Think you are out of the woods because your child is no longer a pre-schooler? Wrong! Getting into a good prep school anywhere in this country is a tough challenge. The better schools perennially attract more applicants than they have places available.
So, how do you get your child admitted to the school of your choosing? The solution is never easy. My best advice is as follows:
1. Start the school choice process well in advance.
2. Visit schools in person.
3. Meet the admissions staff.
4. Submit all admissions materials in a timely fashion.
5. Apply to at least three schools and make sure one of them is a 'safe' bet.
Question from a Reader
Choosing a pre-school is definitely a tough project. You are casting the die in so many ways for your child's future. The following email from a parent is worth reading as it raises an issue with which all of us parents must grapple: who is in charge of our children's education? Ideally education at the K-12 level is a three way partnership involving child, school and parent equally. Read this email and my response.
"I have a nearing 3-year old daughter."
"Here's my situation and why I'm writing to you for help. We have a developing Waldorf school in my area, however, I am looking for a school in which she can continually grow, that is more eclectic with strong emphasis on Waldorf teaching methodology. I love so many things about this type of education, however, there are some reasons why my husband and I feel that it's not the perfect system for our daughter. We are looking to find a school that offers a less purist philosophy, namely we don't like the fact that we have to sign an agreement that prohibits our daughter from all media for many years. The problem we have is not that we want her to watch lots of tv, play video games, etc., but rather that we want to keep our rights as parents to choose what we feel is right for our daughter, in tact."
We love the way they teach children, with their philosophy of connection with the natural world and each other and the emphasis on creative independent thinking, as well as educating the entire child (not just the cerebral); also the emphasis on play with the young child verses emphasis on early academics. We feel that mainstream public and private schools are seriously lacking in this department. My hope is for the highest good for our daughter's education and my husband and I feel that an eclectic-type school with an emphasis on the above-mentioned qualities is the best solution. Home-schooling is just not an option for us at this time. I am writing to you with our story, hoping that you can pass on to me any advice and resources that you may have, websites, groups, schools in my area, people, support groups, anything that you might know of that could help me. "
My reply:
They make you sign a ‘no TV’ agreement? Wow! Nancy and I sent our eldest daughter to the Waldorf School in Garden City, Long Island. It was a wonderful environment. Quite in tune with our aims. But no restrictions like that. Then again, there wasn’t much to TV 35 years ago!
Not sure how to guide you except to say: she’s your daughter. You are her principal teachers. Choose the academic setting which has most of what you are looking for and supply what’s missing yourself. Wish I could be more help.
More on choosing a school can be found at Choosing a School 101. More on early education options at Choosing a Primary School.
