Last week, KEY welcomed close to 60 attendees for a seminar on “Common Mistakes to Avoid for Private School Admissions at Junior Kindergarten and Grade 1.”

Seeing the increased competition in, anxiety with, and misinformation about private school admissions, KEY's goal in this seminar was to debunk myths spread by parent groups, the Internet, and unqualified consultants. By leveraging our own experiences in private school offices, our hope was to speak transparently not only about process, but the role of parents and how to maximize chances of admission.  

Bryan Ide, KEY’s education director referenced several personal stories: from instances where families were either unprepared at the interview stage, to reference letters that carried very little weight, he was able to dispel myths and give helpful tips on process. Diana Chang, one of KEY's admissions strategists, talked about the sensitivity of donations and how they should not be mentioned at time of admissions. A very common misconception is that one can buy buy one’s way into the system.  

The seminar also covered these topics: 

• What private schools are looking for in JK and Grade 1 applicants
• Biggest mistakes and how to avoid them
• The role of parents in the application process
• Overlooked steps to easily strengthen your application
• How to maximize your chances of getting into your school of choice
• The truth about donations

It was highlighted that as part of KEY’s private school admissions package, we prepare families for open houses, group assessments, interviews, how to write proper reference letters and statements, and training on the nuances of speaking the private school language.  As always, the goal at KEY is to help our clients understand the North American process and enable them to put their best foot forward. Diana and Bryan encouraged the audience to set up a meeting with KEY for a free consultation to review best fit schools. For students at this age group, KEY provides students with an initial assessment to determine their strengths and areas of improvement. Based on the student's individual needs, KEY will put together a customized training plan to help families to achieve their goal. KEY Early Years programs stress the development of social-emotional development in students, one of the most important factors in a child's healthy development.