kindergarten application essays

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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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.

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ABACUS GUIDE

How to Write a Private School Admissions Essay (for Kindergarten, but the Principle Holds True for Older Grades as Well)

It’s not so easy to describe a four year old.  I know–I’ve helped families write private school essays about four year olds, hundreds of them, for so many years that some of those four year olds are now in high school.

Private school essays typically ask something along the lines of, “Tell me about your child.”

Typically the parent of a preschooler is sure of the following:  Junior is cute.  He’s curious.  He’s bright.  He loves books.  He liked his music class last year.  He’s very sweet to his sister.  Hmm.

That sounds reasonable.  Junior is four, after all.

But this is a private school essay.  You’re trying to get your child into school, to somehow make him stand out from the rest of the pack of kindergarten applicants.

That’s where things get tricky.  How can you make Junior seem special?

Asking this question in this application context, admissions directors lead parents down a primrose path.  Some parents go flying down, making such wild assertions about their child’s uniqueness and superiority as to turn off anybody who reads their statement.

“When asked to describe Milo, we would say first that he is gifted.” “Jessica, who is already reading at the fourth grade level…” “Frank, recently dubbed “The Mayor” by his teachers and classmates at Tot Time, is greatly admired for his precocious leadership skills.”

So rule #1 in writing your parent statement:  Keep It Real, and resist the temptation to describe your child in over-the-top language.  You need to be modest, and show through example, rather than tell, about your child’s qualifications. That way, on their own, admissions directors will draw the conclusion that oh yes, Junior seems very bright and worthy of admission.

As one of the longest practicing private school admissions consultants in NYC, I have considerable perspective about what makes parents and children unique in a way that attracts admissions directors.    Jan 2012 Update:   I am currently accepting clients who will be applying in 2012 for 2013 admission.    To learn more   or call 212-712-2228 9am-9pm EST.  Please book early because prime slots in late spring go quickly and every year I have to turn parents away.

The Three Most Common Mistakes People Make When They Write Private School Admissions Essays

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How to Write the Parent Statement for Private School

Three things you need to know

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Most applications to private schools require parents to write about their children in a parent’s statement or by filling out a questionnaire. The purpose of the parent's letter is to add dimension to the candidate’s statement and help the admissions committee better understand the applicant from the parent’s perspective.

Parent statement is your chance to provide a personal introduction to your child and share details about how your child learns as well as what their interests and strengths are. The following are a few simple steps that will help you write an effective parent letter.

Think About Your Responses

It can be difficult to step back and consider your child objectively, but you need to do exactly that. Think about what your child’s teachers have said over time, particularly the ones who know them well.

Reread report cards and teacher comments. Think about consistent themes that emerge from the reports. Are there comments that teachers have consistently made about how your child learns and acts in school and in extracurricular activities? These comments will be helpful for the admissions committee. 

Consider also your own observations of your child as well as what you hope your child will get out of their private school experience.

Real children aren’t perfect, but they can still be great candidates to private schools. Describe your child accurately and openly. A full, real, and descriptive parent’s statement will show the admissions committee that you are being honest, and when they will read about the amazing sides of your child, they will be more likely to believe them.

If your child has had serious disciplinary actions or other issues in the past, describe them. Let the admissions officers know what happened and draw positive lessons from it. The school is looking for a real kid—not a perfect pupil.

Showing that your child and your family are capable of dealing with setbacks might be even more valuable than presenting a flawless picture. Of course, describe your child’s strengths and don't only feel the need to be negative—but everything you write should be truthful.

Also, helping the committee members understand your child with their strengths and challenges will help them make the best decision for everyone. Your child will be most successful if they attend the school that fits them best , and describing your child candidly will help the admissions committee decide if the school and your child are the best fit for one another. Children who succeed at their schools are happier and healthier and stand in better stead for college admissions.

