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3 Tips for Writing Your Child's Private School Application Essay

How to harness the power of storytelling.

Soojung-Smith

By Soojung Smith

Published on: october 30, 2017.

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It’s that time of year again: the busy admissions season for private and independent K–12 schools. Keeping track of each school's open houses, campus tours, parent and student interview dates and test requirements can feel like a full-time job. 

Each year, more families are considering private schools for their children and competition for top private schools in the greater Seattle area has become increasingly fierce. Some elite private schools admit fewer than 10 percent of their applicants from a highly qualified candidate pool. High standardized test (SSAT and ISEE) scores and GPAs alone, unfortunately, don’t guarantee a spot at these coveted schools. They're interested in forming a diverse and well-rounded student body that delves beyond students’ test scores and grades.

Some elite private schools admit fewer than 10 percent of their applicants.

One of the biggest mistakes I've seen families make in preparing their child’s applications for admission is to treat the information they submit as separate data points. Rather than painting a complete picture of their student, parent and student essays often read like a student activity form.

To give your child the best chance of success, it's important to be intentional and thoughtful about your child’s application. Remember that admission committees are interested in learning about your child and what your family can offer, and how you will contribute to their schools and school communities.

Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your child's private school application.

Know what it is you want to say about your child and your family: What are the key messages you want to convey?  

  • Think about how you and others see your child. You as parents? Grandparents? Their siblings? How would their friends describe them? Teachers? Neighbors?
  • What keywords begin to emerge? Kind? Mature? Creative? Curious? Inventive? A maker? A leader?
  • Choose three to five themes that best capture core identities of your child.
  • Use your child’s essential qualities, be it their achievements, unique experiences, activities or interests to make the connection to these themes.
  • Once themes emerge, look broadly and creatively at parent and student essays, activity profile, teacher recommendations, and other application elements for opportunities to weave these ideas together for differentiation.

Start working on essays and other application elements

  • Typically, families apply for three to five schools and, depending upon schools under consideration, you may end up with writing not only a common set of essays but also other unique ones they require from applicants and their families.
  • These requirements all add up, expecting a significant amount of time and efforts on your and your child’s end. Good writing is a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. Be prepared to go through three rounds of drafts of parent and student essays to get to final “quality” ones you and your student feel proud of. Try to have solid first drafts by the end of October, the second one by the end of November and the final draft by the end of December.   
  • Make sure you write parent essays while your child writes their student essays. You can lend help to your child, but they need to provide original and thoughtful answers in their portion of the applications as well as during interviews. Schools can tell if a parent writes student essays and even go so far as to collect writing samples.

Use essays and other application elements for effective storytelling

  • Use a parent statement, student essays and an extracurricular activity profile to let the reader in: Who is your child? What do they care most? Who is their hero? Why? How do these insights connect with other information you are submitting about your child and your family? Is there a particular story(ies) that helps to describe your child and your family best?
  • Distill the story that defines your child and your family in the space provided in online applications before the deadline for completed applications. Each essay question has a specific word count you can’t exceed, so be mindful of how you will use precious real estate to convey main messages for differentiation.

Effective storytelling alone won’t necessarily put your child over the top if they aren't already a competitive candidate. But it goes hand-in-hand with solid standardized test scores and GPAs for robust applications. Let schools know how unique your child and your family are. Let them know how your child and family will contribute to a diverse student body. Good luck!

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About the author.

Soojung-Smith

Soojung Smith is a family education coach, author, CEO and board advisor, and former Microsoft marketing executive. Her children attend two private schools on the Eastside. Soojung supports parents with challenging issues such as private school vs. public school, private school admissions, and students’ executive functioning skills and their public speaking competencies. Email Soojung at  [email protected] .

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11 Parent Statement Tips for Private School Applications

private school admission essay examples

Private schools aim to collect as much information from different sources about prospective students as possible during the application process. The perspective provided by parents and guardians is highly valued because no one knows your child better than you.

The real question is, how do you provide insight on an application form that helps schools see your child’s unique qualities?

Let’s review guidelines for the types of questions you’re likely to encounter below. The exact questions will vary from school to school, so the crucial takeaway when writing parent statements is to use examples and stories . For example, show how your child is creative, resilient, or empathetic through specific anecdotes instead of statements.

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">General Parent Statements</span> 

Many applications include a prompt similar to this: "A parent/guardian's perspective on your child's strengths and weaknesses is valuable. Please write a statement of recommendation for your child." When responding, keep the following guidelines in mind.

  • One paragraph should review how your child is "smart," but don’t discuss grades or test scores here. Instead, focus on how your child is academically engaged and intellectually curious. Use stories and anecdotes to add depth. 
  • Another paragraph, describe your child's character and personality. Don’t list adjectives here. Rather, use stories to bring your child to life on the page. 
  • Finally, it's important to cover any challenges your child has faced and, most importantly, how they have overcome these challenges. Most schools ask about challenges and they can be wary if parents don't mention any.
  • Avoid using too many words. Edit down your first draft so that the main statement is no more than three to five sentences per paragraph, and make sure to heed suggested word counts requested by the schools. Admissions teams have a lot of files to read, and if your essay is too long, you risk them skimming it and missing out on your key points.

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<span class="text-color-lightblue" role="decoration">School-Specific Questions </span>  

"Why are you applying to [our] school?" is another common question. These tips will help your answer stand out.

  • Take notes on what the school says about themselves during open houses, visits, tours, etc. What is their mission statement? What are their stated values? Keep these notes handy as you eloquently match the school to your child and family. Again, use examples that really stick. 
  • If you’ve visited the school or attended an open house, draw on SPECIFIC examples from your experience. Make sure your response is UNIQUE to your family and student. Don't list adjectives about the school. Tell a story or give an example about why you think your student would thrive in their environment. Is it the school's philosophy or the art program? The experiential learning component? Make sure to match this element to your child. 
  • Review all answers before submitting the application to make sure you have the correct name of each school. It’s a common mistake for parents to cut and paste the wrong school name—and that’s never a good typo! 

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<span class="text-color-green" role="decoration">“Is there any further information?” </span>  

Given that applications have a limited number of questions for parents, each with word counts, this one provides valuable “real estate” to illustrate who your child is and something unique they would bring to the school. Here are some ways to take advantage of this opportunity that most parents skip. 

  • This space can be used to tell the school about a learning difference that you think is relevant. If you think this will show up in your child’s record, it is a good idea to show that you know what is hard for your child and how you have partnered with the current school to help them succeed. 
  • You could also use this section to describe the student’s diverse background of any kind. Schools are looking to create the most textured class possible. What will your child bring that is unique? 
  • This question could be a space to tell a story that illustrates a difficult moment for your family and how your child coped. Habits of heart and mind are becoming more important for schools; they’re often screening for qualities like resilience. 
  • Overall, you can discuss anything that wasn’t covered in the other parts of the application here. The information in this section should be relevant to understanding the student holistically and help the reader make sense of any apparent “holes” in the application. Keep in mind that this is not necessarily a place to list accolades or accomplishments. 

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">Thank You Notes </span>   

It’s always a good idea to send a thank you to the admission office or interviewer after a meeting or event. An email is fine, and in some ways, it’s easier since so many schools have paperless files. When you do this, think about the guidelines above and use this opportunity to match your unique child and family to the unique school!

Jamie Moffett is the founder of Walking Feet Advisors , an advising practice for families applying to independent schools. She previously served as the director of admission K–8 at Marin Country Day School in Corte Madera, Calif., where she worked for the last eighteen years.

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The Writing Sample

At some point in the admissions process, your child is going to have to write an essay, otherwise known as The Writing Sample. Don't be unduly fazed by this requirement. It is simply one more piece of the private school admissions puzzle. Interestingly enough, writing samples are often part of the admissions process for college and graduate school. Learning how to write well at a young age will benefit her in the future in a great many ways.

