As you’re driving your child back and forth from school to extracurricular activities, you’ve probably seen the independent school open house yard signs strategically placed in busy intersections or in a neighbor’s front yard. Fall is a busy time for school open houses, and you may be wondering why you should start looking at other schools when your child has only been at their current school for a few weeks, and why you should take the time to attend an open house in addition to visiting a school’s website. Rafhia Foster, The Shipley School’s Director of Enrollment, offers families a few reasons to consider when deciding to attend an independent school open house.
Save Time!
While it may seem time-consuming to attend multiple admissions events, it does save time in the long run. Open houses give families the opportunity to make comparisons between schools in a way that helps them get started on the process of applying to schools. Let the school give you an overview and answer your questions up front, rather than scheduling multiple one-on-one appointments and filling out multiple applications, which can get time-consuming. If you can get a good sense of what you’re looking for in a new school from those events and narrow your list from there, it really can be time-saving.
Access to Experience the School
Campus visits provide an experience you might not get during online research or during a one-on-one meeting. For example, families will hear from the Head of School, other administrators and teachers, current students, and parents. These events give you access to different constituencies within the community. You’ll also experience a tour of the school, and an overview of the curriculum and programs offered.
Learn What Differentiates the School from Others
Each school’s event is going to focus on the way they differentiate themselves from other schools in their market. They should be emphasizing the aspects of their program and curriculum that they do best. Hearing those differentiators and having the opportunity to ask questions in the moment is valuable in making the decision of which schools to further evaluate. You’ll also learn about each school’s admissions process and requirements for applications and tuition assistance.
Explore Any Preconceptions
Bringing an open mind may be the most important tip we could offer. Come with an open mind, take it all in, and see what resonates with you. You may find things out that were surprises to you. Families often have preconceptions or misperceptions about the school. The most important way of finding the best fit for your family is to ask all and any questions you may have during your visit. Admissions staff are always happy to have the opportunity to speak more about their school in depth.
Get a Vibe for the School
You get a vibe for what the community is like during the campus visit/open house. Ask yourself if it’s possible to see your family and your child at the school, and if you say yes at that point, then it makes sense to continue the process.
Seeing all the signs and advertisements for open houses lets you know this is the time to start looking. It doesn’t mean you have to make any decisions for your child for the next school year or even the year after, but it is the time to start paying attention to what your child’s needs are and evaluating if their current school is the best fit. You may contact any school’s admissions department at any time, but open houses are a great way to experience the school in a short amount of time.
If you’re interested in learning more about Shipley and our unique approach to education, we invite anyone to attend our Insider’s Looks this Fall.
