Surviving the Private Kindergarten School Application Process by Eden Godsoe

By Eden Godsoe · 15 items added

If you live in San Francisco (or a similar big city) and have children, you will or have had the pleasure of going through the kindergarten application process. It can be incredibly time consuming, not to mention confusing and intimidating. Here are some tips, do's and don'ts to make the experience more pleasurable (or at least less stressful.) Good luck!

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Try Not To Stress
http://www.skinnyscoop.com/question/q/1204

Eden Godsoe says: "I know...easier said then done but this is the #1 tip. 50% of women said they were very or extremely stressed. No doubt there will be stress in the process but know that things will work out in the end."

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Try Not To Stress I know...easier said then done but this is the #1 tip. 50% of women said they were very or extremely stressed. No doubt there will be stress in the process but know that things will work out in the end.
Cast a Wide Net

Eden Godsoe says: "Our preschool director suggest we look at 10 schools. I thought she was crazy but she was right. Best to go in with an open mind and explore many schools. You may only end up applying to 4-6 but why not take this opportunity."

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Cast a Wide Net Our preschool director suggest we look at 10 schools. I thought she was crazy but she was right. Best to go in with an open mind and explore many schools. You may only end up applying to 4-6 but why not take this opportunity.
Get Organized

Eden Godsoe says: "I created a spreadsheet with the schools listed by row and then all the steps or events listed out for each. You can plug in the dates and track what you have done or what is outstanding."

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Get Organized I created a spreadsheet with the schools listed by row and then all the steps or events listed out for each. You can plug in the dates and track what you have done or what is outstanding.
Take Notes

Eden Godsoe says: "Bring a notebook to the tour, open house, interview and other events so you can write down the names of people you met and some key takeaways. You can include those details in your application letter or a thank you note."

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Take Notes Bring a notebook to the tour, open house, interview and other events so you can write down the names of people you met and some key takeaways. You can include those details in your application letter or a thank you note.
Save Your Questions & Opinions For Private Time

Eden Godsoe says: "I've been to open houses or the Q&A portion of tours where a couple of parents ask very personal questions or voice strong opinions and end up monopolizing the time. Why not save the question for after - it's an opportunity to talk one-on-one."

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Save Your Questions & Opinions For Private Time I've been to open houses or the Q&A portion of tours where a couple of parents ask very personal questions or voice strong opinions and end up monopolizing the time. Why not save the question for after - it's an opportunity to talk one-on-one.
Put The Cell Phone On Mute On Tours And Other Events

Eden Godsoe says: "Try to live without your iPhone (or Blackberry or Android or whatever) for a couple of hours. This is your time to learn about the school AND the school is also learning about you and your interest level."

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Put The Cell Phone On Mute On Tours And Other Events Try to live without your iPhone (or Blackberry or Android or whatever) for a couple of hours. This is your time to learn about the school AND the school is also learning about you and your interest level.
Let Your Child Be Who They Are

Eden Godsoe says: "It's a school, not a pageant. Certainly discuss with your child that you are looking into good schools for them to attend but don't coach them or expect them to be perfect. They will shine most when they are relaxed and enjoy the process."

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Let Your Child Be Who They Are It's a school, not a pageant. Certainly discuss with your child that you are looking into good schools for them to attend but don't coach them or expect them to be perfect. They will shine most when they are relaxed and enjoy the process.
Don't Go Overboard
http://www.skinnyscoop.com/question/q/899

Eden Godsoe says: "I know families who sent expensive gifts or had numerous (like 5 or 6) people write letters on their behalf. Guess what...they didn't get in. One strong referral or a thoughtful application is good enough. See what other parents did in this poll."

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Don't Go Overboard I know families who sent expensive gifts or had numerous (like 5 or 6) people write letters on their behalf. Guess what...they didn't get in. One strong referral or a thoughtful application is good enough. See what other parents did in this poll.
The "First Choice Letter" Question
http://www.skinnyscoop.com/question/q/900

Eden Godsoe says: "50% of women in this poll wrote a 1st choice letter to 1 school, 20% wrote multiple 1st choice letters & the rest (including me) didn't write a 1st choice letter. If you have 1 school you love best, go for it. Other do what you think feels right."