What is the Purpose of the Writing Sample?

Very simple, really. The school wants to determine how well your child can express herself in her writing. Many schools will split this part of the application into a series of questions. The Madeira School application , for example, asks her to answer five questions in Part 2. By the way, the candidate must complete Part 2 of Madeira's application. This is very important. The school wants to hear what your child has to say. Not what her uncle or father has to say. One thing you must never do, no matter how tempted, is to use the services of an essay-writing company such as EssayEdge . Most of the time, it isn't possible anyway because the two places where an essay is required are on the SSAT test itself and during the interview at the school. So, put that thought out of your mind right now. The school wants to hear what your child thinks, it wants to see how she writes and all in her own words, not somebody else's.

Practice Makes Perfect

The secret to writing effortlessly is to practice as much as you can. Encourage your child to keep a journal. Show her how to write a blog. Get her to write. Every day ideally. Show her how to model her writing after the best examples. Yes, that means that she needs to read great literature. As in books. Don't just watch the movie version. Get in the habit of setting aside time for reading. Make it an enjoyable experience with no distractions, such as your iPod or TV in the background. If you haven't bought a Kindle for her, do so. She'll take it everywhere with her and begin to read voraciously.

Tips for Writing

Your daughter is going to be nervous. Tell her not to fuss about grammar and syntax. If she has those skills, then she needs to use them. It's more important for her to express herself. The school wants to see and feel the real her, not some persona that she thinks they want to see. She is unique. Let that uniqueness shine. Remember: the writing sample or essay is merely one more piece of the admissions puzzle. But it is an important part of that puzzle. Give it some thought and preparation, and your child will be fine.

Some Practical Advice

Allison Clark makes an important point in How to Write a Private High School Application Essay Worth Reading when she states:

The biggest mistake students make when writing an essay is that they forget who their audience is. Your audience, be it a teacher, an administrator, or an admissions committee, has likely read hundreds if not thousands of students’ admissions essays. This means that you are going to have to do more than throw in a few SAT words to impress them. The key to writing an essay worth reading is writing an essay that has not been written before. It needs to be your own story, not the story you think they want to hear.

The question I have to write a high school admission essay, any tips? on Quora prompted a useful answer from Sophia V. Hegedus on the staff of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health:

A2A. I agree with the other writers here. Be yourself! Now- enough of the corny- you need to demonstrate how you will contribute to this school. Take a paper, and start brainstorming (or a whiteboard at school) all experiences, or stories where you demonstrated unique qualities of character. For example, perhaps you demonstrated leadership by helping another student in your class understand a tough concept. Maybe you are creative (this was what made me unique all through high school and college) and think of creative ways to approach problems (this is all encompassing doesn’t just have to be school). Maybe you represent a diverse body of people, and you demonstrate that in your interests. Just make sure that you are giving an argument, not a forceful, aggressive, or arrogant way, but a convincing way. Everything you write in the essay should answer the questions, make sure you follow directions! Perhaps make a flow chart- I used to laugh at flowcharts when I was in grade school I would roll my eyes and say “not this stuff again.” Then I got to college and wrote my senior thesis singularly generated from a complex flow chart-you don’t have to use the whole flow chart the purpose is to generate ideas and to make connections. In this case, you are making a flow chart that would answer all the questions by providing EXAMPLES. You do not just say that you a leader- you demonstrate you are a leader. The last crucial step is to have someone look over it and edit. Plan early and don’t wait till the last minute. You can also write for 15mn a day until it is finished- I did this in college and it works wonders. Best wishes! if(window['renderAD']){renderAD('tms-ad-4')} if(window['renderAD']){renderAD('tms-ad-5')} if(window['renderAD']){renderAD('tms-ad-6')}

Use the string "writing sample high school admissions" to filter out job and college applications writing sample links when you search online.

An Example of an essay

Here's an essay written by ChatGPT as a 15-year-old on the prompt "Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve."

From an early age, I was fortunate to receive a quality education that shaped my worldview and opened doors of opportunity. However, I couldn't ignore the harsh reality that countless children face daily, struggling to access basic education due to financial limitations, lack of resources, and societal barriers. Witnessing this injustice ignited a fire within me, compelling me to take action and be a catalyst for change.

Recognizing the magnitude of the problem, I resolved to contribute in whatever way I could. I started by reaching out to local nonprofit organizations that focused on educational initiatives for underprivileged children. By volunteering my time and skills, I aimed to provide support and create educational opportunities for those who needed them most.

Understanding that education is not merely about textbooks and classrooms, I realized the immense impact that words and storytelling can have on young minds. I organized storytelling sessions at community centers, where I shared inspiring tales of resilience, creativity, and determination. Through these stories, I aimed to instill a love for learning, ignite curiosity, and empower children to believe in their own potential.

I also encountered logistical challenges in my journey, such as limited access to educational materials and technology. To overcome these obstacles, I collaborated with like-minded individuals, leveraging the power of social media and crowdfunding platforms to raise awareness and gather resources. By connecting with people who shared my passion for education, I was able to bridge gaps and provide necessary tools for learning, including books, notebooks, and even digital devices.

Witnessing the transformative power of education on young minds, I became even more determined to expand my impact. I started organizing workshops and mentorship programs, connecting students with professionals from diverse fields. By exposing these children to a variety of career paths, I aimed to broaden their horizons and inspire them to dream big, regardless of their circumstances.

In the face of the educational inequality that plagues our society, I have chosen to be an agent of change. By tackling the problem of limited access to quality education, I strive to empower young minds and break the cycle of poverty and inequality. Through storytelling, resource mobilization, and mentorship, I believe we can create a brighter future where every child has the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Together, let us harness the power of words and education to solve this pressing problem and pave the way for a more equitable world.

Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @privateschoolreview

#PrivateSchoolAdmissions #WritingSampleTips #AdmissionsJourney

Source: ChatGPT

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The Best Private School Essays

Jason Giffen: Director of Enrollment Management

How does a student write the perfect essay? You don’t! The goal is not perfection. Being in the admissions field for more than twenty years, I have read more essays than I can count. Essays by nine-year-olds, essays by sixteen-year-olds, and everything in between.

Do you know which essays impress me the most? The ones where I get to know the writer. 

You can read a million posts about writing a strong admission essay but I wanted to boil down all the good advice out there into four simple but essential points:  

4 Essentials for the Best Admissions Essays

1. Write the essay yourself:  You are unique and the stories you have to tell are one of a kind. I want to hear them. Use your senses. Give me details. Describe the way you felt, and what the events in your story mean to you. It’s usually pretty evident when someone other than you did the writing (and that’s not the impression you want to make!). Use your voice. Be funny, be serious, be you.

  2. Authenticity Matters: Think of the moments that stand out to you in your life. That’s what I want to read about. Even a very young child can describe the moments that matter. This could be an achievement, a failure, a family tradition, or an encounter that changed your path or your thinking. Different schools will offer different essay prompts but regardless, the reader will want to know that the example given has real meaning to the writer. Don’t try and guess what the admission team wants you to say—write about your authentic self.

3. Perfection Won’t Fly:   Reading an essay that is all about how wonderful, accomplished, and flawless the writer is can be a turnoff. Don’t shy away from sharing something you are proud of, but remember to share the full story including how you worked through conflicts or obstacles and who helped you out along the way. Did you feel gratitude? Relief? Create a real picture, not a perfect picture.

