Reply to private school admissions--what sets kids apart?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It’s like in a job interview. When they say “Why do you want to work here?” The  answer can’t just be, “I really need a job and all my friends will be impressed if I get one at Fancy Corp., plus I like the benefits here.” And no one argues with that - it’s just the way the game is played. This is the school admissions version.[/quote]

Again, have you interviewed warehouse workers? This is exactly the kind of answer that is given sometimes.

I don't argue with you that this is the way the game is played. I do think people are blind if they don't see the chasm between where some kids are coming from and the culture they're trying to enter. When the chasm is driven by priviledge and the school talks so much about equity, perhaps they should not be blind about this chasm.[/quote]

And the warehouse response wouldn't work for the top tiered schools...but you are right...the challenge is that not everyone understands how to play the game and handle the interviews. [/quote]

NP here. It's not just the interviews. It's also the essays and responses to questions. Here are two things that we did that I think really helped (we were applying for 9th, but likely this would apply anywhere from 6th on).

1) Focus on the school's stated values and philosophies and try to point back to them in interviews, essays, questions etc. Talk about how you are looking for a place that embodies those things and express how you see it played out in the school and why it will be good for your kid.

2) Think about how you "market" your child. This means creating a framework about how you want to present your kid and also how you think about schools.

Example:
Kid is a steller violist, shy, loves Spanish, is applying to NCS, whose core values are excellence, service, courage, conscience. Now, you write about how your student is looking for a school where they can contribute through the languages of music and Spanish, how they excel and are more "fluent" in those mediums. And how you are looking for a school that will support her courage to become more confident in other "languages."  Daughter writes an essay about performing on stage, lessons learned, and how her ultimate goal is to be on stage in a venue like the national cathedral, playing as a representative and serving her school and community.

The point is, make it easy for them. Connect the dots between your kid and the school as well as paint a clear and simple picture of your child. You get the idea.

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