Consider How Your Child Learns

The parent’s statement is a chance to describe how your child learns so that the admissions committee can decide if they are likely to benefit from being at the school. If your child has moderate to severe learning issues, reveal them. Many private schools grant students with learning issues  accommodations or changes in the curriculum, so that they can best demonstrate what they know.

Students with mild learning issues might be able to wait until they are admitted to the school to ask about the school’s accommodations policy, but students with more severe learning issues should ask about the school’s policies about helping them beforehand. You may also have to do some research into what kind of resources the school offers to help your child—before they attend the school. Being open and honest with the school will help you and your child find the school where they can be happy and successful.

How to Organize Your Letter

Parent statements for private schools are typically composed of three parts: description of your child, description of your family, and the alignment of your values with the school values. The first two or even all three may be blended together, as through descriptions of your child, the nature of your family and your values will come through.

Sometimes, school websites offer useful prompts to guide your letters, and if that is the case, you should definitely make use of them. Some of the frequent questions are:

• What do you hope for your child to accomplish with the help of our school?
• Has your child ever had any intellectual, emotional, or behavioral evaluations? If so, describe their contexts and results.
• In what situations does your child thrive? Describe your child as an individual, with their hopes, values, goals, aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Has your child been through any adversity? Describe the context and how they navigated it.
• What has your role been in your child's education?
• Does your child require any academic or other support or accommodations?

Ideally, your letter would respond to these questions as thoroughly, yet as succinctly as possible.

The simplest way to go about this is to choose three to five aspects of your child's personality that you would like to highlight and compose the statement around them. Include illustrative anecdotes that will also portray a little about your family life. If it comes naturally to you, feel free to make these funny or quirky, as you are ultimately trying to stand out from the rest of the applicants.

As mentioned, you should also make a point of familiarizing yourself with the school's values and objectives and show in your letter how connected these are to your family. The more natural this is the better. All in all, as long as you provide the admission officers with an honest snapshot of your family and your child's nature and potential, your letter will hold its ground.

Article edited by  Stacy Jagodowski

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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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11 Tips for NYC Kindergarten Applications

Applying for kindergarten at NYC independent and private schools seems complicated, especially if you didn’t grow up here. Or even if you did! This journey requires planning, patience, and persistence. Here are our top tips for navigating the process with a bit more ease and organization. Looking for the 2022-23 tips? Here they are!

1. Narrow your list of kindergartens.

You don’t want to end up applying to 20 schools when only 10 would be suitable for your child. Make the process easier by learning about the many curriculum styles in New York City. Traditional, progressive, Montessori: schools have varying types of approaches to learning.

Are you looking for single-sex or coed? Do you want a school affiliated with a synagogue or a church? The more knowledge you have about the different types of programs, the easier it will be to narrow your list to match what your child needs.

2. Look at independent school websites.

Look at schools’ websites. Start with the Parents League list of schools, which provides links to over 150 NYC independent school websites.

3. Register for school virtual open houses.

Check school websites for updates. Parents League collects dates for virtual open houses, info sessions and tours on our frequently updated calendar of virtual and in-person school events .

4. Create a list of eight to ten independent schools to consider.

Speak with someone who knows the environment and culture of the school. Parents League advisors visit NYC independent schools and meet with heads and admissions directors. They can provide insights to help better match your family with the right school.

5. Speak with your Preschool Director.

If your child is in a preschool now, the director may provide help finding a kindergarten. They know your child and your family and can help point you in the right direction.

6. Download applications online ASAP.

Depending on the school, you’ll be able to request an application by phone or download it from its website in the summer or early fall. Use a chart to keep track of applications and deadlines .

7. Submit applications early.

Many schools will only schedule tours and interviews after you have completed an application, so get them in early in order to schedule those dates!

8. Prepare for school visits and interviews

Often there is a tour for parents and a separate visit for your child. Watch our video: How to Prepare for a Kindergarten Interview

Topics covered:

• What can parents do at home to prepare for their child’s visit to an independent school?
• How should they describe the visit to their child?
• What types of activities will children be doing during the kindergarten interview?

