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Parent Statements For Private High School Admissions

Christopher Coleman

December 2, 2020

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.

Tags : boarding school admissions , private high school admissions , parent essays , how to write parent essays , Parent Statements for private high school admissions

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Applications - The Parent's Statement

I wrote this article and its companion article Applications - The Candidate's Statement to explain how to understand and complete these important forms. The problem with these parts of the application is that they require you and your child to express your thoughts in your own words. You won't be able to check any boxes to select from prepared answers. You will have to write out responses to the school's questions in any way you choose.

David Petersam of Admissions Consultants offers some tips in the following video. While he targets colleges admissions, the advice is quite sound for private high school admissions.

Many schools require a statement from the applicant's parents. After all, you probably know your child better than anybody. The school also wants to know what your concerns and educational objectives are. The goal here is to make sure that everybody's expectations are the same. For example, if you want your son to play on a varsity hockey team and the school offers limited hockey time, you need to deal with that before you decide to send your son to that school. Perhaps your daughter finds math challenging. You will want to point that out so that the school can discuss how it might deal with that concern. The following questions posed by McCallie School and The Hun School are fairly typical of what you will encounter as you prepare your applications. I will add editorial comments to try to give you some insight into what the school might be looking for.

• What do you hope your child will accomplish at McCallie?
• From what activities does your child derive self-confidence?
• What are your child’s strengths and weaknesses? (Please comment on social characteristics: e.g., self-reliance, sense of humor, ability to mix, shyness, assertiveness, etc.)
• Include any particular concerns of which the school should be aware: e.g., Has your child experienced any difficult challenges or personal setbacks in recent years? Are there any medical conditions of which we should be aware?
• Has your child had any psychological or educational testing?
• Does your child regularly take any prescription medication?
• Does your child's health limit or interfere with the normal performance of everyday activities, including classwork, athletics, or other duties?
• Please make any additional comments about your child which you feel may be helpful to us.

The school is asking a lot of questions but, as this video demonstrates, the school is asking those questions for all the right reasons.

My comments

Always be realistic and honest. As far as accomplishments are concerned, you may want your child to go to Harvard but since that is a long shot, I would suggest mixing in your academic hopes with every parent's hope that your son will emerge at the end of high school confident that he can take on anything life throws at him.

You can probably assess your child's strengths and weaknesses better than anybody. Choose your words carefully. Allow the reader to feel your unconditional love and involvement with your son's upbringing through the years. A statement similar to the following acknowledges that there was a weakness and demonstrates how you addressed that weakness. "Jon used to struggle with math, but we found this wonderful tutor who showed Jon how to work math problems logically. Now he loves the subject."

If there are health issues, discuss them candidly but with bold strokes. There is no need to delve into clinical details. What the school really wants to know is that any medical issues have been dealt with.

Be careful with the last section which asks you to make any additional comments which you feel may be helpful. Focus on the positive. "Rich has just taken up riding. He really enjoys it which is why we decided to apply to your school." The school may be asking the questions but never forget that you are also a potential customer.

From The Hun School It is very helpful for us to learn about our applicants through their parents’ eyes. Your answers to these questions will help us to better understand your child’s social and educational needs. Please attach additional pages if necessary.

• Please list any relatives who have attended The Hun School (name, class, relationship).
• Please discuss your primary reason for considering a new school for your child.
• Describe your child as an individual, explaining briefly what you believe are his or her strengths, weaknesses, goals, and aspirations.
• Has your child ever had an educational evaluation? If so, please explain the circumstances and send us a copy of the written evaluation.
• Has your child ever required any academic support or accommodations? If so, please explain.
• What are your expectations of The Hun School?
• What role do you play in your child’s education?
• Please list the names, ages, and current schools of other children in your family.
• We welcome any additional comments you may wish to make.

Once again each school will ask for a snapshot of your child in your own words. Their reasons for wanting to know your child has much to do with getting the fit right, both for your child and the school.

As you can readily see from these two examples, the schools are assembling a composite picture of your child via written applications and statements, an interview and academic testing. Once the admissions staff has a clear idea of your child's strengths and weaknesses, interests and achievements, then it can begin to make a final determination as to whether your child will fit in and vice-versa. What you may not be aware is the size of the applicant pool. If there are fewer applicants for the available places, your child's chances could improve markedly.

Since so much is riding on the Parent's Statement, do the following:

• Download and print out the forms, even if you plan to apply online.
• Prepare a rough draft of your answers.
• Put that draft away for a day or two.
• When you have some quiet time, review the draft and revise it as necessary.
• If you have an educational consultant, be sure to discuss and review this part of the application with him.
• Make a fair copy of your answers.

Then set aside 30-45 minutes to enter the information online or to write it out in your neatest penmanship. Some schools may have PDF forms that you can fill out and print. In any case, take time to complete this step with great care. Your statement will create an impression of you and your family. You want that impression to be the best one possible. One last tip: use the Applications Calendar to keep on top of all the deadlines involved in the admissions process. There is much to organize in the application process. In most cases, the application process will collide with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays and vacations. Bear that in mind as you schedule time for completing applications.

Don't forget to start your search for a private school at least 18 months before the date your child will actually start school. For example, if you are thinking of having her attend 10th grade, begin the process in the spring of her eighth grade. You will find that the last three or four months will be rather hectic. There is much to do at what is historically a very busy time of the year.

