Admissions Assistance

Helping parents manage the private school admission season successfully is what SCHOOL SOLUTIONS does best. We rescue parents who feel overwhelmed by applications, due dates, interviews, test prep and other admission requirements. We bring order and calm to your admission season so you can enjoy the activities you love to do.

The first point of stress for most families is deciding on which schools to apply to. Because families are undecided, they apply to many more schools than they should. I am opposed to the premise that students should identify schools as “Stretch, Target, and Safety”. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS students apply to schools that are “the right fit”.  

The SCHOOL SOLUTIONS method of identifying which schools should be on the student’s list is a thoughtful process involving surveys and interactive games with the student, time getting to know the parents, and feedback after everyone has attended open houses or tours. Student impressions are most important and can change after a shadow day or group visit.

From the first meeting with parents, we talk about entrance tests and plan a schedule of test prep, starting with pre-tests, choosing a tutor and planning a calendar of test dates.

While some group test prep may be good, I advocate one-on-one tutoring to spend time on personal weaknesses.

Both parents and students often feel unprepared for interviews, so we schedule several meetings to address how to make a positive impression on admission committees. Most students are nervous going into interviews, but our students are confident. They know what to expect and are prepared with the right questions and responses.

Group visits for young applicants can be extra-stressful because preschoolers are unpredictable. SCHOOL SOLUTIONS parents have planned ahead, so they can walk into a visit without drama and their child will have fun. I helped to develop a program for school readiness and a group of "play buddies" who work with students to develop executive functioning skills, pre-reading, number sense and early school skills that are commonly observed during group visits. In these sessions, there is no work that resembles any subtests children will see on the WPPSI IQ test. 

During the process, SCHOOL SOLUTIONS helps parents get all the typical paperwork completed, plus special recommendations, portfolios, videos and other materials schools request. By the file complete date, our clients are confident that every item has been submitted in plenty of time.

March is a big month when parents are notified of admission committee decisions. Whether our families apply only to private schools or a combination that includes some public school options, we help them make good decisions among their acceptances. When SCHOOL SOLUTIONS families submit their enrollment contracts, they have confidence that their child will be attending “the right school”.