Here are some points to consider:
Safe Schools
One of the things your consultant will recommend is that you have at least one safe school on the list. This will be a school which you and your child are comfortable with and your consultant knows that your chances of getting admitted to are pretty good. It makes no sense to put all your eggs in one basket and just apply to one school, any more than it makes sense to apply only to very selective schools. The risk of not getting in is simply too great. So stack the deck in your favor. Include a safe school on your short list.
Competitive Schools
Some schools are extremely difficult to get into. They are very competitive and can choose candidates from a wide pool of applicants. These are considered a stretch. Keep one on the list because you just never know. It's like applying to Harvard or Princeton. The competition for places is intense. But you could get lucky. The other thing to consider is that the most competitive schools are not necessarily the best fit for your child. There are plenty of hidden gems out there. You need to look for them. That's where your consultant comes in. He will be able to match up your child's characteristics and academic profile with schools with some schools you probably never even thought of.
Finding the Best Fit
Narrowing the field really is all about finding the best fit for your child. Your short list of schools needs to have schools on it with which you and your child are completely comfortable. Leaving home and familiar surroundings and routines is traumatic enough. You owe it to your child to make sure that she will enjoy as well as benefit from her experience at private school.
Visit the Schools on Your Short List
The next step in the process of choosing a school takes some serious time and effort. That's because you have to visit the schools on your short list. There is no substitute for actually seeing and inspecting schools with your own eyes. You need to experience the culture, speak with teachers and observe the surroundings your child will live with every day.
You may think you already have a good feel for the schools you have selected. After all you took their virtual tours, read the reviews, scrutinized the academics and sports offerings and poured over the beautiful photo galleries. Although that sounds like it is enough, it really isn't. Why not? Because what you see and read online and in the schools' glossy catalogs is exactly what they want you to see. You need to physically visit each campus and see for yourself. You need to be absolutely certain that each school is a really good fit for your child and your requirements for him.