Questions? Contact us via Facebook. @privateschoolreview

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

How to harness the power of storytelling.

By Soojung Smith

Published on: october 30, 2017.

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 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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How to Write a Successful Parent Statement for Your Child’s Private School Application

The parent statement is an opportunity for you to introduce your child to admissions; to give them a glimpse of who your child is and why they would be a great fit for the institution in question. By the time the admissions committee finishes reading your parent statement, you want them to be clamoring for what your son or daughter can contribute to their community. But how exactly do you do that?

Your top 3 goals when writing a parent statement are to:

1. offer insight into who your child is, what makes them tick, and how they interact with the world around them..

We recommend starting with some freewriting : Sit in front of an open notebook or blank Google Doc and start writing down your first thoughts. Ask yourself: What special qualities does my child have? When have I felt particularly proud of them? How do they approach learning? How do they engage with their peers? Remember, school is as much about soft skills, like conflict resolution and active listening, as it is about mastering the times tables.

2. Provide context regarding your approach to parenting and education.

The admissions committee isn’t just accepting your child, they are accepting you, too, along with any other children you might want to enroll in the future (though this is not a guarantee). Many private schools want to know about parenting styles and academic goals to ensure you will also be a good fit for their community.

3. Be honest and concise in regards to your child’s areas for improvement, as well as their academic goals.

You will not be doing yourself (or your child!) any favors if you dust any major concerns or challenges under the rug. Be upfront. Albert Einstein was a prodigal genius, but he struggled with discipline and authority as a student. Before Robert Frost was a celebrated poet and four-time Pulitzer Prize winner, he was expelled from school for constant daydreaming. Bringing admissions into the fold will set your child up for success. And, besides, if the institution isn’t prepared to support and inspire your child, is that really where you want them to spend their formative years?

To really set your parent statement apart from the rest, explore the school’s website and see if you can find their mission statement. Pepper in some of the school’s values (and how they overlap with your own) to demonstrate your interest and fit. 

Finally, we’re always here if you’d like a second opinion from seasoned experts who know the admissions process inside and out. Good luck!

About CEA HQ

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Written by CEA HQ

Category: Admissions , advice , Private School

Tags: aea , parent statement , preschool , preschool admissions , preschool applications , private school , private school admissions , private school applications , the parent statement

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How to Write an Awesome Private School Admission Essay

Sitting down to write the all-important private school admission essay — is there anything more stress-inducing than a blank document and a blinking cursor? 

Writing anything from scratch requires intensive energy, focus, and inspiration — and that pressure is heightened when the writing topic is turned inward. No wonder students (and parents) get overwhelmed when it’s time to complete the essay portion of a private school application!

Helping your child write their private school admission essay can be pretty nerve-wracking. However, it doesn’t have to be. 

The short essay questions included as part of most private school applications are meant to provide admissions professionals with a well-rounded picture of your child as a person and as a student. If written thoughtfully, this component of your child’s application can make them truly stand out. 

Below are our top tips for beating back writer’s block and crafting a private school admission essay that gets noticed. 

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">Remember the essay audience.</span>

Although the essay is about your student, it’s FOR the private school admissions team. What will stand out to them? What will interest them? What will help them best understand your child and how they learn? Help your child craft an essay with these professionals in mind.

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<span class="text-color-lightblue" role="decoration">Answer the essay question asked.</span>

This may seem obvious; however, it’s very easy to steer off course when you get into a writing groove. Help your child refer back to the question and any associated instructions while they write. Remind them to try to stick to the word count, and make sure to answer all parts of the question. 

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<span class="text-color-green" role="decoration">Portray personality.</span>

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. 

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">Demonstrate passions. </span>  

Private schools are seeking students with different interests and passions. If your child has a unique interest or personal pursuit, the essay can be a great place to explain what it means to them and why it drives their creativity. 

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<span class="text-color-lightblue" role="decoration">Provide a unique perspective. </span>  

Opinions are important. If your child believes in a cause or has a strong point-of-view on a topic, talk about why. By standing behind their convictions, your child will demonstrate their critical thinking and leadership capabilities. 

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<span class="text-color-green" role="decoration">Paint a complete portrait. </span>   

Regardless of the essay question, you want your child’s essay to work seamlessly with the rest of their application and showcase them as a full, well-rounded student. If the application itself doesn’t allow you to bring your student’s true self to life, take that opportunity in the essay component.  

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<span class="text-color-orange" role="decoration">Maintain proper essay structure. </span>  

Remember, the essay isn't solely an exercise to get to know your child; it's also an evaluation of their writing ability. Maintaining the proper essay structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion is essential.

Admission officers read a LOT of essays, so really work on hooking them with the intro. Have your child read feature magazine and news articles, as well as the opening paragraphs of books to see how professional authors engage their readers.

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<span class="text-color-lightblue" role="decoration">Cut the clutter. </span>  

After your child writes their essay's first draft, make sure they spend time editing their ideas into a clear, concise answer. Help them proofread, check their grammar, and cut out any extra words or phrases that don’t support their answers. 

