One of the key factors admission offices seek in candidates is adaptability. How a student manages the news of a school’s admissions decision is a great, real-life opportunity to practice and demonstrate this resilience and adaptability
The first week of March is here and this means students and families will learn the admission decisions from the many independent/private schools to which they applied. Some will be excited (!), and some may be…disappointed (sigh). Some may even be accepted into their desired school but unable to afford the tuition or be ineligible for financial aid.
This experience can test a student’s resilience. One of the key factors admission offices seek in candidates is adaptability. How a student manages the news of a school’s admissions decision is a great, real-life opportunity to practice and demonstrate this resilience and adaptability. As parents everywhere know, life presents many opportunities for jubilation and disappointment across diverse educational, professional, and personal endeavors. This time might be one of those.
Do not be defined by any admission decision, whether positive or negative. If accepted, start mapping out how you would like to proceed through that school and community. If denied, adapt, reapply, or embrace it as an opportunity to do something different. Do not quit on yourself.
If you are not accepted by the school of your choice, many schools offer “rolling” or ongoing admissions throughout the year. Do your homework and find the best school for you. The writer William S. Burroughs once proposed, “The aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values.” What are your values? Which schools reflect those values?
Should you be accepted to several schools, invest the necessary time to revisit each institution to fully understand their community. NAIS schools provide superior and challenging academic programs but you need to see which schools match the intangible values (see Burroughs, above) that will help you grow as a person.
Now go find that school – find your school. It’s out there. Be brave. Be persistent. And know that there is a community out there that is going to be very, very lucky to call you an alumnus/alumna someday.
To visit W+H, please email Gerard at admission@WHschool.org.