Dos and Don’ts of the Private School Application Process

A practical guide for applicants and their families

“Tis the season! There are concerts and decorations and opportunities for students to gather together for celebrations and special meals in these days before Governor’s vacation starts on Friday. And, yes, even as we think of family time and gifts, there is also the looming deadline for completed applications at Governor’s and other schools. I am offering some advice in the spirit of the season.

Plan ahead to avoid the stress
Whether you have a January 15 or January 31 completed application deadline, you have time. The challenge is that your written submissions require time and thought, and your days between now and then include schoolwork, family time, and fun. My advice is to work backward. With whatever you use to organize your time, determine when you want to press the submit button, determine how much time you will want to review your responses, then establish when you want your draft answers to be complete, and finally the time you will use to write your draft. Post or make your timetable known so all in your life know you have a plan.

Know what the process is really about
While it is easy to see this part of the admission process as a chore to be completed, it is more than that. Just as a good gift speaks to the giver’s understanding of the recipient, so this process allows us to get to know you. The answers to application questions allow you to use this remarkable pivot point in your educational journey to help us know what has been important to you, what you are focused on now, and who you wish to be in the remainder of your high school years. As you write, you get to write an autobiography of sorts to an audience who genuinely want to know you better.

Remember to tie the bow
Deadlines do matter, and you will be able to follow the progress of your application on your Application Checklist on your Veracross portal. After you have submitted your application materials allow a day or two for it to be reflected on your portal. If you are missing other elements, please do not panic. Some of the systems (Clarity, SSAT, TOEFL, etc) link up more or less seamlessly or quickly and we appreciate that your teachers and school administrators may be handling many submissions. It is OK with us if some of those submissions arrive a few days after the deadline. Your job is just to check your Checklist for what you feel we should have, and to reach out to those responsible for a submission or to us to make sure we have what we need.

Giving is better than receiving
In the midst of the season, it is easy to forget how many people made this possible for you. Just as you will thank individuals for a gift, for opening their house for a party, or for bringing a favorite dish or treat, so, too, can you recognize those who helped you reach this point in the application process. A thank you in person or in writing to parents or guardians, teachers, coaches, and directors, and those who either wrote on your behalf or helped shape you is good to do. It will help those people know that you give them some credit for the student, athlete, performer, and person of character you have become. Take the time. You will make someone else’s day…and it will feel good, too.

Thank you for your interest in The Governor’s Academy, and I hope that you have a wonderful holiday, filled with joy and family. We look forward to reading your application and to joining you in making 2026 our best year yet.

 Author: Mike Kinnealey, Assistant Head of School and Dean of Enrollment