Ellen Birnbaum, Director of Early Childhood Programs at the 92nd Street Y answers these questions and more.

9. Don’t wait on financial aid.

If you are applying for financial aid, do so when you apply. Schools need to know how much financial aid funding to allocate to families. Not sure if you qualify? Speak to a Parents League advisor about the process. Look to websites for helpful guides and tips .

10. Consider early notification if you have siblings or legacies.

If your child is a sibling or legacy at a school, let the school know if you wish to be included in its optional early notification for legacies program. If your child is accepted, you are then obliged to attend that school and withdraw your applications at all other schools.

11. Mark your calendar for notification and reply dates.

Find out when schools will notify you about acceptances and when you’ll need to reply to them.

Getting your child into the right kindergarten is a big deal. By planning ahead and not waiting until the last minute you will certainly feel more confident and  in control of this process. If you are still confused or need help, contact us to set up your appointment with an experienced Parents League school advisor so we can support you with this important step in your child’s educational journey.

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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.

From McCallie School

• 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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Apply To Private Schools With the Standard Application Online

The Standard Application Online (SAO) is the most efficient way to apply to 400 private schools. Take comfort in knowing that  schools give SAO applications equal priority . Save yourself the time and frustration of poring over multiple application forms and essays by applying with the most-used common private school application today!

SAO by the numbers

How does the sao work.

The SAO is your best option for submitting private school applications for students entering prekindergarten through grade 12 and post graduate. It works by standardizing all necessary forms and documentation from teacher recommendations to student essays into one simple online application. Schools that accept the SAO do so because they genuinely care about your experience applying to their school.

Account Creation

Get started today by creating an account in our family portal. You can also use your account to access the SSAT and the Character Skills Snapshot .

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The SAO easily handles multi-household families, letting schools know whom to contact and where to send their materials.

Interests and Achievements

Help schools get to know your child by submitting interests and academic or personal achievements. Even upload multimedia links such as YouTube channels or blog pages to highlight athletic, art, or writing abilities.

Required Documentation

Add parent statements, student essays, recommendations, and transcripts once and seamlessly submit them to all schools to which you apply. School-specific instructions and supplemental forms are clearly indicated.

Recommendation & Transcript Requests

Make recommendation requests and track submissions through the SAO. Likewise, request transcripts from school administrators by officially signing release forms through the system.

Standardized Test Results

Track individual school requirements for the SSAT and the Character Skills Snapshot, and individually release scores and results to each school.

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Financial aid applications are managed separately through each school; however, you indicate whether your family intends to apply for tuition assistance on the SAO.

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School Participation

Participating schools give SAO submissions equal consideration as those submitted through the school’s website. In many cases, schools have integrated the SAO with their website's application.

Application Fees

All school application fees are charged through the SAO, and the SAO processing fee is only $10 per application. Families that receive an application fee waiver from the school won’t incur either charge.

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Parents’ Manhattan Kindergarten Application Essay

By faith salie.

Please use this space to tell us what you would like us to know about your child. Your insight is important to us and very much appreciated.

How do we sum up our daughter in a brief essay? Toile entered this world four years ago, vaginally, absorbing the good microbes that allow her to be a nut-lover and not one of those children who has to go everywhere with an EpiPen. Our doula Salome said she had never witnessed “such a supple birth.” Our labor playlist featured Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” which we believe accounts for Toile’s near-perfect pitch as well as her extremely powerful diaphragm.

Every day with Toile is full of a thousand questions: “What’s the difference between Parma ham and prosciutto?” “Can I have a Hamilton birthday party?” “Mom, why did you go to PureBarre and Physique 57 today?” During her child-led, unstructured playtime on our drives to the Hamptons, she loves to ask our driver Hasaan all about how he rides his camels. He always tells her that not all people from Egypt ride camels and that he has lived in the United States for 27 years. It’s become a sweet little inside joke between them.