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<span class="text-color-green" role="decoration">Get/offer feedback. </span>  

Once your child’s essay is complete, it’s perfectly acceptable for them to ask someone else to read it. As a parent, point out areas where they have opportunities to strengthen an idea or fix a mistake. However, resist the urge to rewrite the essay in your own words. Again, your child’s own perspective is what matters! 

While the questions asked on private school applications may change, these essay-writing tips will help ensure that whatever story your child tells resonates with your dream school’s admissions team. For more essay tips, read Encouraging Your Child to Write a Self-Revealing Application Essay .

Encouraging Your Child to Write a Self-Revealing Application Essay

How to make a great impression in private school interviews, recommendation letters: who should you ask — and how, first-choice letters: do they help or hurt admission, the final countdown to application deadlines, 11 parent statement tips for private school applications.

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Example Parent Statement for School Admissions

Writing the parent statement for private school admissions comes with many steps. Many parents we’ve worked with assumed that the parent statement doesn’t require much work because the application is solely for their child, not them. However, the parent statement is still crucial to the application process, and therefore your child’s admission chances.

So, it can’t be that hard. Right?

Well, writing the parent statement is harder than you may think.

More often than not, parents are busier than their children because they have both work and familial obligations to busy themselves with. In addition, private school admissions officers will be reading parent statements with the expectation of grown-up-level writing and articulation. So, you’ll be competing against other fellow parents too.

If you’re writing a parent statement to get your child accepted into a highly competitive private school where the average applicant lives in an upper-middle-class community, expect to be paired with other articulate families with strong editing in the admissions pool. To prepare yourself, consider checking out our sister article on how to write the parent statement for private school admissions.

However, it can be quite useful to look at example parent statements. This example will cover an example parent statement that you may use as inspiration. Of course, everyone’s statement may come out differently. But, you may use this as an example of what would help you write the parent statement that helps your child get accepted.

Professional College Application Help.

Contact us. we'll get to you within 24 hours. , example parent statement for private school admissions.

Prompt: Tell us more about your child and why they are a good fit for (private school).

“Ever since we could remember, Jenni was always a natural-born leader. She had the aptitude and conscientiousness it took to help lead in team efforts. Whether it involved collaborative school projects or personal projects such as YouTube videos, the work she tackled demonstrated her management skills. This, we belive, is thanks to her personable and positive attitude. Jenni has a talent for brightening up a room in a manner, such that, despite circumstances, eases tension and alleviates conflict. Both inside and outside the classroom, Jenni’s natural social-butterfly element manifests to make all social interactions positive, lighthearted, and temperamentally agreeable. One of the things that impresses us about our daughter is just how well she can handle conflict. As a leader, there is bound to be disagreements and contentions brewing during projects or collective efforts. This is an inevitable conclusion for all leaders; however, Jenni never fails to impress us with just how well she can diffuse situations without causing anymore unecesssary social damage. As a leader, she is kind and gentle. Yet, she appears emotionally intelligent enough to navigate her leadership positions with honest maturity and gentle firmness. It’s something we were quite suprised with, as she seemed to pick up this skill in social aptitude and leadership very early. Perhaps what was most impressive was her revivifying the social scene in her small school. During the pandemic, COVID-19 forced many students to retreat into the confines of their home. This had, for obvious reasons, strained many social circles and strained the mental health of many students. Jenni impressed us with just how easily she could make a group chat and later collective online server for all her friends and distant acquaintences. It was strange to see her create a Discord server gathering seemingly socially different students in the same online room. She was part of a social and extroverted circle of fellow girl friends; but, she managed to integrate acquaintences who were friends of friends. These were boys who had a passion for video games; in addition, they were quite unlike Jenni and her friends. On the surface, I thought the plan would be quite awkward and unusual, especially considering how much the pandemic has isolated people. However, Jenni’s natural charisma and sociability appeared to attract everyone to the server. It only took a few days for us to see Jenni making inside jokes with this completely new social circle. There were customized emojis, stickers, and memes they’ve created in such a short amount of time. That our daughter managed to create such an inclusive and active community with people so diverse in personality and background during the pandemic shows us just how well she can integrate into any environment. In addition, Jenni is an individual of focus and discipline. For someone of her age, we are very impressed with just how orderly she schedules her time. She sets specific times for completing her assignents, time for studying and reviewing individual subjects, and time for her breaks —we didn’t even know people did that; but, works for her! With both personal pet projects and academics to work on, she is no stranger to crunching in labour in a short amount of time. However, her control of time and temperamental orderliness makes it easy for her to juggle large amounts of work. In particular, she seems to have a strong passion for STEM and the hard sciences. She also excels in the written word and articulating ideas through essays. Jenni would collaborate with some of her friends over call on the romance stories she writes and publishes online. Interestingly, her sociable attitude brings in multiple perspectives and makes for interesting storytelling for her stories. It is becoming increasingly clear that her multiple interests may pull her in multiple directions, and she’ll at some point need to choose. Thus, her academic interests are still in flux. It is her hope that she may find a clearer path to what she wants to pursue in the future through her education at (private school). As her parents, we’ve done everything we could to provide Jenni with the best environment growing up. Both my husband and I are rather meticulous and orderly people, which may be where our daughter inherited the orderly gene! We are careful with the kinds of foods we make for her as well as the kinds of entertainment she is exposed to. However, we both are very much aware of the dangers that come from sheltering and becoming overbearing. My husband and I agree that an encouraging upbringing that challenges Jenni to pursue the unknown and discover is crucial. So, that means fresh spring vegetables with seared chicken breast can sometimes be replaced with a cheeseburger with extra bacon and loaded fries. In short, we love to strive for perfection; but, we don’t let perfection devour us. This isn’t limited to food, too. We also ensure Jenni has a healthy mindset and philosophy on life. It doesn’t mean we suppress her from reading certain books or learning about contentious topics. Instead, we challenge her to think about difficult questions and come to her own conclusions. “Why do you think that?” and “What do you personally feel about that?” all help us promote critical thought instead of forcing our daughter to conform; it keeps her a free thinker and hopefully a great student! Applying for the right high school is a greater challenge than we thought for Jenni, as we all would like the one that fits her talents the most. We also want a school where her temperament can do the most positive good for her fellow peers and students in her class. Jenni hopes to join a community equally conscientious, sociable, passionate, and curious. Her collaborative nature and strong communication make her a student who would most thrive in a tight-knit school with great teachers who can build meaningful relationships with her. It is for those reasons that we believe Jenni is most fitting for (private school). Its (school description and attributes) make it a fantastic environment for Jenni to thrive best and actualize her full potential. We know that she will make great connections with her future peers and contribute to the already stunning community at (private school). Her collaborative nature, agreeable temperament, and sociability will make her a fantastic leader in conducting new projects with other (private school) students, and thus bring others alongside her on the journey to excellence.” Example Parent Statement for Private School Admissions