4. Show you care:   While I’ve made clear that perfection is not the goal, you do want to demonstrate that you took the essay seriously. Once you’ve written it, read it. Read it aloud to catch errors.  Edit your work and make sure you correct the grammar. Think about letting a teacher read the final product, and listen to the feedback. The “cleaner” your essay is, the easier it is for me to read. Small errors are big distractions – and so fixable. You want to be proud of the finished product.

If you embrace these four tips, you are well on your way to an essay any admission team will appreciate. I hope you found this helpful. 

SLS Admissions Team-1

St. Luke's School Admissions Team: Mary Kate DeRienzo, Jason Giffen, Michael Rupp, and Blake Bueckman.

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private school admission essay examples

How to Write a Private High School Application Essay Worth Reading

Forget everything you’ve ever learned about writing an essay.

Okay, I may be being a bit melodramatic. You still need appropriate grammar, syntax, spelling, and formatting.

But as for the generic boring cluster that begins with “In this essay I am going to be discussing ___ by looking at x,y, and z,” throw that out the window because it’s nothing but a one way ticket to Snoozeville not only for you but for anyone tasked with reading it.

Remember Your Private High School Application Essay Audience

The biggest mistake students make when writing an essay is that they forget who their audience is . Your audience, be it a teacher, an administrator, or an admissions committee, has likely read hundreds if not thousands of student’s admissions essays.

This means that you are going to have to do more than throw in a few SAT words to impress them. The key to writing an essay worth reading is writing an essay that has not been written before by any other essay writer . It needs to be your own story, not the story you think they want to hear.

One of my favorite things about writing is that there is no right or wrong answer. An essay isn’t a scantron that you have to correctly bubble in or risk some computer incorrectly grading you.  You can’t just play eenie miney moe and hope for the best. Writing is personal. It’s written by one individual and read by another.

But all too often students, especially in the application process , forget this. They write the essay they think that the admission committee wants to read when in reality it’s an essay that the committee has probably already read a million times.

The Importance of the Essay Topic

What is the root of this cause? The topic.

If your topic is flawed, cliché, generic, or boring, it doesn’t matter how well crafted your essay is it will be forgotten. When approaching your admission essay, think of it this way: when the admission committee begins reading your essay they’ll view you as just a number, but when they finish it you want them to view you as an individual student.

So, how do we accomplish this?

It’s simple: don’t write the essay you think an admissions committee wants to read, write one that YOU would want to read . If your own essay bores you, it’s highly likely that it will bore everyone else.

Let’s say that your topic is to discuss an extracurricular activity that has played a large impact on your life. A lot of times students are tempted to write what they think the admission committee want to hear.

“I love to volunteer because it has taught me to be appreciative of what I have,”

Or “I love National Honors Society because it allows me to combine my love of academics with my love of service.”

While both of these are wonderful extracurricular activities, unless you are truly passionate about either and have specific details to intertwine into your narrative, it’s going to come off dry and predictable.

What Your Topic Should Be Instead

When describing their ideal student, one of the top words used by the Director of Admissions at some of DC’s top private schools is “passionate.”

Admissions Committees are not looking for a cookie-cutter student; rather they are looking for a student who genuinely loves something and will share that love with other students .

So if you love to spend your weekends driving four-wheelers or riding horses or making short films on iMovie, write about that because I can assure you that your natural enthusiasm will read a whole lot better than the stale and generic “I love to volunteer” response – unless that is actually what you spend your weekends doing.

The Essay’s Opening Paragraph

Don’t believe me?

Consider these two opening paragraphs. You tell me which one you want to keep reading?

1. “’Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ These famous words were spoken by John F. Kennedy, one of the best politicians of all life. John F. Kennedy led America and has become my role model. He encouraged me to get into politics which is why I joined student government. When asked what extracurricular activity has had the largest impact on me as a person, I immediately thought of student government. In this essay I will discuss how student government has impacted me as a person by growing my leadership skills, developing my social connections, and making me take academics more seriously.”

2. “I don’t ride for blue ribbons or Olympic gold, although I respect and admire those chosen few who do. I don’t ride for the workout, although my trembling muscles at the end of a good lesson indicate otherwise. I don’t ride because I have anything to prove, although I’ve proven a lot to myself along the way. I ride for the feeling of two individual beings becoming one, so perfectly matched that it’s impossible to tell where rider ends and horse begins. I ride to feel the staccato beat of hooves against dirt echoed in the rhythm of my own heart. I ride because it isn’t easy to navigate a creature with a mind of its own around a course of solid obstacles, but in that perfect moment when horse and rider work as one, it can be the easiest thing in the world. I ride for an affectionate nose nudging my shoulder as I turn to leave, searching for a treat or a pat or murmured words of praise. I ride for myself, but for my horse as well, my partner and my equal.”

Next Steps: Your Perfect Admissions Essay

Okay now you have the framework.

First, remember that you’re writing to a private school admissions audience that has probably seen every high school application essay in the book. So don’t write the one you think they want to read… write the one that you care most about.

Then, choose the essay topic that resonates most with you as a student. That enthusiasm will shine through in your writing, and hopefully “wow” the reader enough to convince them they have to have you at their school.

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Application Essentials for the Top 20 U.S. Private High Schools

Applying to private high schools can feel daunting. For many students, it’s the first time they’ve had to complete an application of this sort or take on serious standardized testing.

While the private school application process is definitely involved, it’s nothing that can’t be managed with a proper mindset, timeline, and study plan. We encourage families to start thinking about where they want to apply early and know the important deadlines for those schools.

Students should also begin studying for the SSAT plenty of time before their first official test date and be prepared to take the SSAT more than once. The first step towards independent school success is strong SSAT scores , and you want to put yourself in the best position possible to stand out.

To help with your planning, we’ve compiled a list of important dates, deadlines, and other application essentials for the top 20 private high schools in the U.S.

Here’s what we cover in this post:

The Private School Application in a Nutshell

Every private high school in the U.S. is different, but most applications require students to submit the same general materials, which typically involve the following:

  • an academic transcript
  • letters of recommendation
  • SSAT scores
  • an interview
  • and/or essay or writing sample

Many competitive high schools have application components in addition to these general requirements, such as interviews, parent/guardian statements, supplementary letters of recommendation, portfolios, graded writing samples, and essay questions.

Some schools might have “optional” or “suggested” requirements, such as the SSAT Character Skills Snapshot.

We encourage families to familiarize themselves with  all  application requirements for each school of choice and to consider submitting optional components if possible. While this doesn’t necessarily guarantee acceptance, these additional components can potentially provide admissions officers with greater insight into your student’s potential.

If you have any questions about the application process for a specific school, feel free to contact the admissions office. Most school representatives are more than happy to provide further insight into SSAT score requirements, candidate statements, transcript submission, etc.

The list below compiles application essentials for the most competitive U.S. private high schools in New England. There are numerous competitive private schools in this region, and their application standards are representative of most schools.

We update these details regularly for your convenience.

Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter, NH)

  • SSAT score submission deadline: January 15
  • Application deadline: January 15
  • Rolling Admissions: No
  • Interviews: Yes (required)
  • Application Portal: found here
  • Additional application requirements: Essay questions, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation (optional), special interest recommendation (optional), SSAT character skills snapshot (optional)

Phillips Academy Andover (Andover, MA)

  • SSAT score submission deadline: February 1 (February test scores accepted if all other materials are in prior to February 1)
  • Application deadline: February 1
  • Rolling Admissions: No, but there is a “second round” admissions process for students applying after February 1. Call the admissions office for more information.
  • Additional application requirements: Graded writing sample, short answer and essay questions, parent/guardian statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation, special interest recommendation (optional)

The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, NJ)

  • SSAT score submission deadline: February 1
  • Interviews: Yes
  • Application Portal: Apply with the SSAT Standard Application Online ( more info )
  • Additional application requirements: SSAT Standard Application Online forms, supplementary materials for athletics and art (encouraged), SSAT character skills snapshot (strongly recommended)

Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)

  • Interviews: Yes (strongly encouraged)
  • Additional application requirements: Essay questions, parent/guardian statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation (optional), SSAT character skills snapshot (optional)

Deerfield Academy (Deerfield, MA)

  • Rolling Admissions: No, but there is a “late applicant” admissions process for students applying after January 15. Call the admissions office for more information.
  • Additional application requirements: Graded writing sample, short answer and essay questions, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, current academic teacher recommendation (from a third teacher of the student’s choice)

St. Paul’s School (Concord, NH)

  • Additional application requirements: Candidate statement, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation, special interest recommendation (optional), supplementary materials for athletes/ballet dancers/musicians (optional)

Groton School (Groton, MA)

  • SSAT score submission deadline: January 15 (January test scores will be accepted, but November and December tests are preferred)
  • Interviews: Yes (recommended)
  • Additional application requirements: Graded writing sample, candidate statement, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendation, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation, special interest recommendation (optional)

Noble & Greenough School (Dedham, MA)

  • Application Portal: Apply through Ravenna ( more info )
  • Additional application requirements: Student statement, extracurricular activities form, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, character skills snapshot (required)

The Hotchkiss School (Lakeville, CT)

  • Additional application requirements: Graded writing sample, candidate project, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation, special interest recommendation (optional)

Middlesex School (Concord, MA)

  • SSAT score submission deadline: Tests through February accepted
  • Application deadline: January 31
  • Additional application requirements: Student essay questions, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation (optional), special interest recommendation (optional), SSAT character skills snapshot (strongly encouraged)

The Loomis Chaffee School (Windsor, CT)

  • Rolling Admissions: All late applicants will be considered on a rolling basis as space becomes available
  • Additional application requirements: Essay questions, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, SSAT character skills snapshot (optional)

Milton Academy (Milton, MA)

  • Application Portal: Apply using the Gateway to Prep Schools common application or the SSAT Standard Application Online ( more info )
  • Additional application requirements: Short answers and essay questions, parent statement, graded writing sample, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation (optional), special interest recommendation (optional)

St. Andrew’s School (Middletown, DE)

  • Application Portal: Common applications not accepted. Apply through the Andrew’s Online Application Portal .
  • Additional application requirements: Transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, special interest in athletics or art form (optional)

St. Albans School (Washington, DC)

  • Application deadline: January 8
  • Additional application requirements: Two personal statements, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation

Concord Academy (Concord, MA)

  • Interviews: Yes (suggested)
  • Additional application requirements: Personal statement, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, visual and performing arts portfolio (if applicable)

Peddie School (Hightstown, NJ)

  • Rolling Admissions: Applications received after January 15 will be considered on a rolling basis
  • Additional application requirements: Student essays, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation, Peddie School supplemental form

Hill School (Pottstown, PA)

  • SSAT score submission deadline: January 31
  • Rolling Admissions: Applications received after January 31 will be considered on a rolling basis
  • Additional application requirements: Short answer and essay questions, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation (optional), graded writing sample (optional)

Taft School (Watertown, CT)

  • Additional application requirements: Short answers and essay questions, parent statement, graded writing sample, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, character skills snapshot (recommended)

Blair Academy (Blairstown, NJ)

  • Additional application requirements: Student questionnaire, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, personal recommendation (optional)

Westminster School (Simsbury, CT)

  • Additional application requirements: Graded writing sample, candidate statement, parent statement, transcript report, principal/counselor recommendations, current English teacher recommendation, current Mathematics teacher recommendation, character skills snapshot, personal recommendation (optional)

Applying to Private High Schools: Next Steps

When it comes to applying to private high schools in the U.S., the key to success is preparation! Know what to expect when applying and create a schedule to ensure you have the capacity to submit all components on time.

A strong application also starts with strong SSAT scores and an early, effective study plan. The SSAT covers a wide breadth of material, some of which may feel unfamiliar to students, such as the SSAT Verbal section . The best way to be prepared is to practice as much as possible in order to familiarize yourself with different question types and figure out which strategies work best for which questions.

How can you make sure that you’re getting the best SSAT practice possible?

We strongly recommend signing up for one of our state-of-the-art SSAT programs . Working with professionals who utilize real SSAT materials is the surest way to guarantee excellent results as you study for your private school exams.

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Annie is a graduate of Harvard University (B.A. in English). Originally from Connecticut, Annie now lives in Los Angeles and continues to mentor children across the country via online tutoring and college counseling. Over the last eight years, Annie has worked with hundreds of students to prepare them for all-things college, including SAT prep, ACT prep, application essays, subject tutoring, and general counseling.

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Parent Essays for Private Schools

Posted on: December 2, 2021

Sometimes they look a little sheepish when they ask.

“Katy, do you have any advice for us about the parent questions?”

The private school admissions process is often one that seems to throw unexpected curveballs every step along the way. And right when it feels like you are rounding third base, you notice that the application asks not only for your student to write an essay (or four…) but also for you to do the same. The request seems at once totally reasonable. It makes sense for a school to want an adult perspective on a young applicant. And yet it also seems out of the blue — after all, the parent isn’t the one applying to school!

The struggle with these questions tends to fall in to two camps:

“What are they looking for? Am I being evaluated?”

“I think my child is amazing, but I don’t want to brag.”

What are they looking for?

As with every time an admissions officer at any level of education is asked this question, they would say that the answer is authenticity . In this case, they’re usually looking for two things. First, how will your family connect with their community? Are they likely to see you at the sidelines of every field hockey game or front and center at the Annual Gala? Or both? They do not necessarily bring an agenda to reading these essays — every school needs both sideline spirit and Gala guests. But they are trying to envision the class community they are building as they look at all of the applications.

The second thing they’re looking for is your insight on your child. Even the most delightful and reflective 13-year-old is still a 13-year-old. Middle school students are just starting to develop the parts of their brain that allows them to understand some of their gifts and challenges. But the parents who love them probably have a good idea. So they are asking you to introduce yourself and your student to the admissions team.

Which brings us to the second anxiety: how much to say and how to say it.

What should you say?

I see parents falling into three traps with this issue: brevity, oversharing, and listing. While you always want to respect suggested word limits, I’d encourage you not to err too much on the side of brevity. When I was reading applications for private schools, I’d often read ten or fifteen applications at a time (hopefully in a quiet coffee shop, preferably with a fire, on a Saturday in January). If one of those applications has just a sentence or two and several others offer two or three paragraphs of insight on what this particular student may have to share, I felt a bit disappointed in the quick answer. It just did not give me much to go on.

But of course, be careful! The opposite can also happen. Several years ago, I read a response by a lovely parent of a lovely 8th grader. The question asked, “How does your child handle personal responsibility?” Much of the answer was a reflection on the parent’s part, that her daughter had not really ever been given responsibility. The answer detailed the parent’s guilt over this fact and dwelled more closely on the parent’s sense of having failed the child than on the answer to the question. It felt deeply personal and authentic, but it still missed the mark.

What should you NOT do?

Listing is perhaps the biggest pitfall I see. We are, naturally, quite proud of our child’s accomplishments. As good and supportive parents, we want to place our child squarely in the limelight, to let their experiences and triumphs speak for themselves. I often see parents use this space as a chance to list the things they are proud of: Her 3rd grade spelling bee ribbon; his 5th grade sportsmanship award. The problem with listing accomplishments is that probably these things are listed elsewhere in the application, under awards or extracurricular activities. So, you are essentially ceding your chance to show the great parts of who your student is as a person … but it’s the person that the admissions team is looking for.