Our family celebrates diversity. Toile is just as happy to go to Forest School with Ivan, the son of that guy who owns the Nets, as she is to play No-Stress Chess with Saanvi, the daughter of a partner at McKinsey. For Halloween, she dressed as a fencer in a hijab! Our housekeeper is from Ecuador, and our dog groomer is some kind of mix. Arvin, the man who comes to blow out my hair every three days, is gay. Toile simply doesn’t see color or gayness.

Toile is generous. She loves giving donations to Raymond, our family Rolfer, who has a daughter about Toile’s age. “Gently used!” she exclaims, with the gratified gleam of a future philanthropist in her eye, as she thrusts a Citarella bag full of Jacadi at him. When we leave a restaurant, she always offers my leftover salad with dressing on the side to homeless people. At the nail salon, she tips 30%. At age 3.8, she spearheaded a fundraising auction for her nursery school, L’Ecole des Enfants des Parvenues, and raised $42,000 by enrolling all the kids to get their parents to agree to a “Country Home Swap.” Our family had a fascinating time staying in the Poconos house of her little friend Aviva. We learned there’s a slippery slope from “rustic” to “ramshackle” (linoleum?!), but it gave us the chance to teach Toile, “ À chacun son gout. ” Or, as we like to say, “Not everyone’s country house has a mudroom!”

Talk about innovative. Although we do not partake in the Jewish faith, Toile has created her own line of bespoke kippot on Etsy, using the locks of her little Jewish boyfriends after their Upsherin ceremonies. She takes the fine hair that the boys’ mothers finally cut when they turn three and turns it into a paintbrush. Then she paints kippot in bright colors. Her work is quite fauvist! She calls her line “Up, Upsherin And Away,” demonstrating her ingenious skills at wordplay.

When we curated Toile through preimplantation genetic diagnosis, we knew we were getting an XX with overall chromosomal normalcy, but we could have never have predetermined her resilience! Toile has managed to embrace no fewer than seven nannies in four years, each of whom we consider part of our family until Toile accidentally calls one “Mommy.” When the nannies go back to the agency, our daughter never cries; she only asks to see Hamilton again. One of her favorite sayings is, “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again!” which is something she recently said to me when she found me sitting in my boudoir, staring at my framed Master in Public Policy degree, weeping.

Not least, it is with great pride that we report our daughter is already an activist. During our most recent safari in Kenya this past summer, Toile was made aware of the scourge of Female Genital Mutilation. I’m not sure why our room maid told her about it, and I’m still not sure if Toile understands what a clitoris is or does (I’m not sure her father does either, haha!), but Toile did tell her classmates about it at her Show & Share, using the African fertility doll we brought home. She left her teachers speechless with her maturity and consciousness-raising.

We love our daughter beyond the allotted word count for this essay. I often tell her she’s my reason for living, which is why I quit my job at a high-profile think tank in order to breastfeed her on demand. We have every confidence that she will self-wean before she starts kindergarten next fall.

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Applying to Kindergarten - Admission/Application Essay Example

• Subject: Education
• Type: Admission/Application Essay
• Level: Undergraduate
• Pages: 2 (500 words)
• Downloads: 2

Extract of sample "Applying to Kindergarten"

He is mathematically oriented and loves reading books and watching games. He is extremely friendly and adjusts easily to a new atmosphere. He is a sharp learner and tends to learn things that interest him. Pranav is extremely caring by nature and even though we are working on his habit of trying to gain attention, we do know that he puts others before himself. We are well aware that our son has a few drawbacks but since he is still learning I am sure we can help him overcome them. His tendency to differentiate things often makes him resistant to learning new things that he does not like, for example, he never practices writing or completes a task that does not interest him.