If you have any other questions about our example parent statement for private school admissions feel free to ask us for help! Or, if you are struggling to write the parent statement yourself, we would highly recommend speaking with us for a free phone consultation. We can help you write the parent statement to help your child maximize their chances of getting accepted into the private school of their choice.

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Personal Statements

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A personal statement is an essay that an applicant has to write when applying for private schools. There are prompts or questions that have to be answered within the specified word count. This is an opportunity for students to let admissions officers know more about them and demonstrate how they could be a good fit for the school. However, many students fail to achieve this goal because they are not able to write a good narrative that makes them stand out from the other applicants. 

Along with good grades, impressive test scores, and letters of recommendation, a well-written personal statement can make a big difference in private school admissions. Our educational consultants understand how the admissions process works for top-tier schools and what admissions officers are looking for. This guide will help keep your child from making common mistakes when writing personal statements and admissions essays.

• Be authentic and honest. Let your answers give admissions officers a glimpse into your personality and how you can be an asset to the school.
• Avoid generalizations. Be definite with your answers. Tell them why you are applying to a particular program and why you think you will be a good fit.
• Use specific examples to support your statements. Your personal experiences will be the best stories you can share that will prove how compatible you are.
• Avoid using cliches. 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. Over the years, we have developed our own formula and strategies for writing admissions essays and personal statements that have helped numerous families get into the best schools.

For students who are not strong writers, we advise them to enroll in our Program in Writing and Reading . This program aims to make them active and curious readers to develop comprehension and widen their vocabulary and ultimately, unlock their writing ability. We teach them the fundamentals of writing so they can organize their thoughts and ideas and express them in writing.   

What should I include in a personal statement?

A personal statement should demonstrate a student’s passions and interests which are unique. Remember that what we are aiming for is differentiation so think about your child’s activities that are not common among other students. If your child is into painting, consider what makes the artwork unique and how it is being used to drive change in the community or inspire others.  

How long should a personal statement be?

Each school will have its own requirements but typically, student statements are 1000 to 3000 characters long or approximately 250 to 500 words. Admissions officers go through hundreds of personal statement essays so it is important to keep to the maximum requirement and make sure that the first statement piques their curiosity to continue reading until the last sentence. 

How do I write a personal statement?

When writing a personal statement, focus on the question and only write relevant responses. It is very easy to get carried away and veer off course but with the limited word count, your child might not be able to express the most ideas important ideas that admissions officers are interested in.  

Do I need personal statement help?

Yes, especially if you and your child are not very strong writers. Among all the other application requirements, the personal statement is one of the biggest factors that affect admission decisions so it must be written well enough that it creates impact and sticks to the minds of the admissions officers.  Contact us to learn more about our writing program. 

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The Parent Statement: What Not To Say

Much has been written about how to write a parent statement or essay for your child’s applications to private preschool or continuing K–12 schools, but little has been written on what not to write.

For parents of preschoolers to students at older points of entry (and all the years in between), the finest example of admissions/application essay instructions can be found in the Common Application to U.S. colleges and universities.

The Common App asks applicants to write a statement of 650 words about anything — anything at all — so long as the statement is about them . You may think that sounds easy, but it’s not. For example, the finest Common App essay I have ever read was by a high school senior who, at age seven, started volunteering with kids diagnosed with cancer. The little girl became a national advocate for volunteering with sick children, appeared in the media, and won prestigious awards for her work. Over a decade, she worked with over 100 hospitalized children, befriending each one as well as their families. Her college essay, however, wasn’t about her work or the accolades she received for it. It instead detailed how she had stayed close to these parents and siblings, and talked about the emotional impact upon realizing that she was a link, often the final one, to the children the families had lost.