The Takeaway: Parent Essay Advise

My advice to every parent is that you take this opportunity as a chance to thoughtfully consider both who your child is and what you want from the next school community you choose. Those answers are always a home run.

Help your child reach their full potential with individualized one on one test preparation.

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Parent Statements

Best parent statement tips for private school admissions.

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Most private schools require parents to answer prompts or fill in a questionnaire about their child. The parent statement is an introduction to your child taken from your perspective as a parent. The main idea is to provide a written statement about your child’s personality, interests, and strengths. 

With two decades of experience in private school admissions , our educational consultants have deep knowledge of how to write parent statements for private schools that would differentiate your child. This guide outlines a list of tips that will prevent you from making common mistakes in the Parent Statement section of school applications. 

  • Begin the writing process well in advance. Many families underestimate the time and thought it takes to complete parent statements and puts it off until the last minute. We recommend writing several drafts until you feel confident that you’ve provided all the necessary information.
  • Research the school extensively. Admissions officers are looking for students who will be a good fit, so make sure to research and learn about the differentiating values of each school. Explain clearly how your child will be a good fit and an asset to the school.
  • Be specific. Answer the questions clearly and be honest with your statements. Although you might want to impress the admissions officers by putting in a lot of information, they are only interested in things that matter.
  • Be objective and honest. The purpose of the parent statement is for admissions officers to gain insight into your child from your perspective. Don’t be afraid to mention your child’s weaknesses.  

As experts in private school admissions, we know what you should and should not include in your parent statements. Parents who come to us for help are surprised that writing parent statements is not as easy as it seems. They recognize the importance of seeking professional help when they learn that their statements can ruin their child’s chances of admission.

Why are parent statements important?

Parent statements are important because admissions officers need to know about your child’s personality and determine if they are a good fit for the school. They would also want to know about the dynamics of your family. How supportive are you as parents in helping your child become successful? What are your goals as a family? Do your values align with those of the school? 

How long are parent statements?

Each school will have its own requirements but typically, parent statements are 500 – 1500 characters long. It is important to keep to the maximum requirement because admissions officers will not be interested to read very long paragraphs especially if the first sentences are not interesting enough.

How do I make my parent statement interesting?

A well-written parent statement is one that not only showcases your child’s positive attributes but is also compelling enough for admissions officers to read from start to finish. Write anecdotes instead of just plain narratives that describe your child because everybody loves reading stories. Read different parent statement examples to get ideas on how to write parent statements that are interesting. 

Do I need help in writing my parent statement?

Yes, especially if you are not a strong writer. You may know your child well but if you cannot write about their strengths, weaknesses, and goals, you might lose your chances of admission. Contact us to learn more about our writing program. 

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How to Write the Parent Statement for Private School

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Most applications to private schools require parents to write about their children in a parent’s statement or by filling out a questionnaire. The purpose of the parent's letter is to add dimension to the candidate’s statement and help the admissions committee better understand the applicant from the parent’s perspective.

Parent statement is your chance to provide a personal introduction to your child and share details about how your child learns as well as what their interests and strengths are. The following are a few simple steps that will help you write an effective parent letter.

Think About Your Responses

It can be difficult to step back and consider your child objectively, but you need to do exactly that. Think about what your child’s teachers have said over time, particularly the ones who know them well.

Reread report cards and teacher comments. Think about consistent themes that emerge from the reports. Are there comments that teachers have consistently made about how your child learns and acts in school and in extracurricular activities? These comments will be helpful for the admissions committee. 

Consider also your own observations of your child as well as what you hope your child will get out of their private school experience.

Real children aren’t perfect, but they can still be great candidates to private schools. Describe your child accurately and openly. A full, real, and descriptive parent’s statement will show the admissions committee that you are being honest, and when they will read about the amazing sides of your child, they will be more likely to believe them.

If your child has had serious disciplinary actions or other issues in the past, describe them. Let the admissions officers know what happened and draw positive lessons from it. The school is looking for a real kid—not a perfect pupil.

Showing that your child and your family are capable of dealing with setbacks might be even more valuable than presenting a flawless picture. Of course, describe your child’s strengths and don't only feel the need to be negative—but everything you write should be truthful.

Also, helping the committee members understand your child with their strengths and challenges will help them make the best decision for everyone. Your child will be most successful if they attend the school that fits them best , and describing your child candidly will help the admissions committee decide if the school and your child are the best fit for one another. Children who succeed at their schools are happier and healthier and stand in better stead for college admissions.

Consider How Your Child Learns

The parent’s statement is a chance to describe how your child learns so that the admissions committee can decide if they are likely to benefit from being at the school. If your child has moderate to severe learning issues, reveal them. Many private schools grant students with learning issues  accommodations or changes in the curriculum, so that they can best demonstrate what they know.

Students with mild learning issues might be able to wait until they are admitted to the school to ask about the school’s accommodations policy, but students with more severe learning issues should ask about the school’s policies about helping them beforehand. You may also have to do some research into what kind of resources the school offers to help your child—before they attend the school. Being open and honest with the school will help you and your child find the school where they can be happy and successful.

How to Organize Your Letter

Parent statements for private schools are typically composed of three parts: description of your child, description of your family, and the alignment of your values with the school values. The first two or even all three may be blended together, as through descriptions of your child, the nature of your family and your values will come through.

Sometimes, school websites offer useful prompts to guide your letters, and if that is the case, you should definitely make use of them. Some of the frequent questions are:

  • What do you hope for your child to accomplish with the help of our school?
  • Has your child ever had any intellectual, emotional, or behavioral evaluations? If so, describe their contexts and results.
  • In what situations does your child thrive? Describe your child as an individual, with their hopes, values, goals, aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • Has your child been through any adversity? Describe the context and how they navigated it.
  • What has your role been in your child's education?
  • Does your child require any academic or other support or accommodations?

Ideally, your letter would respond to these questions as thoroughly, yet as succinctly as possible.

The simplest way to go about this is to choose three to five aspects of your child's personality that you would like to highlight and compose the statement around them. Include illustrative anecdotes that will also portray a little about your family life. If it comes naturally to you, feel free to make these funny or quirky, as you are ultimately trying to stand out from the rest of the applicants.

As mentioned, you should also make a point of familiarizing yourself with the school's values and objectives and show in your letter how connected these are to your family. The more natural this is the better. All in all, as long as you provide the admission officers with an honest snapshot of your family and your child's nature and potential, your letter will hold its ground.

Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

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Parent Statements For Private High School Admissions

Christopher Coleman

December 2, 2020

private school admission essay examples

When writing Parent Statements for private high school admissions, you must remember : you’re not writing your child’s resumé. For the purposes of this article, pretend that you are no longer a parent of a boarding school applicant. Instead, you are a boarding school admissions officer. Your job is to review applications and identify the applicants that are the best fit for your school from a large applicant pool. As a boarding school admission officer, you will read each page of every single admission application, which is standard operating procedure. 

In reviewing admission applications, you will read Parent Statements for private high school admissions . They will, hopefully, provide you with further information about the applicant. See, teacher recommendations primarily describe an applicant from an academic perspective. Transcripts will paint the picture of how much care the applicant puts into his or her studies. An activity list will explain how the applicant spends time outside of the classroom. What completes the applicant’s profile is information about them from the parents’ perspective, a unique vantage point that can provide very important information…or not.

As an admissions officer, Parent Statements can influence you in one of three ways: excite you, frustrate or bore you, or make little impression on you at all. 

What Should Entail Parent Statements for Private High School Admissions?

For whatever it’s worth, I am the parent of a child who is both a boarding school graduate and a college graduate. I have experienced both sides of the admission process, so I know the position in which you are in currently. 