He is a picky eater and often skips eating his vegetables. He tends to lose focus easily while talking to others which we have controlled by making him attend swimming and tennis lessons where through positive reinforcement he has learned to listen keenly to others. We have taught him the values of respecting his own culture as well as that of others. All together Pranav is a promising child with immense potential which needs proper guidance.It is true that parents are a child’s true teachers but we cannot deny the fact that a school plays an important role in a child’s life.

In our culture and religion, a guru or teacher’s position is higher than that of a parent. Pranav is in his “de-novo” stage and we want him to receive a holistic education that would not only make us proud parents but would make him a good human. We want to provide the same environment that Pranav has been accustomed to so far because even though he is good at adjusting we as parents realize that it can be stressful. St. Marks's high ratings, holistic curriculum, and the students themselves represent the great standards of education, and we as parents want our son to have the best form of education possible.

We are sure that the faculty would help Pranav overcome his little negative points and hone the positive skills and help him not only set goals but achieve them. As parents, we would love to be involved in the growth of our son and that of the school. It is our dream to try and provide our child with the best that we can and help him become a responsible, reliable, honest, and educated citizen. We are looking forward to becoming a part of the huge St.Marks family and watching our son embark on his journey of education with guidance from St.Marks.

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Hi everyone,

I'm working on my son's applications to several private schools in the Bay Area, and the process has me puzzled. Many of the applications seem surprisingly similar, with questions like "What are the defining characteristics of your child?" and "How do you define a 'good school'?"

My main question is: how do these schools actually select students? Are the essays and application materials truly reviewed and ranked, or are there other factors that play a bigger role? I'm curious if anyone has firsthand experience with private school admissions and can shed some light on the process.

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Home — Application Essay — Liberal Arts Schools — From Preschool to Kindergarten: A Journey of Adaptation

From Preschool to Kindergarten: A Journey of Adaptation

• University: Bard College

About this sample

Words: 1610 |

Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 1610 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Almost every weekday morning, I awoke from a consuming sleep and lethargically stumbled into the bathroom. After managing to grip my toothbrush and pour my revoltingly minty toothpaste onto the painfully sharp bristles, I cleared my mouth of bacteria. I changed from functional nightwear into a fabulous Gap Kids sweatsuit and Reebok sneakers. Flanked by a parent and a babysitter, I left my midtown high-rise for an uptown brownstone - the Stephen Wise Preschool.

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Preschool was the center of my world. It was the only place to which I had an allegiance; the only place that I really cherished. It was a place of assured regularity - a bastion of redeeming consistency. It was a place where I could pursue an independent path while receiving endless swathes of support. It was a place where I could socialize with peers, bond with tamed beasts (including a sea of goldfish and Bernard the Dalmatian), and have a few minutes of tranquility to myself.

More than anything else, preschool entertained me. Using nothing more than legos, I constructed suburban neighborhoods and bustling metropolises. For the weekly round of show-and-tell, I boasted about my newest contraptions, be it a police helicopter with flashing red lights, or a new backpack that could be both wheeled and carried. At lunchtime, I delved into the world of gastronomy, tossing Adam's tuna salad into Danielle's tub of raspberry gelatin. I watched Cookie the Turtle lay under under a halved, hollowed-out log, and observed Rufus the Hamster tirelessly shedding calories on his treadmill. Daniel Dolgicer the preschooler led a life of luxury. I was content, and I was cared for. I had no desire to expand my worldly lexicon; I wanted to be a preschooler for eternity. However, I was wise enough to know that my desire to be forever five could not be fulfilled.

June 1993: my morning routine began with a lethargic yawn and ended as I approached the Stephen Wise preschool, as usual. However, on this day, the Stephen Wise building - a large, imposing structure flanked by trees of oak and cedar and mahogany - was adorned with a wall of multicolored balloons. On this day, all my teachers were waiting outside of the school, shaking the hands of students, parents, and babysitters. On this day, a banner was lofted high above the Stephen Wise doorway: "Good Luck in Kindergarten!" Each letter was like a dagger to my five-year-old heart - they signified the conclusion of my career as a preschooler.

