How do private schools decide if my child will be accepted, waitlisted, or rejected?

Private schools use a holistic admissions process to determine if a student will be accepted, waitlisted, or rejected. They consider factors such as academic performance, extracurricular involvement, teacher recommendations, personal essays, and interviews. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, admissions committees evaluate a student’s intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, character, and alignment with the school’s mission and culture. They seek students who will contribute positively to the school’s community. If a student is placed on the waitlist, it means they were considered a strong candidate but weren’t guaranteed a spot due to limited availability. Rejections are common in competitive admissions, and often reflect space limitations, not a lack of ability.