The same principles apply to parent essays. To make it easier, we ask parents to not use adjectives when they write and describe applicants. Terms like brilliant , gifted , caring , talented , and a host of others not only bore admissions committees, but scare them. If, for example, a parent genuinely feels his child is brilliant or gifted, is that same parent going to expect and demand “special” treatment for that child if and when she is admitted to the school, taking teachers’ precious time away from the class at large? That is how to get rejected on the spot.

Try to write an anecdotally-driven parent statement.

For young children, a day in the life of your child is far more interesting and introductory than a list of his or her attributes as observed by Mom or Dad. For older kids, one or two academic or social experiences is a good suggestion for parent admissions statements, especially the effect these experiences had on the child’s development.

Do not write a statement longer than a single page.

There is much to say about every child, but school applications may not be the venue in which to say it. If schools receive 900 parent statements for a particular point of entry, how much do you believe actually gets read if the statements are overwhelmingly long? More saliently: will it get read at all?

Do not feel you have to impress.

Usually when parents write to impress, it has the opposite effect. The “leader” who is always first to finish the reading or art or math project and “help” his peers in the classroom, while at the same time designs the group’s imaginary games and activities, is often perceived as demanding and overbearing. This is a more central question: can that same leader also assume the role of follower, giving others a chance to shine and create?

Don’t try to conjure the future.

The kid who likes playing with a science kit is not necessarily destined to become a neuroscientist, just as the kid who enjoys writing about his summer vacation is not necessarily tomorrow’s Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Above all, don’t overstate.

A child who donates his or her gently used clothes or toys to charity is not Mother Theresa helping the poor, or Jimmy Carter building homes for humanity. She is a kid learning about charity and community service.

Balance what you write.

Few kids, especially younger children, actually sit around all day trying to perfect a task or learned skill, whether that be math, writing, art, or computer science, and if they do, they are missing out on many other aspects that childhood and adolescence exist to introduce them to. Admissions directors are famous for asking the magic question, “What else is your child interested in?” Schools do not teach one subject; they teach many.

Don’t brag, even inadvertently.

Your child’s interest in the ocean, marine life, and swimming is fine to write about as is his fascination with changing seasons, nature, and animals, as long as it isn’t preceded by the words: “At our vacation home …”

Finally, an admissions essay is not the place to list the people you know who are connected to a school (parent, alumni, board member, etc.). For the most part, admissions directors do not like the “powers that be” to dictate which students to accept, and that is the subtle message of a parent statement that name drops.

We are taught to be ourselves at every turn. It’s hard to do in private school admissions, when you suspect that other parents are presenting better selves than they really are, and, of course, painting rosier, larger-than-life pictures of their children. Yet, being honest often yields the best results in terms of admission at virtually every point of entry. Think about the simple, beautiful message of the aforementioned Common App essay.

Related Parent Resources

• Is Your Child Ready For Kindergarten? A Parents Guide To Kindergarten Readiness
• 10 Mnemonic Devices That Every Elementary Schooler Will Remember
• Kindergarten Cutoff Dates: Fall Birthdays and Other Woes
• Private Preschool Admissions Tips: The Interview
• Best Math Apps For Kids: An Overview
• October 12, 2017
• Admissions , Pre-K , Private & Independent School Admissions , Private Preschool Admissions , Writing

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Private School Admissions Student Essays: What Do I Say?

Posted on: December 7, 2021

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. I work with lots of students facing this very challenge, which become especially acute around the holidays. Right now, your fall semester is mostly behind you, you’re close to finished with standardized testing, and the only thing looming between you and a restful holiday break is a stack of essays.

Here are my tips and tricks learned from years of reading admissions essays on the school side of things and from supporting students on the application guidance side of things.

An essay is not your autobiography. You do not need to share everything you have ever done or every aspect of who you are. The goal is to introduce yourself to the admissions committee. Make a few key points and give yourself space to expand on those points.

Your essay should not feel like a list (even of accomplishments). It is tempting — understandably! — to feel like you need to write about everything you have done to demonstrate that you are worthy of admission and ready to take on the next level of school. You probably want to impress the admissions readers. But remember: those readers are people! They’re people who have chosen to work in schools because they love getting to know students. They want to read this essay, so it should feel like an enjoyable read. If they wanted a list of accomplishments, they would have asked for a resume.

Make sure it feels like an essay. Use your best writing skills! Think about transitions and style. You want your essay to reflect your voice, to feel authentic, and be interesting.

Use examples . Even though you DON’T want your essay to read like a resume, you DO want to be concrete. Abstract ideas are a start, but if you want to be memorable, you need to offer a tangible sense of who you are. Writers often use a rule this rule: Show, Don’t Tell . Rather than telling the reader that you are kind, why don’t you share a story when you felt that your kindness made a difference?

Think deeply. This essay is your chance to introduce yourself. Be reflective and thoughtful. A great way to accomplish this kind of reflection is to take a look at every point you are making and ask yourself, “Why?”

If the school asks what kinds of books you like to read, choose a few titles you like and ask yourself if they have anything in common. Maybe you like adventure books, or maybe you like books with great main characters who you can really get to know. That’s the first step. But the second step is “Why?” Why do you like adventure books? Why are great, strong characters appealing to you?” Write a few sentences about the books and then think about adding something that begins with “because.”

