Not every school follows the same schedule, but many follow similar timetables for admission. The below timeline is designed to help you in the admissions process. Many schools will not need all of the materials presented here. It depends on how competitive and selective the school’s admission team is. 

AUGUST 

  1. Create an Admissions Journal for tracking interactions and observations
  2. Plan Ahead: Understand what will be needed to be prepare to apply to competitive or selective schools
  3. Define your ideal school
  4. Find schools that match your child’s needs. View Private Schools in Our Annual Guides to Private Schools, East Bay Private Schools, Silicon Valley Private Schools/Peninsula Private Schools, and San Francisco Private Schools, Marin Private Schools & North Bay Private Schools.
  5. Consider a Boarding School if you feel this would best match your child’s interests
  6. Talk to your network of friends to gather insights on schools
  7. Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list. Questions to Ask.

SEPTEMBER

  1. Browse schools’ websites & look books to learn more about their programs and philosophies
  2. Register at each school of interest and request admissions and financial aid material
  3. Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial assistance deadlines for the schools of interest
  4. Ask schools about their test requirements and register for needed tests
  5. Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase test-preparation books
  6. Contact schools to register for open house events, schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and shadow days
  7. Begin crafting parent statements and brainstorming essay ideas
  8. Round up graded writing samples and other items, i.e., art, prospective schools will need to evaluate your child
  9. Assemble an extracurricular profile
  10. Work with your child to practice answering interview questions for in-person or how to stand out on a virtual interview
  11. Arrange to get needed letters of recommendations

OCTOBER 

  1. Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests.
  2. Visit schools during open houses, information sessions, and tours. See upcoming events at this calendar.
  3. Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply.
  4. Take required standardized admission tests.
  5. Keep working on parent statements, essays and practice interviewing

NOVEMBER

  1. Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests.
  2. Continue to watch for admission events you may want to attend.
  3. Follow up on teacher recommendations from your child’s current school.
  4. Start working on applications, financial assistance forms, continue working on essays, interviews & statements

DECEMBER

  1. Continue to watch for any admission or school events of interest.
  2. Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester.
  3. Complete any remaining applications, questionnaires, etc. Some application materials are due as early as December.

JANUARY

  1. Deadlines time: Most applications are due in January or February, along with the accompanying required materials.
  2. Financial assistance applications are normally due soon after applications

FEBRUARY

  1. For schools with February admissions deadline, turn in applications
  2. Re-visit schools applied to again if unsure of top choice
  3. Send First-choice letters if appropriate

MARCH

  1. Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March
  2. Watch for financial assistance decisions about this same time
  3. If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend & let other schools know of your choice
  4. If wait listed, contact school to find out details and options

APRIL

  1.  Sign and return enrollment contracts and deposits
  2. Follow up with wait-listed schools

MAY TO SEPTEMBER

  1. Attend events and activities for new parents and students during spring and summer 
  2. Register for fall classes
  3. Get to know other families in the school
  4. Sign up for fall sports and clubs

View Private Schools in Our Annual Guides to Private Schools, East Bay Private Schools, Silicon Valley Private Schools/Peninsula Private Schools, and San Francisco Private Schools, Marin Private Schools & North Bay Private Schools.

10/1/2023 – Revised by Jean Abernathy