What to Ask Private Schools

What to Ask Private Schools No two kids are exactly alike. No two schools are, either. When looking at private schooloptions at any grade level, it's important that parents ask questions that help them identifythe key differences that will help determine what private school is best for their child. Knowing the right areas to ask questions about is an important step going into private school interviews and tours. As you dive into your exploration of private schools, keep these thoughts in mind: 1. What do you really want to know about this private school? This is different than what you think you should ask. You may feel that asking about test scores or admission rates is what's expected, but it will be most beneficial to everyone if you ask about the areas that truly matter to you. Dont shy away from tougher questions if theyre important to you, but also try not to delve too deeply into uncomfortable areas that put the admissions officer on the spot, such as those regarding your childs specific chances of getting into the school. 2. How is this private school uniquely positioned to help my child? Think about how your child learns and thrives, as well as his or her strengths and weaknesses, and focus your questions according to those needs. Is your son an excellent writer but struggles to work with others? You might want to ask about how the school promotes teamwork. Or, say your daughter has an interest in engineering or mathare there robotics teams or other extracurricular offerings that will boost her learning beyond the typical curriculum? Think about whether the schools overall mission fits the goals you and your child have. Goal Example Question To increase your child's socialization opportunities What kinds of group and teamwork opportunities do you provide? To expand your child's music education Are band, orchestra, and/or choir offered? What are the programs like? To prepare your child for college admissions How early doguidance counselors and teachersstart providingsupportforcollege applications? 3. Tell me more about As with a job interview, you want to go in with as much knowledge as you can glean from the schools website and other available references. This will help you ask better questions and prevent you from looking like you dont care, which is the impression youd likely give by asking for information you could have easily gotten online in five minutes of research. Identify something the school succeeds at that coincides with your goals, and then dig deeper to show your interest. 4. How does this private school keep up with emerging technology? Its no secret that edtech is growing rapidly. How are teachers at this school able to use technology in the classroom to enhance learning and introduce students to new skills? Do they utilize digital textbooks? What is the policy on student smartphone use? On a related note, how is the overall curriculum reviewed, and how often does it change? 5. Does this private school approach the arts from a global, multicultural perspective? Whether or not your child is artistically inclined, a broad education in music, art, theater and cultural differences is invaluable in a time of increasingly global higher education and professional opportunities. If your child does have a specific interest in an artistic area, find out how that can directly be supported by this school. Some areas you might want to inquire about include the following: band orchestra choir acting drawing/painting dance 6. What is the philosophy on athletics at this private school? Many private schools require all students to participate in athletics or some other form of physical education. The lessons in teamwork and health can be invaluable, but if this is an area where your child particularly excels or struggles, you may want to find out more about what his or her experience will be like. 7. How do teachers and administrators at this private school communicate with parents? Many private schools have sophisticated websites, blogs, or social media pages, but how are individual teachers communicating with parents about the classroom and their individual students? What systems are in place for emergency notifications? 8. What support does this private school offer forcollege applications and preparation? Rather than asking where most graduating students are accepted to college or what their test scores are, dig deeper to find out specifically how the schools guidance staff would eventually help your child through the college admissions process. It may seem far away, but it can never be too early to prepare. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

6 Tips to Maximize Your Search for Financial Aid

6 Tips to Maximize Your Search for Financial Aid The following piece was written by David Bakke, a contributing writer for the popular personal finance website and blog, Money Crashers. He offers expertise on many important topics ranging from student loan debt and frugal living to retirement planning and careers. His work has been featured in various prominent publications such as Forbes and U.S. News World Report. The cost of a college education is high, and only getting higher. According to the College Board, the overall cost of one year of school at a public college comes in right around $22,000. At a private school, that number is closer to $43,000. The prospect of assuming that much debt is enough to scare anyone off, so the last thing you want to do is rely strictly on student loans to finance your education. There are a ton of alternative options at your disposal to decrease the overall cost of your time in school, so follow these six tips to help get you started today: 1. Do not solely rely on your financial aid office The first place to go to optimize your search for assistance is your school's financial aid office. You can get information and guidance on the many forms of aid available from government-subsidized loans to assistance from private lenders, and make sure you get the biggest bang for your buck. It would be a mistake, however, to rely entirely on this resource. There are plenty of other outlets available; they just take a bit of effort to produce results. 2. Immerse yourself in the internet Roll up your sleeves and get to work. Once you've exhausted the resources at your financial aid office, it's time to take advantage of the many other opportunities at your disposal. Countless grants, scholarships, and other forms of free money can be found simply by scouring the Internet. Many are available based on your race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and your involvement in professional organizations. Dig deep, and you may be surprised at what you find. 3. Start your search early and apply as soon as possible Youll want to start your search as early as you can for all forms of financial aid. Don't wait until posted deadlines to submit your application. A lot of the grant money out there is allocated quickly and the last thing you want to do is miss out because you waited too long to apply. Even if you're only a junior in high school, it can't hurt to begin your search. That way, you're going to be better informed about how financial aid programs work and the best ways to take advantage of them. 4. Choose federal loans over private Focus on federal student loans rather than loans from private institutions. Of course, once your federal loan options are exhausted, you may be forced to explore financing via private lenders just be aware that interest rates are usually higher and payback options are generally much more strict. Make sure you've availed yourself of all federal loan opportunities before enlisting the help of private banks. 5. Create your own FAQ list The process of obtaining financial aid for college can be time-consuming, especially if you research all your available options. However, you may find that many applications require answers to very similar questions. If you're looking to cut down on the time you spend, create a document with answers to some of the more commonly asked questions. That way, you can reduce your workload to a little copying and pasting, save yourself some valuable time, and get more aid for college. 6. Never assume you don't qualify Even if you come from a high-income family, you may very well still qualify for financial aid. According to a recent survey by Sallie Mae, close to 30% of kids coming from these families never even bothered to fill out applications for federal student financial aid in 2011. This can be a big mistake. Sallie Mae also reports that students from families that earned more than $100,000 per year also received an average of over $5,000 in aid that same year. Do yourself a favor and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and see what happens. You might be surprised at the results. Final Thoughts Once you've done all you can to impact your college costs, it's time to get to work on college expenses. Forget about campus health insurance you're covered under your parents' plan until you reach the age of 26. Investigate the campus meal plan and make sure it's worth the cost. Avoid things like campus errand services, laundry pick up, and college debit cards because when you gauge them against the alternatives, they're simply not worth the cost. Just because your institution is doing everything in its power to bump up your college bill doesn't mean you have to fall prey to its tactics. What ways can you think of to find financial aid? For more information on how to finance your college education, visit MoneyCrashers.com. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors