July 31: My child is eligible for early notification. Should we apply to other schools?

Several ISAAGNY schools offer the option of ealy notification to sibling and legacy applicants to kindergarten and first grade. This means that you would be notified of the admission committee’s decision in December, as opposed to February. If offered early admission, the understanding is that you would enroll your child at that school. It is recommended that you apply to a small number of additional schools for your child to ensure that you’ve done your due diligence and taken the steps to reflect on the type of learning environment would be best suited to your child’s learning style, personality, and temperament.

July 24: How do I know if I qualify for financial aid?

If you are interested in applying for tuition assistance, you should go ahead and apply. It can be difficult for schools to determine your eligibility without having a full picture of your family’s financial situation, so if you feel that paying the full tuition is not a reality for your family, the best thing to do is to fill out the application and provide all of the necessary information. Each independent school that you are applying to most likely has a page of their website dedicated to financial aid, so be sure to look at each one to see which online platform they use (e.g. TADS or SSS), what the deadlines are, and anything else you might need to know about the way in which that school handles requests for tuition assistance.

July 17: How can I prepare my child for any necessary tests?

The most effective way to ensure that your child is prepared to take any type of entrance exam is to simply make sure they are well-rested, well-fed, and feeling confident walking into the testing environment. Kids pick up on parental anxiety, so try not to let them see that you may be nervous for them. That is a natural way to feel, of course, but your child will benefit from being as relaxed as possible. It is not necessary to provide formal test preparation to your child prior to the admission process. It is vital that schools get a true picture of the student’s abilities in order to ensure a strong match. However, having your child take a practice test or two so that they are familiar with the format of a test may help alleviate any test-day stress.

July 10: What are the most common mistakes parents make during their search?

The biggest and most common mistake is when parents fail to place their child at the center of the school search process. The primary goal is to identify a school at which your child will thrive—meaning he or she would be happy, appropriately challenged, cared for, and safe. When these things are in place, deep engagement and academic excellence will be natural byproducts.

Therefore, when parents select a school based on their own preferences, it can sometimes backfire in that it may not be the right match for the child. For example, a parent may have experienced a traditional style of schooling that they feel worked well for them—but what if their son or daughter would be best served in a more progressive environment? Parents naturally want the best for their children, so it can be tempting to select a school based on parental experience or school reputation The best thing one can do for a child, however, is to think about where they will feel confident, engaged, and academically challenged without experiencing undue stress.

July 3: How and when should I rank my school choices?

Our advice is to try and refrain from ranking the schools on your list until you have taken the necessary steps to learn about each school and what it offers. Families often have preconceived notions about the schools they are looking at and may form opinions prior to any real investigation of the school's program. These opinions may be formed based on perceived reputation, what they have heard from friends or colleagues, or what they assume to be true based on the children they know who attend a given school. If you give each school a fair chance, and remain open-minded throughout the search process, you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. Once you’ve done all the necessary research, and given a great deal of thought as to where your child would happily thrive, you might want to rank the schools on your list so that you are prepared to make a decision in the window of time between notification and the reply deadline.

june 26: What exactly is an independent school?

Independent schools are non-profit private schools that are independent in that they each have a unique philosophy and mission. Governed by a Board of Trustees, they are also independent in how they are managed and financed. Independent schools are mainly supported through tuition, charitable contributions, and endowment revenue, and must meet high accreditation standards of state-approved accrediting bodies, such as NYSAIS (New York State Association for Independent Schools). Such organizations provide consistent and objective expert examination of the overall program and operations of the entire school and ensure that schools are adhering to best practices, and maintaining a safe learning environment, in addition to providing ongoing excellence in every program.

June 19: How many schools should we apply to?

The “magic” number seems to be 8-10 schools. However, there are a few factors that you’ll want to consider, such as the type of learner your child is, how many school visits your family will be able to manage (given current school and professional obligations), and whether or not your family will request tuition assistance.

If your family is interested in tuition assistance, you may want to cast a bit of a wider net, simply to increase the likelihood that your child will be given an award from a school at which he or she would be happy to attend. For many families, the amount of tuition assistance is the determining factor in the decision-making process, and if your child is offered admission to more than one school, you have the ability to compare the awards and determine what is best for your family.

June 12: If my child’s school conducts online learning come Fall 2020, should I ask last year’s teachers for their recommendations? I worry that his current teachers won’t know him as well in the virtual space.

Schools may vary with respect to their requirements around recommendations in these new circumstances. While all schools seek to be flexible and supportive of families, it is important for us to have a true understanding of an applicant as a learner. At Browning, we feel that the most current and up-to-date information will be most valuable as we get to know each applicant. Feedback on how a student navigated the highs and lows of online learning would still be valuable to admission officers.

