How to Apply to a Private High School

Private schools come in many varieties. There are co-ed and single-gender schools, religious and secular schools and boarding schools and day schools. Depending on the school, a private high school can provide an excellent education and improve your chances of getting into the college of your choice. However, the private high school admissions process can be extremely competitive, and the cost of attending is usually very expensive.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Contact each school that interests you and request that a complete application package is sent to you by mail. These packages usually arrive in about a week and contain all of the information and forms you will need to submit your application. Many schools allow you to apply online and some allow you to submit a single application for several schools.
2. Recruit an adult who is familiar with the private high school admission process as your advisor and coach. Such a person can help you with each step of the process, including writing your admission essay, taking the standardized test, preparing for your interview and getting impressive letters of recommendation.
3. Apply to more than one private high school to improve your chances of admission. The private school application process is much like the college application process, and it makes sense to apply to at least three choices in order of preference.
4. Take the SSAT and/or ISEE standardized test as early as possible in the application process and repeat it if you believe you can do better a second time. Your private high school application package will tell you which test each school requires and include information you need to register and prepare for the test.
5. Travel to the school for an on-campus visit and interview to make a good personal impression and to ensure that the school suits you. Ask your advisor to help you prepare for a personal interview.
6. Schedule at least one week to prepare your writing sample or application essay, so that you can prepare a draft and go over it with a teacher, advisor or parent. The final product should be well written, comprehensive and personal.
7. Request several letters of recommendation and provide a one-page summary of information about yourself to each of the people who write letters for you. A good mix of recommendation-writers might include a teacher, an athletic coach, an advisor to another extracurricular activity and an adult who has supervised you in a summer job, volunteer position or other service.
8. Demonstrate your connection to the school, if one exists, through parents, siblings or family friends. Letters from alumni can be helpful, because many private high schools place great emphasis on continuity and legacy preferences.

Tips & Warnings

• In some cases you can improve your chances of getting into a private high school by attending a private elementary school.
• Students and parents alike must be ready for the "in loco parentis" role of a private boarding high school. Schools vary greatly with respect to disciplinary matters and structure, and in some cases prep school behavior mirrors college behavior in both the worst and the best ways.