mention that it’s quite a competitive process! It can exhaust both parent and child, and cause unnecessary stress.

Below are a list of skills that private schools are looking for, along with some practical advice about how to show the skills off.

Follow the three pieces of advice below to best prepare for private school applications.

Skill #1: Private schools are looking for students who stand out in a crowd, with their special talents and skills.

How to show off the skill:

Do an inventory of your child’s talents, and then get your child to practice selling their talent with words. In the application and the interview, there will be opportunities for your child to show off their uniqueness. Make sure they promote themselves articulately. Skills in dance, music, theatre or design should not go overlooked. In addition, passion for a cause, people group, animal species, or a new idea shows up well in an interview or entrance application essay.  If your child has only focused on language skills or test scores without using their time to foster a unique skill or passion, they may not rise above the rest. Uniqueness offers an angle in the admissions process, and it’s important to have that edge in a highly competitive field. Being able to promote oneself demonstrates that the student goes above and beyond rote learning.  Just like for any application or interview process, use the opportunity to showcase your child’s ingenuity, passion for a cause, ability to work with others to complete projects, uniqueness, and personal flair.

Skill #2: Private schools are looking for students and families that are the right fit for their programs and educational philosophies.

How to show off the skill:

Do your research, keeping your child’s needs and skills in mind, and then show what you know in the interview. The very beginning of this process requires that you check online to learn about each of the schools.  Look for which schools best fit your child’s needs. Decide whether your child would do best with a day school, boarding school, religious school, co-ed or all boy/girl academy. If your son or daughter is in high school, determine whether an AP or IB program is a good fit. Then, narrow in on the schools you see fit and find out which schools have an educational philosophy, learning environment and culture that you are truly aligned with. While you are learning about the academic and extracurricular activity requirements of the school, consider whether your child is ready and fit for it. All of these considerations will come in handy during the interview. It is essential to be thorough in your preparations, as you can be certain that a question which will come up in an interview will be, “Why did you choose this school?”, and it would be nice to have a better answer prepared than, “Because it’s the best”.

Skill #3: Private schools are looking for families who want to be involved in the life of the school.

How to show off the skill:

During the application process, whether it be at the walking tour of the school, the interview or the application package completion, there will be opportunities to demonstrate three things: that your family shares the school values and is passionate about the learning environment, school staff, and programs; that the child is just as excited to attend the school as the parents are and can articulate why; and that the parents are willing to bring their special skills and abilities to enrich the life of the school.  In other words, the school life is not just a means to an end. It is not solely a stepping stone to the university of choice,  it is a place where the whole family can become a part of the fabric of the school’s life and culture.  Additionally, if the family has connections in the school or is willing to donate time, resources, or finances to the school, the application will be looked upon more favourably.  Of course, all in the spirit of “Ask not what your school can do for you, but what you can do for your school.”  And be natural about it, because admissions officers can smell something contrived and memorized from a mile away!