What to Expect when Applying to Private Schools

One question many parents ask themselves is should my child attend private or public schools? As a parent that pays for my child to go to private school I know that there are several pros and cons. Although in my opinion the good definitely outweighs the bad. There are several different kinds of private schools but most are religious. To be considered for admission to these schools you must plan ahead and be prepared. Usually most prospective students start applying the year before; this gives the school time to set up appointments for interviews with the headmasters. In the meantime the school sends out requests for the students last two years report cards as well as SAT scores and all transcripts. They must receive recommendations from Math, English and Science teachers from the previous year. Next you must complete a tour of the school. During the interviews they usually interview the student and parent separately, asking an abundance of questions. After the interview the paperwork goes in front of the admissions committee to either be approved or denied. Although this seems extremely hard it's really not and the school will walk you through all the necessary steps. Do not let the steps to be accepted intimidate you.

One example of great private schools is the Catholic Prep School .These schools offer college prep level curriculums. This is usually for grades 7th -12th and several schools in the U.S. offer the possibility of boarding as well as being a commuter to and from school everyday. The students who have the opportunity to board on campus have a dorm room with a shared bath and can go home on the weekends. They also have weekend outings for international students or for students who live out of state. Boarding tuition rates on average are about ten thousand more dollars a year than for day students. The average tuition you can expect to pay is around $6,300 and that includes tuition, books and all fees for the year for middle school students while the boarding students rates are around $16,800. Of course you still need to calculate in lunches which are usually around $5.00 a day. The prep high schools are usually around $3,000 more in tuition for boarding or commuting students. Although the cost of private schools may seem extremely high, you must consider the chance of getting scholarships to college. Many parents are comfortable paying high tuition while their child is younger, because they know that they have a higher chance of getting accepted into prestigious universities. If you consider a prep school that has a small graduating class of 25 or 30 students who are awarded over 3 million dollars in college scholarships the tuition is well worth it.

Catholic Schools have always been known for the strictness the teachers enforce as well the quality education your child will receive while there. You do not have to be Catholic to attend although they do teach the Catholic religion daily. It is definitely worth the time to schedule a private tour of your local private schools. Simply put it is an investment in your children's future.