Consider your values. While you are thinking deeply about your ‘why’s, make a list of what is important to you. Every school has a sense of its mission as a school. They’re trying to get a sense of your mission as a student and as a young person. Think about what is important to you and then share those thoughts. Maybe you are super-committed to service, so you want to be in a school with lots of opportunities for volunteering and serving your community. Think about what makes you happiest, whether that’s learning, athletics, leadership, the arts, or something else altogether. Whatever it may be, spend some time on it. Sharing your real sense of who you are and what makes you thrive will help the school the reasons you could be such a great student.

The essays or short-answer questions on the private school application can seem daunting. But if you are thoughtful and true to yourself, you’re sure to find a great spot.

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Private School Application Essay Tips

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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. The essay, for some applicants, can be one of the most stressful parts of the application process. These eight private school application essay tips just might help you produce the best essay you've ever written, which could increase your chances of getting accepted at your dream school. 

1. Read the directions.

This seems obvious, but hear me out. Reading the directions carefully can help ensure that you accomplish the task at hand. While most directions will be straightforward, you never know if the school is going to ask you to address specific questions on the given topic. Some schools also require that you write more than one essay, and if you just assume you get to pick from the three options when you were actually supposed to write three short essays, well that is certainly a problem. Pay attention to word counts that might be given, too.

2. Be thoughtful in your writing sample.

Leading off from that last sentence of bullet one, pay attention to the requested word count, you need to be thoughtful in how you approach the assignment. Word counts are there for a reason. One, to make sure that you give enough detail to actually say something meaningful. Don't cram in a bunch of unnecessary words just to make it longer. 

Consider this essay prompt: Who is someone you admire and why?  If you simply say, "I admire my mom because she is great," what does that tell your reader? Nothing useful! Sure, you answered the question, but what thought went into the response? A minimum word count is going to make you actually put some more effort into the details. Make sure that as you write to reach the word count that you aren't just putting random words down that don't add to your essay. You need to actually put some effort into writing a good story - yes, you're telling a story in your essay. It should be interesting to read. 

Also, remember that writing to a specific word count doesn't mean that you should just stop when you hit the required 250 words either. Few schools will penalize you for going over or under a word count slightly  but don't obliterate the word count. Schools provide these as guidelines to get you to put in some effort to your work, but also prevent you from going overboard. No admission officer wants to read your 30-page memoir as part of your application, no matter how interesting it may be; honestly, they don't have the time. But, they do want a brief story that helps them get to know you as an applicant. 

3.  Write about something that matters to you.

Most private schools give you an option of essay writing prompts. Don't choose the one that you think you should choose; instead, opt for the writing prompt that most interests you. If you're invested in the topic, passionate about it even, then that will show through in your writing sample. This is your chance to show who you are as a person, share a meaningful experience, memory, dream or hobby, which can set you apart from the other applicants , and that's important. 

Admission committee members are going to read hundreds, if not thousands, of essays from prospective students. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you want to read the same type of essay over and over? Or would you hope to find an essay from a student that's a little different and tells a great story? The more interested you are in the topic, the more interesting your final product will be for the admission committee to read.  

4. Write Well.

This should be obvious, but it must be stated that this essay should be written well, using proper grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Know the difference between your and you're; its and it's; and there, their, and they're. Don't use slang, acronyms, or text-speak. 

5. Write. Edit/Revise. Read it Out Loud. Repeat. 

Don't settle on the first words you put down on paper (or type on your screen). Read your admission essay carefully, review it, think about it. Is it interesting? Does it flow well? Does it address the writing prompt and answer any questions that were asked? If you need to, make a checklist of things you need to accomplish with your essay and make sure when you review it that you're actually meeting each requirement. To ensure that your essay flows well, a great trick is to read it out loud, even to yourself. If you stumble while reading it out loud or struggle with what you're trying to get across, that's a sign that you need to revise. When you recite the essay, you should easily move from word to word, sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph. 

6. Get a Second Opinion.

Ask a friend, parent or teacher to read your essay and give an opinion. Ask them if it reflects you as a person accurately and if you truly completed the requirements on your checklist. Did you address the writing prompt and answer any questions that were asked? 

Also get a second opinion on the writing style and tone. Does it sound like you? The essay is your chance to showcase your own unique writing style, tone of voice, personality, and interests. If you write a stock essay that feels cookie cutter and overly formal in nature, the admission committee isn't going to get a clear idea of who you are as an applicant. Make sure the essay you write is genuine. 

7. Make sure the work is truly yours. 

Taking the lead from the last bullet, make sure your essay is genuine. This is extremely important. Teachers, parents, admission consultants, secondary school counselors, and friends can all weigh in on it, but the writing needs to be 100% yours. Advice, editing, and proofreading are all fine, but if someone else is crafting your sentences and thoughts for you, you're misleading the admission committee.

Believe it or not, if your application doesn't accurately reflect you as an individual, you can jeopardize your future at the school. If you apply using an essay you didn't write (and makes your writing skills look better than they actually are), the school will eventually find out. How? Because it's school, and you're eventually going to have to write an essay for your classes. Your teachers will quickly assess your writing abilities and if they don't line up with what you presented in your application, there will be an issue. The private school you've been accepted to may even dismiss you as a student if you're deemed to be dishonest and not capable of managing the academic expectations. 

