| Your teenager's entrance into private high school | | | | has performed well in elementary school and we |
| cannot be taken for granted. With public schools beset | | | | believe that he will bring that interest and aptitude to his |
| with a variety of problems - discipline, poor test results, | | | | high school studies. His current teachers note that |
| safety - private high schools offer your child a quality | | | | Tommy regularly asks thoughtful and insightful |
| education in a safe environment. | | | | questions in class. In addition to working hard to |
| When you request an information package from a | | | | perform well academically, Tommy will be an willing |
| private high school, you will discover that essays and | | | | participant in the school's baseball team and/or its |
| short answer essays are required from both you and | | | | marching band. Tommy keeps a busy schedule during |
| your teenager. Your teen, who should be comfortable | | | | the school year and as a well rounded and serious |
| with answering essay style questions will be asked | | | | young man, he will represent the ideals and message |
| about his academic strengths and weaknesses, his | | | | of the XYZ School now and in the future. |
| desire to attend the private school and about his | | | | Family Stability and Religious Questions |
| hobbies and extra-curricular activities. Questions | | | | Other questions will more directly ask you about your |
| directed to parents, however, often have a different | | | | future participation in school fund raising and other |
| focus and are designed with different purposes in | | | | activities. These questions are designed to evaluate |
| mind. | | | | the stability of your home life and your future financial |
| Usually, the essay questions directed to parents are | | | | support potential. For example a religious school |
| analytical in nature. Instead of asking for facts, these | | | | application might ask about the role your religion plays |
| questions ask you to speak about your teens | | | | in your life. A non-religious school might ask why you |
| character, to discuss family dynamics and to gauge | | | | are considering the XYZ School. Here is a sample |
| your role as a supporter of the private school. Private | | | | answer to this type of question: |
| high school admittance directors recognize that | | | | Our family is an active member of XYZ church. We |
| teenagers who are brought up in a stable, education | | | | are active members of the social action committee |
| focused home, are much more likely to succeed than | | | | and every Thanksgiving, our entire family, including |
| their peers who have less support at home. | | | | Tommy and his two sisters, volunteer at the XYZ |
| Similarly, private school administrators look at your | | | | Church gently used clothing center where we help |
| essay answers to determine whether you can be | | | | distribute gently used clothes to homeless people. |
| counted on to support the high school financially or | | | | Tommy and his sisters have been greatly impacted by |
| through volunteer work. As you might imagine, | | | | this activity as well as other church related functions. |
| administrators cannot legally or ethically ask some of | | | | With a hands-on opportunity to minister to the less |
| these questions but they can draw inferences based | | | | fortunate, Tommy has a personal understanding of the |
| on your answers to application questions. | | | | message of XYZ religion. We try to reinforce that |
| Analytical Questions | | | | message at home by attending services regularly and |
| For example, an entrance application question may ask | | | | making daily prayer a part of our routine. At the XYZ |
| what you believe your child can contribute to the XYZ | | | | Private Elementary School, both my husband and I |
| school. This type of question is really asking you to | | | | have served on the Board of Directors and we are |
| speak to your child's academic, social, athletic and | | | | active participants in the school's Feed the Hungry |
| out-of-school interests. If you have visited the school, | | | | annual campaign. |
| reference your visit to show that you have made an | | | | Answers like the ones set out above are designed to |
| effort to learn more about the school. Your answer | | | | send a message to school administrators that both |
| should address each of your child's areas of interest | | | | you and your teen are serious, dedicated and stable |
| and strength. Here is a sample answer to this question: | | | | people who will fit in well with the community that |
| During our recent visit to the XYZ School, Tommy | | | | develops within a particular private school. If you make |
| pointed out to me the well equipped science lab and | | | | an effort to study the type of community that exists |
| asked a number of questions about the science | | | | within a particular school and you model your entrance |
| curriculum available to students at the school. Tommy | | | | questionnaire essay to that community, you greatly |
| has a long standing interest in studying science and he | | | | enhance your child's chances at gaining admission. |