August (of the year before you want your child to attend)
- Define your ideal school
- Find schools that match your child’s needs
- Research and ask questions of schools on your preliminary list
September
- Attend local school fairs to gather material and impressions from multiple schools
- Browse schools’ websites to learn more about their programs and philosophies
- Request admissions and financial aid material by phone or online
- Review admissions materials to determine which schools to visit
- Create a calendar of pertinent admission and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you are considering applying
- Ask elementary schools about their test schedules and make appointments
- Register for any standardized tests required for admission
- Review the test websites to learn about procedures and test dates, see sample questions, and purchase test-preparation books
- Call schools to schedule individual tours, class visits, interviews, and “shadow days”
October
- Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
- Visit schools during open houses, attend information sessions, and take tours
- Finalize the list of schools to which you will apply
- Take required standardized admission tests
November
- Continue scheduling tours, interviews, class visits, and standardized or school-based tests
- Continue to watch for open houses you may want to attend
- Request teacher recommendations from your child's current school
- Start working on applications, financial aid forms, student questionnaires, and essays
December
- Continue to watch for any open houses or school events of interest
- Request transcripts at the end of your child’s first semester
- Complete applications, questionnaires, and essays
January
- Pay attention to deadlines: Most applications are due in January or February, along with test scores, references, transcripts, and financial aid forms
February
- Don’t miss deadlines: Most schools’ applications are due in February at the latest
- Visit schools and/or have your child participate in a student shadow day
March
- Watch for school decisions starting in mid-March
- Watch for financial aid decisions
- If your student is accepted by multiple schools, decide which school your child will attend
April
- Sign and return enrollment contracts and send deposits
May to September
- Attend events and activities for new parents and students