Days are getting longer, flowers are blooming, allergies are flaring up: spring is in the air in NYC! We’re always grateful for a more restful season following the end-of-admissions rush around the holidays, and love experiencing end-of-school-year activities with our own kids and our Admit NY community. 

While the spring is typically considered the “off-season” for NYC admissions, we always preach that admissions preparation can and should happen year round. The more you can spread out admissions work, the less stressful any given month of the admissions process will be! While it might seem early to start planning for deadlines that are still six or more months away, trust us that you’ll only ever be grateful for time spent on preparation. 

There are a few key areas that you can begin focusing on now to gear up for the NYC admissions process, regardless of how old your child is or whether you’re applying to public or private schools. 

Get Started on Test Prep

The first step of test prep is simply evaluating whether or not your child will need to take tests for their upcoming admissions process. In general, students won’t need to take admissions-specific tests if they’ll attend public school; the exception is that if you plan to apply to specialized public schools, your child will need to sit for the SHSAT, the only admissions factor considered when applying to this type of public school. That being said, with an ever-changing public school admissions process, it is possible that state test scores are used as a factor in the NYC public school admissions process, so it’s always a good idea to be aware of them. Testing is much more commonly required for private school admissions; here’s our overview of testing requirements. 

If your child will need to take a test, early preparation is key. Consider signing up for tutoring now to get a routine established heading into the summer, or beginning some at-home study time if paid tutoring isn’t an option. Private school test registration opens in August, but we suggest creating your child’s log in credentials and completing their profile now so you’re ready to go once test date registration opens. 

Begin Researching Schools, Including Spring Tours

We sound like a broken record, but it’s critical to begin reflecting on your school priorities and conducting initial research as early as possible. One of the main reasons that parents get overwhelmed by the admissions process is trying to cram a great deal of research into a small amount of time. In the fall, deadlines are right around the corner and pressure is high. Instead of waiting until September to kick off this process, start spending a bit of time this spring looking into school options. Read through websites, check out their social media pages, talk to other parents, and do some reflecting (or even journaling!) about what the best fit school for your child might look like. 

This time of year is also a great time to begin visiting schools; some private schools offer “spring tours” to welcome prospective families. Here’s our full guide on how to prepare for school tours and open houses, including some questions to ask as you explore the school. Remember to take notes as you attend these tours; it’ll be several months before admissions season begins in earnest, and you don’t want to forget your impressions! 

Start Brainstorming Parent Statements

If you’ll be applying to private schools this fall, you’ll likely need to submit parent statements: essays written by parents that help an admissions committee understand your child and your family more fully. Parent statements are often one of the most nerve-wracking components of the private school admissions process, because it can be intimidating to write formal essay responses about your child! 

That’s why getting started early can be a huge advantage. Start off easy with the common essay prompt “tell us about your child” - begin journaling or taking notes about the various traits you love most about your one-of-a-kind kid. Anecdotes and observations - little snippets of writing - can be massaged into full essays later on this fall. For more on getting started with parent statements, consult our guide here. 

End the Academic Year Strong

For older children applying to middle school or high school this fall, academic performance will be a component of their admissions evaluation. Therefore, this spring is an important moment to refocus on grades and end the year with a strong report card. If your child is struggling in a certain class(es), proactively check in with their teacher, consider tutoring, and/or recommit to healthy study habits. 

Beginning admissions preparation in the spring doesn’t have to be time-consuming; even a few minutes per week on school research and a couple of tours can help you feel much more confident as you embark on your admissions journey this fall! 

Admit NY is your compass for NYC admissions. We’re a boutique educational consultancy partnering with New York families to find the best school for their child; we’ll take the stress out of your admissions process. Looking for support for next fall’s admissions cycle? Reach out today.