Parent interviews

[Anonymous]

To answer 8:54's question, I think everyone makes general assumptions about families re stability and income. It is up to the applicant to make sure that Admissions isn't making assumptions about single parents. Sad, but true - however things are changing - just not quite there yet.

In this day of electronic information, everyone from schools to potential employers are googling the kids and parents to learn more about them. They can get all sorts of info from their professional standing, community profile - even to lawsuits filed.

In all of our apps, we were asked about what we did, who we worked for, etc. Remember, all the info you are asked to fill out fills a need for the school.

[Anonymous]

I'm 9:41. Whatever you write or say, be clear and accurate. You say he's barely involved, but what does that mean? I'd elaborate a touch. (They speak, they see each a few times a year.) If you do not explain fully, it could come across that you are hiding something. I was very open about being divorced, even mentioned how my ex and I coordinated homework between the homes in one essay. And fully could just be a few sentences. Writing that you've gone separate ways suggests he's completely out of the picture.

[Anonymous]

Im a single mother, never married. Whenever I fill out applications, I only use my information. An interviewer might say something like "so her father is not involved?" I would answer no, and that was that.

[Anonymous]

I'll echo comments of other posters that in my experience, schools welcome all different kinds of families, whether 2 parent, single parent (mom), single parent (dad). raised by grandparents, same sex parents, etc. We have all of those at our PK-3 DC private school. So...with some baseline comfort level that the schools welcome you '"for you", I would recommend sharing as much information as you are comfortable doing. Personally, I would say (as an earlier poster suggested) "It will just be me today!" and add "I'm a single parent, DC's dad and I are separated, etc. based on your comfort level. Hang in there, OP!

[Anonymous]

OP here. The one essay is pretty open ended so I will mention something in it about our situation. Basically, I am the only one raising her and doing 100% of everything so I think it is less complicated than many other situations of divorced, separated or not married couples. I think there is a difference in that I was not once married to her dad. He hasn't been in her life on a daily basis ever. So all of the P/T conferences will be done by me alone as well as everything else (makes me tired just thinking about it!)

This is an unrelated question but some of the forms ask about race and some do not. But I've searched these schools' websites and greatschools.net and they all give a breakdown of racial demographics. So, if they don't ask on the application, where does that info come from? My DD is biracial but you probably wouldn't know that from looking at her. So how does a school get this info if it isn't asked on the application? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

So how does a school get this info if it isn't asked on the application? Just curious.

Verbally in parent/student interviews, also visual observation when it's obvious.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to fill it out but it is to your advantage. It is about diversity and standards set by each school. A definite plus for your daughter.

Ironically, a single parent without the other is often beneficial and easier in a number of ways. I knew too many kids with issues of divorced parents. I also grew up with my mother - father having skipped out on us. Much better homelife - and easier in comparison to my husband and his feuding parents.

[Anonymous]

13:32 You are so right. Two parents are not always better than one. (I'm divorced and I think joint custody is a travesty when one parents mistreats the other.)