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- Joanne Gouaux: Opps. I had no idea that people write 1st choice letters?! We wrote thank you notes -- but that's not the same concept. Lucky for us, it worked out for the best. We've been very pleased with our son's first experience of school. Reading this list reminds me of just how much work went into the application process. Good advice at the beginning of this list...try not to stress and cast a wide net!
The "First Choice Letter" Question 50% of women in this poll wrote a 1st choice letter to 1 school, 20% wrote multiple 1st choice letters & the rest (including me) didn't write a 1st choice letter. If you have 1 school you love best, go for it. Other do what you think feels right.
The Redshirting Question
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/opinion/sunday/dont-delay-your-kindergartners-start.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

Parents who hold a child back from starting kindergarten think they are providing a competitive advantage, but delaying school is rarely the right approach.

Eden Godsoe says: "Redshirting didn't exist when I was a kid so I'm amazed by all the debate. This is a thought provoking article from the NY Times that comes out against redshirting. At the end of the day, you have to do what YOU think is best for your child."

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- Rebecca: That NYT piece is dangerous and misleading. The truth is that Red-shirting is ALWAYS the better option if a child has a challenging pre-K or transitional K (young 5's) program. My children's preschool had such an incredible, creative, amazing pre-K program that I didn't even consider putting my August son through the evaluation process. He enjoyed a year of pre-K building rocket ships and models of Hogwarts Castles, going on field trips and playing Quidditch on the playground, and entered K fully prepare
The Redshirting Question Redshirting didn't exist when I was a kid so I'm amazed by all the debate. This is a thought provoking article from the NY Times that comes out against redshirting. At the end of the day, you have to do what YOU think is best for your child. Parents who hold a child back from starting kindergarten think they are providing a competitive advantage, but delaying school is rarely the right approach.
Find Some Humor / Have Some Cocktails

Eden Godsoe says: "Great advice from SkinnyScoop maven Helen. Keep things in perspective and find humor by the absurdity of things."

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Find Some Humor / Have Some Cocktails Great advice from SkinnyScoop maven Helen. Keep things in perspective and find humor by the absurdity of things.
Parent Interview Do's and Don't | The SF K Files
http://thesfkfiles.blogspot.com/2007/12/parent-interviews.html

Eden Godsoe says: "I agree with these 6 tips for the parent interview including reading your application pre-interview, getting on the same page as your partner, and having some questions ready for the admissions director. And no jumping on the furniture."

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Parent Interview Do's and Don't | The SF K Files I agree with these 6 tips for the parent interview including reading your application pre-interview, getting on the same page as your partner, and having some questions ready for the admissions director. And no jumping on the furniture.
RESOURCE: GreatSchools.org
http://www.greatschools.org/california/san-francisco/private/schools/?gradeLevels=e&st=private

Eden Godsoe says: "This website is a great place to start as you can slice & dice schools by location, type, size and other factors. It also has tips and resources on the application process."

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RESOURCE: GreatSchools.org This website is a great place to start as you can slice & dice schools by location, type, size and other factors. It also has tips and resources on the application process.
RESOURCE: The SF K Files
http://www.thesfkfiles.blogspot.com/

A place for parents educating their kids in San Francisco

Eden Godsoe says: "This site / community blog includes posts from parents and experts across a range of kindergarten-related topics including admissions."

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RESOURCE: The SF K Files This site / community blog includes posts from parents and experts across a range of kindergarten-related topics including admissions. A place for parents educating their kids in San Francisco
RESOURCE: The School Boards
http://www.theschoolboards.com

Will P suggested: "The School Boards is a supportive online community for parents going through the school process to ask questions, share information and connect with other families that have been there done that."

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RESOURCE: The School Boards The School Boards is a supportive online community for parents going through the school process to ask questions, share information and connect with other families that have been there done that.