Now, you might be thinking, “How can Parent Statements be anything but helpful and wonderful as they are written by kind, caring, and loving parents who only seek to support their children’s candidacies, Christopher?” In composing Parent Statements for private high school admissions , the writers  are only being, well, parents. More often than not, though, a parent’s point of view might come off as too promotional or lacking in objective insights. Translation: parents embody the statement made famous by Malcom X in that they wish to help their children gain admission to a school “by any means necessary,” touting their child as the second coming of Marie Curie, Serena Williams, or Stephen King. In reality, even though they are written with good intentions, these types of Parent Statements hurt their child’s application the most.

Let’s be honest. Parent Statements rarely make or break the success or failure of an admission application. Only in very rare cases has an applicant been accepted or denied admission solely based on the weight of a Parent Statement. So, it is best for parents to provide honest and objective information that will determine what kind of impact your child could make if he or she were to join that school’s community. 

Examples of Parent Statements

With that said, we’ll use the prompt and Parent Statement copied below as a sample for what ingredients should go into successful Parent Statements for private high school admissions .

Prompt: Please share with us the values you've instilled in your child and how our community might benefit from those values/lessons.

Response: We’ve taught our son Jimmy the value of volunteering and that not only does it benefit others, but that volunteering can also be a benefit to himself. Following our suggestion, Jimmy chose to volunteer on Saturdays at our neighborhood’s community center. He tutors younger kids in math and science. While the community center director has explained to my husband and me that Jimmy seems to be in a “happy place” whenever he tutors. The director also pointed out that Jimmy has a lot of fun interacting with the other children. My husband and I also noticed an increase in Jimmy’s grades since he started volunteering. You know what they say, the best way to learn is to teach.

Even more, Jimmy has also found that helping others is a practical way to further his own interests. During summer break, Jimmy loves to go fishing, but knows that he cannot go to the lake behind our house without being accompanied by an adult. My husband and I work during the day Monday through Friday and have lots of chores and errands on the weekends. So in previous summers, we have not had much time to take Jimmy fishing. To solve this issue, Jimmy taught his grandmother how to fish and goes fishing with her almost every day!

Experiencing firsthand the benefits of helping out others has made a positive impact on Jimmy’s life. My husband and I believe that as a student at your school, Jimmy would be likely to join or supervise a community service project or choose to become a peer tutor.  

Assessing the Example

Using the above example, here is how you, as an admission officer, should assess it:

  • Clean writing. There are no spelling or grammar errors and the sentences should flow together. You should expect to compose several drafts for each of your Parent Statements. Take the time in between each draft so that you read each draft with a fresh perspective. 
  • Answer the prompt. In directly answering the prompt, the Parent Statement provided a load of information about Jimmy. It pays for parents to brainstorm their child’s positive personality traits prior to responding to each prompt. These descriptors can act as a guide and give direction to the answer.
  • No GPAs or academic accolades were found in this response.   I understand being proud of a child’s academic performance as a parent. However, the admissions officer will gain an understanding of that through academic transcripts and recommendations. Your job is to give further perspective on your child. Jimmy’s grades improved as a result of his behavior, but the grades themselves were not included.
  • Tell a story…but not a novel. First and foremost, everyone likes a good story. Why do you think we watch movies and read books? The above example provides insight into Jimmy’s personality and his character. His academics have improved since becoming a tutor. He derives joy from helping and interacting with other children. He likes to fish. His family has set rules that Jimmy follows. One also learns that Jimmy is a problem-solver and has a positive relationship with family members from older generations. Lastly, by teaching his grandmother to fish, he now can participate in an activity he enjoys. The implication in all of this is that, if accepted, these are the qualities that Jimmy has to offer any school.
  • Parent Statements do not have to be as dry as legal documents or tax forms or be as tedious to read as assembly directions for an Ikea dresser. Adding interesting details or humor to a Parent Statement will benefit its readability.
  • Imagine a stack of Parent Statements stretching from your living room’s floor to its ceiling. As you are still reading this article, you are still an admissions officer. If your school requires each applicant’s parents to write five Parent Statements and during the course of an admission cycle you need to read 853 or more admission applications, you might just end up reading thousands of Parent Statements. From that perspective, you become quite eager to read Parent Statements that neither bore you, are majorly hyperbolic nor leave you with little to no insights into the applicant.

I hope that this blog has provided you with the basics towards building great Parents Statements for private high school admissions . When writing them, remember to think like an admission officer and not as a parent. If you were reviewing an admission application, what kind of Parent Statements would you find enjoyable to read and most insightful into an applicant’s personality? Did the Parent Statement you wrote meet those two criteria?

My best advice to you: Parent Statements are only meant to tell the parents’ side of a child’s story, not all of it. Put the care and attention into telling your side of your child’s story and do it well, leaving a positive impression.

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private school admission essay examples

Sample Private School Parent Statement for Younger Children

Sample Private School Parent Statement for Younger Children

We’ve helped hundreds of families navigate the admissions process, and we know that parent statements can be one of the most confusing parts of the journey. How can you possibly sum up your child in a few paragraphs? 

Parent statements can be even more of a challenge for younger children. With fewer academic and extracurricular milestones to include in an essay, parents have to spend more time describing their family life and their child’s unique spirit, which can be tricky to capture in words. 

 We’ve found that one of the most helpful ways for parents to conceptualize their own parent statement is to read a sample essay. Here’s a sample parent statement for younger children that does a great job of summing up the child’s personality, and the entire family’s approach to learning and development. 

*Note that this is a fictional parent statement describing a fictional student. 

Sample Parent Statement for Nursery or Elementary Applicants

Prompt: what would you like us to know about your child .

Ever since she was a baby, Christina has been quiet and contemplative. She is constantly observing any and everything about the world around her, forming her own theories about the way things work and constantly surprising us with the depth of what she notices. We can’t wait to witness how the school environment satiates Christina’s immense curiosity. 

Christina has always been intently focused on taking in information about the world around her. Even as an infant in the crib, Christina’s eyes would follow us everywhere as we moved around her room. Her brow would furrow if we did something new, like rearranging the furniture, and we could see her gears turning as her worldview continued to expand. Now as a toddler, Christina is no different. She has a remarkable ability to keep herself entertained, sitting quietly and watching the world move around her. Later on, at the most random of moments, she’ll bring up something specific that she observed (“Why didn’t Aunt Kate have the same drink as everyone else?” when she was pregnant and wasn’t drinking a beer with the rest of the adults), and we’ll realize how deeply she thinks about the world around her. 

It’s no surprise that for a mind like Christina’s, books are incredible. Reading with one or both of her parents has been Christina’s favorite activity since she was a baby; we make time at least once per day to read for 30 minutes. Christina rapidly processes new pictures, characters, and storylines. She quietly follows along as we read through a story, eyes scanning each page, then usually has several questions at the end of the story: why did a character do this, what will happen next, etc. We’re frequently surprised by the depth of her inquiries, and it’s not uncommon for storytime to spark deep conversations about family, purpose, death, and more. 

Christina’s quiet, thoughtful temperament is incredibly endearing. However, we worry sometimes that she isn’t quite as extroverted as some other young children; Christina prefers to fully evaluate a situation with new people (children or adults) before deciding how to take part. We think that a supportive kindergarten environment will help Christina grow into more of a social butterfly; new friendships and new experiences will help her find a balance between her inquisitive nature and a desire to connect and have fun with other kids.

As parents, we do everything we can to nurture Christina’s passion for exploring and understanding the world. We strive to speak to Christina like she’s an adult, answering her questions as best we can and treating her like a fully present member of the family. We do our best to provide Christina with opportunities to grow and learn more; a short science camp this summer opened Christina up to a whole new world of interesting phenomena, and introduced her to other children who like asking questions. We know that Christina will be an avid student once she begins attending school full-time; we’re sure that her teachers will enjoy the intensely deep questions that come out of nowhere, and appreciate Christina’s dedication to finding and understanding the answer. 