That last day of preschool was devoid of fun and flush with nostalgia. I would miss my peers - even the ones that didn't share their cookies at snack time and pushed and shoved their way to the front of the bathroom line. I would miss my teachers: the petite and pleasant Carly; the morbidly obese Sandy; the supremely knowledgeable Wendy. I would miss Stephen Wise's rigorous academia, whether it be sculpting silly putty in "science" or engaging in the weekly game of "Duck, Duck, Goose." On that last day of preschool, I was somber. When the clock struck three in the afternoon, I trotted to my impatiently waiting babysitter and began to shed tears. Not only was I overcome with sentiment, but I was also overcome with fear - fear that Kindergarten would present a continuous slew of challenges that would subsume me in a continuous cycle of failure.

The lore of preschoolers romanticizes the entry to kindergarten; it is a step akin to marriage and the ensuing production of babies - a step taken by many, but conquered by few. Kindergarten was a place where children were transformed into genuine students. It was a place where Barney the Dinosaur lunch boxes were strictly taboo; where children sat diligently and masterminded their strategy during rounds of Sesame Street Checkers; where children counted into the triple digits plainly for self-betterment. Kindergartners even confronted potential death with both frequency and flippancy: pupils microwaved alphabet soup without faculty assistance, cut oranges and lemons without acidifying their eyes, zippered their sweatshirts and jackets without blistering their fingers. Such freedom - foreign to the average preschooler - wase especially daunting to me.

The summer of 1993 was the pinnacle of mental moribundity. I would not wish such an experience on any man, no matter his constitution or moral fabric. Throughout the months of June, July, and August, I dreamt of the bygone. My mind - subsumed by good memories - was unhealthy; my body soon followed. I woke up at dawn and went to sleep well past dusk, yet I did nothing. I reclined for hours upon hours on the living room couch. I watched cartoons with pious diligence, developing quite an affinity for the Muppet Babies and Rugrats. Although my appetite had seen better days, I gulped my babysitter's various soups and porridges. My desire to roam, my desire to learn, my desire to converse - they had been pilfered by time.

As the date of my kindergarten debut drew closer, I was gripped by nervousness. A jittery feeling deactivated my arms and legs. Tight knots in my stomach preyed upon my mood. My confidence was nonexistent - I feared that I would never be able to complete even the most basic requirements. I feared that each day of kindergarten would bring new pain - both mental and physical. Each day of kindergarten would reveal more of my inability. And so I spent the summer months in immobile isolation, fearing that I would make a mockery of the institution of kindergarten and the concept of education. As temperatures moderated with the collapse of August, my apprehension only bloated.

The time was September of 1993. As I trotted from bed to bathroom, I put on a superficial guise of contentness. In actuality, however, my heart thumped faster than that of a cheetah chasing its prey. The bags under my eyes protruded from my face, their deep purple hue unprecedented after a long night of sleep. I was nervous, because today I would navigate through uncharted terrain. Today I would meet new peers, obey new teachers, and engage in activities that I was heretofore unaware of. Today was the first day of Kindergarten.

Suited up, I departed my home with my usual escorts. However, my morning commute was far from ordinary. I boarded buses that I previously was unaware of (the M7), and navigated the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam Avenue - far from the isolated quaintness of the Stephen Wise School. As I approached the imposing 79th street mansion that housed the Rodeph Sholom Day School, I tightened my velcro sneakers and unbuttoned my yellow, suffocatingly puffy jacket (to convey that I was resilient, and I too could weather the winds of September). I triumphed over the last swathe of land between the mansion and me. Each step seemed like an eternity. Each step exponentially increased the intensity of my breaths. Each step drew me closer to Kindergarten.

