If your family spends its days waiting for a response from the school your child is hoping to attend, you’re not alone. Many families have their hearts set on one specific community and are anxiously awaiting an admission decision. To help you navigate this period, we’ve gathered a few tips to keep your family moving forward while you await the news of what next year holds in store.
While the waiting game struggle is real, a few simple strategies can help your family stay calm and continue to demonstrate interest in your desired future school.
Encourage your child to take a deep breath; everything will fall into place. This is often difficult advice to follow, but lying awake every night can negatively impact their health, second-semester grades, and even their social life. Instead, encourage them to try meditation or yoga, channel their anxious energy onto the athletic field, hit the gym, or volunteer. Turning those nerves into a productive or fun activity is a great way to pass the time.
It is perfectly okay to reach out to your admission counselor with lingering questions or to ensure all of your child’s materials have been received, but try to avoid emailing daily! When appropriate, encourage your child to communicate directly with the admission office as well. For older students, this can demonstrate maturity and genuine interest. Questions regarding financial aid should come from parents or guardians.
Encourage your child to send a thank you email to their admission officer or any teachers or coaches they met during their campus tour. An old-fashioned, handwritten card is even better, as it shows an extra level of effort. Taking the time to do this adds "demonstrated interest" to their admission file and leaves a lasting positive impression.
Your child’s applications are in and they have worked hard all fall—it might feel like they deserve a semester off. However, it is vital that they keep their work ethic high. The time between submitting an application and receiving an acceptance is a critical period for grades. If your child ends up on a waitlist, their second-semester performance could be the deciding factor. Schools like Bancroft School do review final grades and maintain the right to rescind an offer of admission if a student falls significantly off track.
It’s important to hope for the best, but not everyone gains admission to their first-choice school. Ideally, your child’s list of schools includes a range of options that are a good match for who they are and will support their academic growth. Encourage your child to be proactive and find something to love about each school they applied to. Try writing out a list of "pros" for attending each institution; save the "cons" for later when your family is actually deciding between acceptances.
While your child may be anxious to move on and expand their horizons, encourage them to stop and recognize how far they have already come. Their accomplishments are something to be proud of. They have worked hard to gain the tools necessary to succeed in a new, more challenging environment. Encourage them to stand out in their current classes, truly engage in discussions, and value the friendships they have made. Life is about growth—help them be thankful for what they have learned so far and stay excited for the challenges that lie ahead.