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Private High School Admission Essay Examples 2021

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If you want to write a high school application essay that is worth reading; one that your audience will remember: then this article has all your answers. In this article, we will guide you through writing that perfect essay that will grant you admission. Some private high school admission essay examples have been given below.

Private High School Admission Essay Examples, Importance of a Topic

Meaning of Essay

Before discussing the college essay example, note. An  essay   is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author’s own argument but the definition is vague. Thus, it overlaps with those of a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story.

Also, essays have traditionally been sub-classified as formal and informal. However, at this point, you may be wondering why you need an essay. please pay attention.

The Relevance of Essays

Admissions are a human process. Also, while admissions committees look at grades, test scores, and extracurricular, there could be a lot of students that have great qualifications in those areas for every spot in a university’s class. This is where essays come in.

Essays are an opportunity for you to turn an admissions counselor into an advocate for your application!

Also, essays help you to express why you deserve an award over the other student(s). An essay gives you the privilege to express yourself.

The Importance of the Essay Topic

If your topic is flawed, cliché, generic, or boring, it doesn’t matter how well-crafted your essay is it will be forgotten. When approaching your admission essay, think of it this way:

when the admission committee begins reading your essay they’ll view you as just a number, but when they finish it you want them to view you as an individual student.

So, how do we accomplish this?

It’s simple: don’t write the essay you think an admissions committee wants to read, write one that YOU would want to read. If your own essay bores you, it’s highly likely that it will bore everyone else.

Let’s say that your topic is to discuss an extracurricular activity that has played a large impact on your life. A lot of times students are tempted to write what they think the admission committee wants to hear.

What Your Topic Should Be Instead

When describing their ideal student, one of the top words used by the Director of Admissions at some of DC’s top private schools is “passionate.”

Admissions Committees are not looking for a cookie-cutter student; rather they are looking for a student who genuinely loves something and will share that love with other students.

So if you love to spend your weekends driving four-wheelers or riding horses or making short films on iMovie, write about that because I can assure you that your natural enthusiasm will read a whole lot better than the stale and generic “I love to volunteer” response – unless that is actually what you spend your weekends doing.

Private High School Admission Essay Examples

I’m one of those kids who can never read enough. I sit here, pen in hand, at my friendly, comfortable, oak desk and survey the books piled high on the shelves, the dresser, the bed, the chair, even the window ledge. Growing up without TV, I turned to the beckoning world of literature for both entertainment and inspiration. As I run my eye over the nearest titles, I notice… only three written in the last 50 years. Ahh, here’s Homer – by far my favorite ancient author – alongside Tolkien, my favorite modern. Incongruous? I think not. Tolkien loved Homer and honored him constantly within his own work. How could I fully appreciate the exchange between Bilbo and Gollum without seeing the parallel story of Odysseus and Polyphemus in the back of my mind? In the innocent characters of Bilbo and Frodo, Tolkien gives a quiet refutation to Plato’s philosophical dialog of Gyges’ Ring. Only a classicist would notice. Donne would, over there on the shelf, encased contentedly in his quiet brown binding. Aristotle wouldn’t. He’s too busy analyzing the Dickens on either side of him. The deeper I dig, the richer ground I find. I accidentally discovered the source of Feste’s comedic dialog in Twelfth Night while translating the Latin plays of Plautus. I met the traitor Brutus as a fictional character in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, renewed my acquaintance with the actual man in Classical History, and hope never to meet his soul in the deepest circle of Dante’s Inferno. Continue reading… In all of this, I can sense a bond, transcending time and linking me to Homer, to Tennyson, to Virgil, Byron, and Nietzsche. In my mind’s eye, all the great works I’ve read lie spread out on a gigantic blackboard, and that mystic bond takes shape in a vast connecting network, branching from history to myth and from myth to fantasy. I’ve been unconsciously collecting this mental catalog all my life. I was 12 the first time I read the unabridged Odyssey, but I’ve known the story for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I read authors like E. Nesbit, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Robert Louis Stevenson. As a child, I didn’t try to analyze the conflicts of Long John Silver’s character or document Kipling’s literary devices – I just loved the stories, and I picked up the techniques of great authors subconsciously. Good writing is contagious. Now as a senior beginning to analyze literature and philosophy more closely, I already have a huge pool to draw from.  In British Literature this year, my paper on the monsters of Beowulf won praise from my teacher because, having already read Beowulf several times over the years, I was able to analyze on a deeper level and recognize themes I hadn’t noticed before. Continue reading… In college , I will continue to study great stories and contribute in my own way: literature on the big screen rather than on paper. Film is the way that our modern culture experiences narrative. Cinema has always fascinated me as a medium for storytelling, and my passion has only grown as I’ve studied every aspect of film-making. The vast scope of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy draws me in, but I want to write my own epic. One day, I will create my masterpiece, rich with the wisdom and artistry of three millennia, and offer it humbly to the classicists of the future.
A misplaced foot on the accelerator instead of the brakes made me the victim of someone’s careless mistake. Rushing through the dark streets of my hometown in an ambulance, I attempted to hold back my tears while two supportive Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) comforted me. Although I suffered a minor knee injury, the trauma of that accident still lingers. Fast forward six years to the present. Now I am sitting in the back of the ambulance, a rookie EMT, with my purple gloves on, stethoscope around my neck, and a red medical bag in hand. I am also making sure we have the proper medical equipment stocked, including neck collars and long body boards. As I step out of the ambulance, a bitter breeze nips at my face. Shattered glass, two crushed car hoods, and traffic everywhere, the scene is put into perspective as I can finally see what is happening. I stop in my tracks. It is my accident all over again. “Get the collars and boards, there is a possible back injury,” my partner whispers to me. I fetch the items, still attempting to deal with my conflicting emotions. Using the help of five other EMTs, we extricate the victim from the car and secure him to the stretcher. While in the ambulance, I realize now that circumstances have been reversed. Continue reading… This time, clutching the patient’s hand, I tried to soothe him, and he slowly calms down. I keep my composure and actively tried to help the patient feel as comfortable as I did. Keeping all of his personal belongings close to me, we wheel him into the busy emergency room and transfer him safely. As we leave, he looked into my eyes and I could feel his sincere gratitude. Rather than being an innocent victim, like the current patient was, I am now the rescuer. Even though I felt the horrid memories rushing back, I kept my duties as a rescuer at the forefront of my mind. Keeping my cool in the face of extreme pressure I came out of the call changed person: someone who can see a problem, regardless of any bias I may have, and focus only on what is happening at that instant. Confidently facing my own terrors, I felt as if conquering my fears allowed me to face my duties with a grounded and compassionate outlook. Tears stream, limbs hurt, children cry: I am there, with a smile on my face, a stethoscope around my neck, compassion in my heart, happy to help and proud to serve.

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High School Application Essay

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Outline for High School Application Essay

Introduction.

  • Start with a captivating hook: a brief personal anecdote or a unique perspective.
  • State your main aspiration or goal that aligns with the school’s values.

Personal Experiences and Achievements

  • Academic Achievements: Highlight notable academic successes and how they have prepared you for high school.
  • Extracurricular Activities: Discuss any clubs, sports, or activities you’re involved in and what they mean to you.
  • Community Service: Mention any community involvement or volunteer work, showcasing your sense of responsibility and empathy.

Challenges and Overcoming Them

  • Discuss a significant challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.
  • Reflect on the personal growth and lessons learned from this experience.