I scaled the staircase, which led to a gargantuan oak door, polished to perfection. The door opened, and Alejandro - the cheerful security guard with a 6'5 frame and amiable disposition - directed me to the kindergarten classrooms with a crisp point of the finger. He did not know me, he couldn't have, yet he felt that I was a newcomer. He witnessed the methodical thought to which I afforded each move, and heard the subtle nervousness in my voice when I wished my escort goodbye.

I slowly thumped my way towards room 203B - my new daytime domain. As I glanced inside the classroom for the first time, I was awestruck. Bright orange plastic chairs corralled octagonal tables. The walls were plastered with the writings and drawings of past pupils. The bookshelves, adorned by seemingly countless collections of covers, rose like canyons above the neatly carpeted valleys. There was even a quasi-convention center where students would congregate to discuss community issues. The floors were chaotically covered by a tumult of board games, paints, utensils. And then there it was - the microwave, my achilles heel - comfortably sitting atop the kitchen counter. My inability to read, write, paint, and live as a Kindergartner was suddenly shoveled into the back of my mind. Come lunchtime, I would seek food, yet I would find only incineration.

A teacher greeted me, chirping, "Welcome to Kindergarten!" I remained silent, yet she ushered me into the thick of the classroom. She debuted me to the student body, twenty-two strong. "My name is Daniel," I said shyly, my cheeks turning the hue of tomato paste. The crowd sloppily dispersed, and I followed a curly-haired youth (whose name lingers in anonymity) to back of the classroom.

I froze. My jaw dropped. My eyes became hazel pools of unabashed nostalgia and excitement. An ocean of legos pervaded the floor, their boxes literally scotch-taped to the wall. I dove into the plastic dunes, suddenly oblivious to the conundrums of Kindergarten. I began to put block atop block, building beside building. Within minutes, a city center had surfaced. I was proud, I was radiant, I was optimistic. Kindergarten was not so foreign to me, after all.

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The self-inflicted adversity of the summer months proved to be misguided. My adaptation to kindergarten was seamless: synthetic leather jackets replaced bibs, fancy cutlery replaced plastic spoons and edgeless knives, crisp diction replaced lingering lisps. Although I loathe change, my experience as a kindergartner taught me not to fear it. Time cannot be stalled, and change must be embraced. Although my rhetoric is nearly always pessimistic, I subconsciously know that the road of life is a road of constant self-betterment.

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• Kindergarten

Kindergarten Reading

Starting kindergarten is a time of big changes for most children: a new routine, new friends, and so many new things to learn. Give your child a head start on their kindergarten phonics skills by making sure they have a good grasp on their ABCs and are ready to start reading.

Reading Skills Before Kindergarten

Recognize letters: Say the names of letters.

Writing Skills

Write first name: Print name and attempt other words.

• Phonemic Awareness

Recognize sounds: Identify and manipulate sounds in words.

Reading Skills After Kindergarten

Match letters to sounds: Understand letter-sound relationships.

Write basic words: Write words using knowledge of letter sounds.

Sight Words

Decode sight words: Recognize select words by sight.

Reading Resources for Your Kindergarten Learner

Op, ox, ot word family song.

• March along to the beat of our song about the OP, OX, and OT word families. Simple words and an irresistible tune are a winning combo that take your reading skills straight to the TOP!
• View Resource

Letter Tt Song

• The letter Tt is the star of this catchy doo-wop melody features a ladybug singer and a chorus of sweet snails. Join in singing the letter Tt song with this talented troupe!

UN, UT, UG Word Family Song

• Sing along to this upbeat song that makes learning about the UN, UT, and UG word families so much FUN!

AB Word Family Tic Tac Toe

• Read each word aloud. Make an O on the AB words that rhyme with cab. Make an X over the rest of the words. Which one wins?

AB Word Family Write It

• The AB word family is big! Write the letters AB in the blanks and then read aloud the words you made.