However, if you would like your child’s teachers from the previous year to submit a supplemental recommendation (in addition to recommendations from his current teachers), reach out and ask the school to which you’re applying if they would add this to their file. For applicants to Kindergarten and Grade 1, it is most ideal for the applicant’s current teacher to complete the ISAAGNY Confidential School Report Form, due to the fact that young children are in a period of rapid growth and development. Should a family wish to ask their son’s previous teacher to complete a report as well, we will gladly accept that additional information.

june 5: If we ask someone to submit a letter of recommendation, who should we ask? What is most effective?

When admission officers review applicant files, our primary objective is to understand each student as a learner. At Browning, Middle and Upper School applicants are required to submit English and math teacher recommendations. There are two additional optional forms: a guidance recommendation (that can be submitted by your child’s principal, divisional leader, placement director, or guidance counselor) and a general teacher recommendation (designed for teachers who may have taught your child in a subject other than English or math).

These forms are intended to allow us insight on how each applicant navigates the learning process: What are his passions and strengths? What areas are more challenging? How has he grown? If the student is admitted and enrolls, how can we ensure that his needs are supported and his strengths are capitalized upon?

Often, families supplement applications with letters of recommendation from someone who may not know the student as well within the context of the classroom (e.g. a coach, or a Browning alumnus). While we are happy to add these letters to a file, they seldom provide the information we need to truly understand a student’s learning profile. Subsequently, we discourage families from submitting such letters.

All this being said, if your son has passions and talents beyond the classroom that you would like to highlight, we’d love to know! We encourage you to share these with us during the parent interviews or through the parent statement.

may 29: How long do schools keep active waitlists?

Schools keep active waitlists through the summertime. In the event that a student withdraws, an admission officer might reach out to a family whose child is on the waitlist in order to fill the seat, even as late as August. For this reason, it is perfectly fine for a waitlisted family to contact their school of choice at one point during the summer months to express continued interest. Families who have signed an enrollment contract at an independent school generally need to fulfill their financial obligations at that school prior to enrolling at a new school if their child receives an offer of admission off of the waitlist.

may 22: My son has a summer birthday. Should I hold him back a year if we apply to an independent school?

Independent schools have a different birthday cutoff than New York City public schools. Children entering an independent Kindergarten program must turn 5 years old prior to September 1 of the year of entry, which means that all students entering an independent school are at least 5 years of age.

Many parents of boys with summer birthdays wonder if their sons would have a greater chance of thriving if they began Kindergarten at the age of six instead, and find themselves confused as to when to begin the application process.

Schools vary in how they guide families, as some schools recommend that all boys wait a year, and some schools strongly advise against holding children back without good reason. At Browning, we welcome your son’s application as long as he meets the September 1 cutoff, as we see every boy as an individual. While some boys might benefit from an additional year in an early childhood setting, many boys are ready to start Kindergarten and will flourish.

We encourage you to speak with your son’s current teachers to get their advice, because they are experts in child development, and they know your son as a learner and a classroom community member. Should you decide to wait a year, we will happily consider your son’s application at that time as well.

For boys entering Grades 1-4 from a New York City public school, we occasionally recommend that a boy might repeat a year if he is significantly younger than the students in the grade that he would typically move on to. Again, we see each boy as an individual, and are more than willing to engage in conversation with you about what we believe would be best for your son if he were to come to Browning.

May 15: How much does the standardized test count?

Standardized test scores are treated as a part of the file and not the whole. Admission officers are keen to understand the full academic profile of each applicant. This means that other aspects of an applicant’s file—report cards, teacher recommendations, student essays, interviews—also assist with completing our understanding of who the student is, how they learn best, what motivates them, etc. That being said, standardized test results can offer additional insight into a student’s learning profile.

The breakdown of scores can tell us, for example, which aspects of verbal reasoning might be a student’s strengths, and which areas are challenging. In addition, we enjoy reading the student essays that form a part of the test: Which prompt did the student choose? What’s on their minds? How do they share their perspectives with their readers? These are all avenues for us to learn more about each applicant.

May 8: How do I get to know a school if I can't visit?

Admissions officers realize that this will be of increasing concern the longer that schools remain closed and so are trying to offer families many opportunities to engage with their schools. Here are some ways that you can.

• Make sure to get in touch with admission offices to get on their contact lists so you can learn about upcoming online events and opportunities to get to know a school.
• Following a school on social media is a wonderful way of learning about the community and the ethos of a school. While student activities and academic achievements are often highlighted, it’s a nice way of getting to see the smaller moments as well.
• At Browning, we offer prospective families an opportunity to connect with current parents through a secure online platform, which is a terrific way to learn about what it is truly like to be a part of a school.
• Schools often feature blogs on their websites, written by their Heads of School or other administrators. Reading those can help you get an understanding of the leadership, the philosophy of learning, and the overarching vision for a school. Dr. John Botti, Browning’s Head of School, writes a bi-weekly column titled Margin Notes, and our Director of College Guidance, Sanford Pelz, writes After Words.

may 1: What should I be doing with my child over the summer in order to prepare them for visiting schools in the fall?