Basically, applying under false pretenses and passing off someone else's work as yours is a major problem. Using someone else's writing is not only misleading but can also be considered plagiarism. Don't google sample admission essays and copy what someone else has done. Schools take plagiarism seriously, and starting off your application like this isn't going to help. 

8. Proofread.

Last but not least, proofread, proofread, proofread. Then have someone else proofread. The last thing you want to do is spend all this time and effort to create an awesome private school application essay and then discover that you misspelled a bunch of words or left out a word somewhere and ruin what could have been an awesome essay with some accidental mistakes. Don't just rely on spellcheck either. The computer recognizes both "that" and "than" as properly spelled words, but they certainly aren't interchangeable. 

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5 Tips to Write a Great Parent Statement

As admissions season heats up, we highly recommend that families begin drafting parent statements for the schools that require them. Not all schools require parents to write introductory statements about their child, but many do, and some even require the submission of a parent statement as a first step in the admissions process.

Many parents are confused about how to write a great parent statement. For most, it’s the first time that they’ve had to compose a formal piece of writing capturing their child’s unique personality. While the format of a parent statement might feel unfamiliar, try to keep in mind that you’re writing on a topic that you know best of anyone in the world: your child. Here are five tips to make sure your parent statement resonates with the admissions committee:

1. Quality over quantity.

You might have pages and pages worth to write about how amazing your child is, but admissions committees only have so much time to review each application. Some schools will stop reading if statements are overwhelmingly long. Keep your writing concise, clear, and to the point; 300 words that present a clear thesis about your child’s personality are always better than 500 words that ramble without a clear point.

2. Use anecdotes.

It’s easy to gush about your child and accidentally fall into generalities: they are so kind, so smart, so driven, etc. Your parent statement will make a more lasting impression if it shows rather than tells; use a story to illustrate an adjective. Your statement should include two or three academic or social experiences that demonstrate your child’s unique characteristics, abilities, or views of the world. Remember #1, quality over quantity: anecdotes don’t need to describe every single detail of the situation, but should provide a few sentences of context and details.

3. Don’t name-drop.

Some parents think that admissions committees are looking for every reason to admit a child who is connected to board members, alumni, or even celebrities. Not true! Name-dropping prominent figures might actually turn off admissions committee members. Your parent statement is a precious opportunity to provide your insider perspective on your child’s personality and development; it’s a waste to use that space to list names, no matter how impressive they might be.

4. Maintain consistency with the application.

Schools look for consistency across all parts of an application, including school reports or transcripts, teacher recommendations, student essays, parent statements, and interviews. Make sure that the child you write about in your parent statement is the same child that shows up for an interview. This is particularly important for high school applications; don’t write about a set of interests or characteristics that your child will (unintentionally or intentionally) contradict when they emphasize their own points of view in an interview.

5. Be honest and authentic!

Above all, write about how you truly feel about your child. A parent statement full of genuine love and respect for your child is always better than a statement that artificially focuses on achievements or skills. Do not feel as though you have to impress the admissions committee with the amazing things your child has done; instead, paint an authentic picture about your child’s unique personality, including any areas where they have an opportunity for growth. Remember not to overstate, either: a child who donates his or her toys to charity is not a “philanthropist,” just an empathetic kid who wants to give back.

Need more guidance on your parent statement? Admit NY maintains a full library of parent statement examples, and is always ready to advise on statements for your unique circumstances. Reach out to schedule a consultation today .

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Private Moscow Metro Tour - With Reviews & Ratings

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• Departure Details : Traveler pickup is offered Your guide can meet you at your hotel, hostel or vacation rental, You don't need to call to confirm the tour. The local supplier will contact you via email Your guide can meet you at your hotel, hostel or vacation rental, You don't need to call to confirm the tour. The local supplier will contact you via email" />
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Take aprivate Moscow Metro Tourto see the most historical metro stations, learn fun facts and fascinating stories and feel like a local in the most beautiful Metro in the world. Metro pass is included in the price of the tour. See 10 stations on 2-hour tour or 15 stations on 3-hour tour: Komsomolskaya , Kieskaya, Novoslobodskaya , Prospekt Mira, Belorusskaya , Mayakovskaya , Novokuznetskaya, Revolution Square (Ploshad Revolutsii), Arbatskaya , Sparrow hills , Victory Park, Slavic Boulevard, Vystavochnaya, Kurskaya, Rimskaya. Get lucky and see a one-of-a-kindAquarelle Train a picture gallery on wheels, or bump into a hidden entrance to the secret Metro-2. Take aCoffee Ring ride, check out the station with your sign of the Zodiac, chase the inhabitants of ancient seas, take a selfie with your friendly local guides, and simply have fun!

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Your private guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel. Say zdravstvuyte to Moscow which is as big as Luxembourg, and to Moscow Metro with its 200 stations, 44 of which are recognized as objects of historical and cultural heritage. Timing is flexible and you can start the tour any time you prefer.

You will take a memorable metro ride with your private guide and see the oldest metro station, as well as the deepest, the longest, and, of course, the most beautiful: Komsomolskaya , Novoslobodskaya , Kieskaya, Belorusskaya , Prospekt Mira, Mayakovskaya , Revolution Square (Ploshad Revolutsii), Novokuznetskaya, Arbatskaya , Victory Park, Sparrow hills , Slavic Boulevard, Kurskaya, Vystavochnaya, Rimskaya.

