With most schools having application deadlines in the last weeks of November/first weeks of December, families have already endured several weeks of anticipation by now. Surviving the wait can be tough, especially if your family is hoping for a scholarship award to offset the cost of tuition. When the competition is fierce and space is limited, students and families can become understandably stressed. Much like at the college level, secondary school admissions can be a hectic, anxiety-ridden time for your family, but this post will attempt to dissuade some of the worry you may be experiencing. Read on for some insight as to what actually happens behind the scenes, and what you can do in the meantime...
What do schools do with applications, anyway?
This one is tough to pin down. The reality is that each school handles its admissions differently, and these procedures tend to be shrouded in secrecy. But don't fret - there is one thing we can tell you for sure, and that's how applications are handled at Mary Help!
Bye-bye, paper! We're going green!
The 2017-2018 admission year marked our first year using an online application portal. By now, most secondary schools have shifted away from the old-fashioned paper application for several reasons including convenience (for both us and applicants), ease of tracking, and the ability to transfer data directly to our student database upon registration (saving you additional paperwork later!).
As applications come through the online system, a portfolio is created to house each student's application components. Because student data comes from several different sources, getting the application progress bar to 100% can take some time. It's important to note that a student's portfolio is not finalized until all three components (COOP scores, school records, and online application with fee) are received by our office. For this reason, we encourage families to stay on top of the process to ensure all the requirements have been met.
Who looks at the application?
Depending on a school's size, an admissions counselor may be the first person to review your completed application. At Mary Help, our Director of Admissions personally reviews each application, compiling data points for each student into a tracking system. Software based tracking allows for quick and easy comparisons of students across many factors and criteria. Based on the spread of the applicant pool and the number of available spaces, it is generally fairly clear which students have met the acceptance criteria for that year. At Mary Help, the Admissions Director's initial recommendations for acceptance are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by a committee including the Principal, Assistant Principal, academic counseling staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
Does this process really take weeks to complete? It seems pretty straightforward.
Though on the surface, admissions decisions may seem simple, a great deal of consideration, discussion, and review is required in cases where some students may be very close to a cut off point, as well as when it comes to scholarship awards. At Mary Help, all students are individually considered for scholarships based on our internal criteria. In order to give each student full fairness in consideration, ample time is required for each application's review. Reviewing each student's qualifications one by one can be lengthy and exhaustive, but we've found it's much more reliable than the alternative methods...
Are we in yet? Are we in yet? Are we in yet?
One of the most difficult aspects for parents at this point will be containing their own anticipation in an effort to quell their child's anxiety. As is the case with any other variable in life, it's best to resolve now that you'll be okay no matter the outcome. Presumably, both you and your child have done all you could up to this point, and the decision is now out of your hands. In the best case scenario, you'll have the good news you've prayed for; in the worst case scenario, you'll end up enrolling in a different, but likely solid, second or third choice school. In advance of your application decision, it may be beneficial to have conversations with your child to let her know you are proud of efforts either way. If applying to more than one school, remind her that each school has its own merits and she is capable of success anywhere she goes! *Insert hugs here.*
The Dreaded "Thin Envelope"
Way back when, before the internet was even a thing, anxious students ran home daily to check their mailboxes for decision letters. One needn't open the mail to know the outcome: thick, oversized envelopes were good news; thin, standard size envelopes were bad (very bad). With email notification changing how we view decision letters, thick vs. thin is no longer as important as it used to be, but the sentiment endures.
The 21st century version of this scenario probably sounds more like, "did the subject line convey excitement and begin with congratulations, or did it dryly announce that my application has been reviewed?!?" Most emails arrive early in the morning, but each school could be on its own timeline. In short, if you haven't gotten that notification ding just yet, take a deep breath. It's okay to refresh your inbox manually every now and then if it stops you from panicking in a crowded public place. (Please don't.)
Why don't they want me?
Dealing with rejection is hard at any age, but for the 14 year old psyche, it can be especially trying. Students may take rejection personally, and even equate an application denial with the school not "liking" or "wanting" them. We are here to assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. More often than not, space is the biggest factor in admissions denials. Another highly important factor is the concept of "fit." Not every school is the best fit for every child, and ignoring this fact would be detrimental to the progress of that child. At Mary Help, we emphasize fit because we believe students are most happy when placed in schools that meet their academic, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. So in the end, try to find peace with your outcome. Chances are, it's for the best.
We did it! We're in! Now what?
A major difference between secondary school and college admissions is the timeframe for commitment. When selecting a college, students may have as many as 5 months before "D-day;" at the high school level, that timeframe is reduced to just a few weeks. Because scholarship and financial aid offers are contingent upon registration, these offers tend to have an expiration date so that unclaimed dollars may go back into the pool to benefit other students. Families will need to be prepared to register their children in order to secure any offer of financial assistance or award. And because registration fees are typically nonrefundable, the decision to enroll should be carefully considered. The enrollment cycle will happen quickly, so be sure to make note of important dates as they are listed in your acceptance packet. (And yes, it's totally acceptable to break into your happy dance.)
We have more than one good offer. How will we choose?
First off, congratulations on having such a wonderful "problem!" You can be assured of your child's impressive qualifications when you have received multiple attractive offers from different schools. For some, the decision will be clear and they'll easily choose their "dream school." For others, the downside of having choices is a fear of making the wrong one.
There is little advice we as outsiders could give someone in this position, but suffice it to say that your child is clearly motivated and likely to excel where ever she goes. Now may be the time to think outside the box when it comes to making the final choice. Will one choice allow more money for college? Is one campus closer to a trusted family member's home? These are practical considerations of course, but there is nothing wrong with simply choosing the school that feels right. At Mary Help, we often speak about "that feeling" you get when you step on campus. It's a sentiment shared by students, parents, faculty, and staff, and we hope that each of our incoming students feels it, too!
Wrapping Up
No matter what happens, this is a truly exciting time in your child's life! High school brings with it many opportunities for exploration and growth, and this is excellent preparation for the college application process. In the coming days, you'll have a huge decision before you, so for now, take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back for getting this far.
Questions? Comments? Let us know below. Never miss another post! Sign up for blog post alerts today!
No matter what happens, this is a truly exciting time in your child's life! High school brings with it many opportunities for exploration and growth, and this is excellent preparation for the college application process. In the coming days, you'll have a huge decision before you, so for now, take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back for getting this far.
Good luck, especially to our newest members of the Class of 2021, and we can't wait to see you on campus!
Questions? Comments? Let us know below. Never miss another post! Sign up for blog post alerts today!