For younger children, some of the most beneficial things you can be doing include reading, doing puzzles, and playing board games. Listening to stories and engaging in conversation about a book will assist your child in enhancing their rapidly growing receptive and expressive language abilities. Puzzles and board games will not only give your child practice with academic skills such as one-to-one correspondence while counting, but will also provide them with opportunities to take turns, problem-solve, strategize, and become accustomed to winning and losing graciously.

Encourage your older child to pick up a new book or start a new series! Discuss what they’re reading, and ask how a book might be a “window” (where they might have gained insight into a new idea or worldview) or a “mirror” (how they saw themselves reflected in the book and its themes). They could pick up a new hobby, or deepen an existing one. Do they have a charitable cause about which they are passionate? How can they find ways to contribute to the cause? Whether your child is a tinkerer, an explorer, an empath or a budding entrepreneur, consider ways you might be able to help them develop their interests. When we interview middle or upper school applicants, we are always curious about their interests and passions, how they see the world, or how they see their place in the world. Any activity that deepens their explorations would give them a great deal to think about—and yes, to share, during an admission interview!

April 24: How do I create a list of schools to which my boy should apply?

There is no shortage of excellent schools in the New York City area. We can appreciate that putting a list together can feel like a daunting task. With a bit of reflection and research, however, it can feel more manageable.

• Identify your non-negotiables, and if you have an older child, talk with them about how they feel. Is it imperative that the school be located within close proximity to your home? Does your child have a passion or talent that would be further developed through specific programming?
• For those of you with younger children, you may not be certain what type of learner your child is yet, so think about how you would describe their temperament. Things to consider include your child’s activity level, sensory threshold, response to new situations, predictability, and distractibility. This will help you identify characteristics of different types of schools settings that will mesh with your child’s learning style and personality.
• Schools spend a lot of time developing and maintaining their websites, and they provide a wealth of information. Once you’ve come up with a preliminary list of schools that you’d like to learn more about, do be sure to spend time on their websites to learn about the various offerings. You might want to follow schools you are considering applying to on social media, too, even at this early stage. You will learn a lot about the community and ethos.
• Throughout the spring and fall, schools typically participate in school fairs, or they might hold events or invite prospective applicants for a tour. This spring, Browning will participate in the Parents League’s virtual Kindergarten Fair on May 11. We are also holding several online events throughout the remainder of this academic year.
• Lastly, we recommend becoming a member of the Parents League, an organization that provides advice for families going through the admission process, as well as educational resources to parents, such as workshops and lectures.

April 17: In what ways will students be able to stand out in virtual interviews?

While admission teams are undoubtedly relying on virtual means of interviewing and assessment more now, they do have experience with this type of interview during a regular admissions cycle, most commonly for families who are relocating and are unable to travel to the area where the school is located.

Many schools, including Browning, are currently considering rolling applications, so your child may be interviewed online. There are several things that your child can do to prepare so that they stand out:

• Practice talking online with a friend (which they are hopefully already doing). This will help them feel more comfortable “on camera.”
• Minimize all distractions and make consistent eye contact with the interviewer. We can’t overstate the importance of finding a quiet space for the conversation, and closing all other tabs so that notifications don't distract your child from the task at hand.
• Review the school’s website and social media pages before the interview. While this might feel more like a casual online conversation, your child should be just as prepared as if they were visiting the school in person.
• Brainstorm questions ahead of time so that your child can feel relaxed during the conversation.
• Set up the device and try clicking on the meeting link prior to the start of the interview just to make sure that everything is working properly. Last-minute technological glitches can make anyone feel anxious.
• If there are technological glitches, or an interruption of some sort, simply acknowledge it and move on.
• Lastly, your child should stay focused, engaged and just be themselves!

APRIL 10: Will schools be “relaxing” their admission requirements?

Schools will remain committed to their admission standards in order to ensure the best possible match between a student and family to their school. While applicants may not take standardized tests at the moment, schools are awaiting further information on when that process will resume, or what tools may be substituted.

Schools will be conducting virtual student interviews and assessment, and are working deftly to create virtual tours and open houses so that parents can learn about the school. A school's primary goal is to enroll students who will thrive and contribute meaningfully to the community, and all will simply devise new ways to measure that, while staying true to their missions and the best practices of admission.

April 3: What happens if my son's school doesn't give a full year of grades or administer standardized tests because of distance learning this year?

Most independent schools use holistic admission criteria that allow us to consider an applicant beyond a transcript or performance on an entrance exam. While grades and scores are certainly an important part the application, there are circumstances where they are not available. In a normal admissions season, in fact, we work with applicants whose schools do not produce letter grades. In those instances, we would look to the student’s progress reports, teacher recommendations, and other pieces of the application to give us a good understanding of the student’s profile.

Don’t worry at all if the usual assessment tools are not available to your child their year due to these unprecedented times. We are all in this together, and when the time comes to assess your child, we will be able to use what his school provides to understand who he is as a learner and a person.