Moscow Metro system consists of 12 lines and well cover all of them on the tour! Take the same subway cars that operate in the countries of the former Soviet Union, as well as in Sofia, Budapest, Warsaw, Prague and Tehran. Learn interesting facts and stories about the speed of trains, the distance between the stations, what are the busiest lines and get shocked how much it costs to build 1 km of the railway orsimply to rename the station.

Drop into a Moscow Metro museum if its open that day and see the relics of Metro which date back to1930s.

Finish the tour at your hotel, Novodevichy convent , Sparrow hills or any other spot you want.

This tour can be customized to make it a unique experience for you.Your private local guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and discuss the tour itinerary with you at the beginning of the tour.

Highlights of the tour:

• Visit 10 or 15 must-see Metro stations
• Check the oldest metro station opened in 1935
• See the 76 bronze figuresdepicting Soviet heroes on Ploschad Revolutsii station
• Take pictures of insanely-elaborate metro stations and dontforget to rub the nose of the bronze dog and to look at the Soviet sky
• Listen to the stories about Metro-2 - a secret metro line that supposedly links the Kremlin with Kgb . See unique Soviet-era dcor with marble, bronze, lavish mosaics, paintings, sculptures, stained glass
• Explore the underground treasures of Russian Soviet past
• Take a chance to catch nice Sparrow Hills views from Luzhniki Metro Bridge. The only Moscow metro station above the water
• If you are lucky,catch a uniqueAquarelle Train a wheeled painting exhibition, brilliantly painted with pictures of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and every cart is exceptional
• Visit the Museum of Moscow Metro on a 3-hour metro tour
• See some of Stalin skyscrapers on a 3-hour tour
• Enjoy Russian traditional lunch at a cozy authentic cafeon a 3-hour tour

You may choose to finish the tour on Sparrow Hills to hunt down the spot where you can see all seven of Stalin sisters at once!

Private tour

Russian lunch (on selected option with lunch)

Friendly local guide

Multiple start times available

Customized itinerary

Flexibility during the tour

Iconic places for photo shoot

Meeting in the hotel

Expert local advice where to go and what to do after the tour

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Please indicate prefer start time in comments when booking

The tour can be modified to meet your preferences

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Not wheelchair accessible

Near public transportation

Most travelers can participate

This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Traveler Reviews

I cant recommend this tour highly enough. I asked a friend to recommend one thing to do with limited time in Moscow and he said, check out the metro. I did one better, and went on this individual tour yesterday with my very well informed guide, Alina. She took me to a number of stations and explained the history, politics and meanings behind the different sculpures and artworks in a way that made the whole experience far more meaningful than getting on and off the metro without guidance would have done. I had a really fantastic time and was thoroughly impressed. To top it all off, we had lunch and Alina suggested some great things for me to do, even whatsapping me maps, suggestions, and internet links. Today she followed up by messaging me to ask how my day was going and if I had any questions about the city, or recommendations for places to eat, etc. A great tour, a lovely guide and a fantastic experience. I couldnt recommend this tour, or Alina, any more highly. Fantastic!

Dear Friends,

My son and myself visited Moscow for a holiday in April 2018. And we had selected this fantastic tour. Our Guide Mrs. Julia came sharp at 10.00 AM even though she was not feeling well and had sore throat. Thereafter she took us to many Metro stations. Though I had already visited Moscow last year and seen all these stations, she gave phenomenal historic background and many interesting facts. She was almost fluent in English and and a good knowledge of Russian Culture, food and many other things. Overall we enjoyed thoroughly and I will highly recommend this tour with Julia if possible. Truly amazing person. And even more amazing tour.

Our Tour booked for 26 December 2017 was absolutely amazing. Our guide Julia picked us up from our Hotel in St Peterburg on time in a luxury minivan. Thanks to Julia we were able to see most of the tourist attractions that day. She went out of her way for us to make our day special. She had a vast knowledge of all the places that we visited. Lunch was special in a typical Russian restaurant with food from the region. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Picked up in the hotel lobby by our guide, Lylie, who then walked us to the closest Metro. She walked/trained us to 13 different stations and then explained the history of the metro and the significance of the decor in each station. We had plenty of time to photo, view the decor, watch and ride the trains and observe the people coming and going with their daily affairs. The art work/mosaics/sculptures/stained glass/ marble all had a role to play in presenting the history of communist Russia. The Russian metro well deserves the title of the most interesting and outstanding metro in the world. Lylie then took us to lunch, advised us on menu choices and their significance in the Russian culture and was very happy answering our questions on how the younger generation is responding to the new Russia. We had an outstanding guide, a fantastic experience and would highly recommend this tour over and above other tours which merely include a visit to a small number of stations. Lesley and David - Sydney

Great guide! She explained everything and took me to all the important stations. She knew her stuff! Worth it!

Our guide ,Dacha, was charming and very informative. We took the 2 hour tour and saw what Dacha thought were the most beautiful and interesting metro stations. The Metro is certainly worthy of its museum status and we were glad to have some of the designs and features explained to us.