ALL Word Family: Fill in the Blanks

• This worksheet is all in the ALL word family! Read the ALL words in the word bank. Then write the correct word to complete each sentence.

Hooked on Phonics for Kindergarten

Step-by-step phonics.

The Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read program presents new skills in simple, step-by-step lessons that teach children how to read kindergarten-level words.

Practice and Play

Kindergarteners play fun games in the App and enjoy hands-on activities in the workbook to practice their new phonics skills.

Independent Reading!

Each App lesson ends with a story using the words your child has just learned so they can feel confident reading a book on their own.

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Our Best Advice for Completing the Round 1 MBA Application

Assistant Dean of Admissions Bruce DelMonico shares his best advice and dispels a few myths about the MBA application process.

With just a couple of weeks until the MBA program’s Round 1 application deadline, I want to check in with a few general thoughts and some specific resources from the admissions team to help you through the process. Our aim is to make the process as transparent and accessible as possible. From our Application Guide to our previously recorded webinars and upcoming live events with members of the Admissions Committee, we’ve developed content aimed to support you at every step of your application process.

Before sharing those resources, I want to highlight a couple of the biggest pieces of advice about the process more generally. If you’ve attended a recent event, you’ve likely heard this guidance already, but I believe it bears repeating. First, don’t overthink things. You want to be thoughtful in your application, but don’t tie yourself into knots trying to analyze the implications of each question and prompt. We try to be clear, simple, and straightforward in the questions we ask, so we hope you will approach them in that same spirit.

On a related note, don’t try to predict what you think the Admissions Committee is looking for and don’t try to fit a mold you think will help your application “stand out.” There’s no mold—we are intentionally looking to bring in a diverse class, and we therefore seek broad perspectives across a range of professional experiences, fields of study, extracurricular activities, and other dimensions that represent your unique story. Anything important to you is important to us!

In addition to this general guidance, we have resources to help you as you work on specific portions of the application. Be sure to:

Check out our   Application Guide , which is designed to break down every aspect of our application, explain why we ask specific questions, and provide insight into what the Admissions Committee is looking for. In addition to our written advice, we recently updated the Application Guide with brief videos from Assistant Dean Laurel Grodman and me. Whether you prefer to consume the Application Guide via video or text, we’ve got you covered. Below are a few select videos; you can find many more in the full Application Guide.

Essay: Sharing what matters to you

Test Scores: One piece of a larger picture

Work experience: Showcasing your achievements

Explore two of our recently recorded events.  Some of you may already have seen two large webinars we recently hosted in advance of the Round 1 deadline: Inside the Application, Literally and Our Best Application Advice . These webinars are meant to complement each other and assist in slightly different ways with your application process. You can watch the videos in their entirety or use the chapter descriptions to jump to specific application components.

• Inside the Application, Literally : Assistant Dean Laurel Grodman walks you through the 2024-2025 application (in fact, she literally opens the application and explains each element), sheds light on our reasons for asking for certain pieces of information, and offers advice on how best to answer the questions.
• Our Best Application Advice : As the title suggests (we don’t like to bury the lede), Laurel and I share our best advice about approaching the application process generally. We also discuss specific application areas about which we tend to receive the most questions.

Attend upcoming events with the Admissions Committee.  Prefer to ask your question live? We understand that desire, and that’s why we’ll be hosting a number of informal virtual sessions with members of the Admissions Committee over the next few weeks. Join a general Admissions Q&A for broader questions on the school or admissions process, attend my final Office Hours event before the Round 1 deadline, or join a Round 1 Application Q&A to get your last-minute questions answered before you hit “submit.”

We hope you find these resources helpful. As a final thought, I would note that the MBA process is a highly reflective journey. We hope that when you complete the process, you will have a better understanding of yourself and your motivations for this next step in your career than you did previously. Along the way, know that the admissions team is here to assist you. We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about you. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Best of luck with your application!