Future Goals and Aspirations

  • Discuss your ambitions and how attending this high school will help you achieve them.
  • Mention specific programs or aspects of the high school that align with your goals.
  • Recap your main points, reinforcing how your experiences and goals make you a great fit for the high school.
  • End with a forward-looking statement, expressing enthusiasm about the opportunities that await in high school.

Imagine standing at the crossroads of opportunity, where each path leads to a future rich with potential. This is where I find myself today, ready to embark on a journey to high school, a journey that promises growth, challenges, and learning. My goal is not just to attend any high school but to be a part of a community that nurtures my aspirations to be a leader, a thinker, and a positive contributor to society.

My academic journey has been marked by a consistent passion for learning. I have achieved honors in several subjects, particularly excelling in mathematics and science. These subjects do not just represent grades to me; they symbolize my dedication to understanding the world around us. Beyond academics, I have actively participated in our school’s debate club, honing my public speaking and critical thinking skills. My involvement in community service, like organizing a local beach cleanup, has taught me the value of giving back to the community and working towards a common good.

One of the most significant challenges I faced was adapting to virtual learning during the pandemic. This period tested my adaptability and resilience. I learned to manage my time effectively, seek help when needed, and use digital tools to enhance my learning. This experience taught me the importance of perseverance and flexibility, traits I know will serve me well in high school and beyond.

Looking ahead, I aspire to delve deeper into environmental science and technology, fields that fascinate me. The science programs offered at your high school, coupled with its commitment to innovation, align perfectly with my academic interests. I am also excited about the opportunity to join the environmental club, where I can further my passion for environmental advocacy and learn from like-minded peers.

As I stand at this pivotal point in my life, I am eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that high school offers. I am confident that my academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and personal growth make me a suitable candidate for your esteemed institution. I look forward to contributing to the school community and continuing my journey of learning and personal development.

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    Portray personality. Private schools are admitting people, not numbers. Their goal is to create a diverse, copasetic community in which students grow and are challenged. Your child's answers shouldn't be cookie-cutter. The best essay question answers will showcase a student's personality, quirks and all. { {step4="/fs-components"}}

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    January 28, 2023 Student essays are an important part of the private high school admissions process for students in New York City. While information like grades and test scores can help an admissions committee evaluate a student's raw performance, essays are a key way for students to demonstrate their unique voice and personality.

  4. 11 Parent Statement Tips for Private School Applications

    Proctor Academy (NH) Private schools aim to collect as much information from different sources about prospective students as possible during the application process. The perspective provided by parents and guardians is highly valued because no one knows your child better than you.

  5. Private School Admissions Student Essays: What Do I Say?

    One of the most stressful parts of the private school admissions process is the looming idea of writing an essay, or even multiple essays. In many ways, the essays make this process feel much like the dreaded college admissions process, even though you may be in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade now.

  6. Admissions Matters: The Essay

    UpdatedMarch 29, 2022 by Robert Kennedy The admissions essay is an important part of your child's admissions profile. Noodle Pros essay expert Kate Fisher offers some valuable tips about writing the admissions essay.

  7. Private School Application Essay Tips

    Stacy Jagodowski Updated on April 28, 2018 Applying to private school means completing an application, a process with many components. There are short answer questions, forms to fill out, teacher recommendations to collect, standardized tests to take, interviews that need to be scheduled, and an application essay that needs to be written.

  8. The Writing Sample

    This article discusses the significance of writing samples in the admissions process for private schools, emphasizing the importance of a child's ability to express themselves through writing. It provides insights into the purpose of writing samples and offers tips for parents and students on how to approach them effectively.

  9. Writing Tips for Personal Statements

    Be creative in your narrative. Your goal is to engage the admissions officer to keep on reading until the end of your essay or personal statement. At Cardinal Education, our holistic approach to admissions lets us unravel your child's potential and highlight their uniqueness to get the differentiation they need.

  10. The Best Private School Essays

    4 Essentials for the Best Admissions Essays. 1. Write the essay yourself: You are unique and the stories you have to tell are one of a kind. I want to hear them. Use your senses. Give me details. Describe the way you felt, and what the events in your story mean to you.

  11. How to Write a Private High School Application Essay Worth Reading

    Remember Your Private High School Application Essay Audience The biggest mistake students make when writing an essay is that they forget who their audience is. Your audience, be it a teacher, an administrator, or an admissions committee, has likely read hundreds if not thousands of student's admissions essays.

  12. Sample Parent Statement for Private School Admissions

    Look no further! Here's a great sample parent statement that addresses all of the key points that private school admissions officers are looking for. Note that this is a fictional parent statement describing a fictional student. Sample Parent Statement for High School Applicants

  13. Graded Writing Samples for Private School Admissions

    Will it fit what schools are looking for? If so, you've found the perfect writing sample. Encourage your student to show their best work on this assignment (as they always should). Ideally, they'll receive a top mark on this essay, with glowing comments from their teacher.

  14. Application Essentials for the Top 20 U.S. Private High Schools

    Many competitive high schools have application components in addition to these general requirements, such as interviews, parent/guardian statements, supplementary letters of recommendation, portfolios, graded writing samples, and essay questions. Some schools might have "optional" or "suggested" requirements, such as the SSAT Character ...

  15. Parent Essays for Private Schools

    Posted on: December 2, 2021 Sometimes they look a little sheepish when they ask. "Katy, do you have any advice for us about the parent questions?" The private school admissions process is often one that seems to throw unexpected curveballs every step along the way.

  16. How to Write a Standout Private School Application Essay

    The reader wants to feel the character's growth through concrete, sensory details, like sound and taste. If your student can convey how they are a thinking, feeling, and growing person, they will earn sympathy from admissions readers and stand out. Your Own Voice. Remember your audience. Admissions readers read countless application essays.

  17. Writing Tips for Parent Statements

    Be objective and honest. The purpose of the parent statement is for admissions officers to gain insight into your child from your perspective. Don't be afraid to mention your child's weaknesses. As experts in private school admissions, we know what you should and should not include in your parent statements.

  18. Applying to Private School: Writing a Parent Statement

    Describe your child accurately and openly. A full, real, and descriptive parent's statement will show the admissions committee that you are being honest, and when they will read about the amazing sides of your child, they will be more likely to believe them.

  19. Sample essay 2 with admissions feedback

    Google Classroom Introduction We've discussed in a general sense what makes a good essay, but it's always helpful to look at specific examples and hear how admissions officers evaluated them. Included below is a sample essay.

  20. Parent Statements For Private High School Admissions

    Translation: parents embody the statement made famous by Malcom X in that they wish to help their children gain admission to a school "by any means necessary," touting their child as the second coming of Marie Curie, Serena Williams, or Stephen King.

  21. High School Application Essay

    1. High School Application Essay Free Download 2. Private High School Application Essay Free Download 3. 8th Grade High School Application Essay Free Download How to Write a High School Admission Essay Embarking on the journey of writing a high school admission essay can be a significant step in your educational path.

  22. Sample Private School Parent Statement for Younger Children

    October 2, 2021 We've helped hundreds of families navigate the admissions process, and we know that parent statements can be one of the most confusing parts of the journey. How can you possibly sum up your child in a few paragraphs? Parent statements can be even more of a challenge for younger children.

  23. Private High School Admission Essay Examples 2021

    Example 1 I'm one of those kids who can never read enough. I sit here, pen in hand, at my friendly, comfortable, oak desk and survey the books piled high on the shelves, the dresser, the bed, the chair, even the window ledge. Growing up without TV, I turned to the beckoning world of literature for both entertainment and inspiration.

  24. High School Application Essay Examples

    Mention specific programs or aspects of the high school that align with your goals. Conclusion. Recap your main points, reinforcing how your experiences and goals make you a great fit for the high school. End with a forward-looking statement, expressing enthusiasm about the opportunities that await in high school. High School Application Essay