Seventh Grade Year
January
Take SSAT in Early January
Take ERBs in Late January
April
Seventh grade parents meet as group with Head of School and Upper School Head.
Spring
Seventh grade parents meet individually with Upper School Head. Parents should please make sure sure Upper School Head has parents’ current email address.
Eighth Grade Year
June-August
Contact admissions offices for catalogs and applications. You may phone admissions offices or contact them on line. The next ‘leg’ of your child’s educational journey is important. Take notes on each school for reference and comparison of curriculum, campus life, academic support , and opportunities for leadership. See appendix.
September
Individual parent meetings with Upper School Head continue. Please stay in contact with Mrs. Mc.
Students meet parents at Far Hills Fair to meet Secondary School Admission representatives and to obtain secondary school materials.
Begin arrangements with independent school admissions offices for visit and interview appointments. It is important to make informed comparisons.
Also remember, public schools make it easy to learn about what they offer. Simply call the guidance office and arrange a visit with a counselor.
October
Self-evaluations (Brag Sheet) due to Upper School Head.
Begin Secondary School visits.
Keep careful records of visits. Remember to write thank you notes
October - December
Interviews and school visits continue.
Recommendation forms given to individual teachers. Make sure student’s name is clearly written on each. Be sure to include a stamped envelope addressed to the secondary school’s admission office.
Principal/Counselor’s recommendation and Transcript request forms are given to administrative assistant in Upper School Office.
Save copies of graded English papers. Many schools also require a teacher graded paper from this year’s English class. Each student should select graded papers and keep copies at home to be mailed with application. If asked by the student, English and history teacher may help with this selection.
Your child is responsible for informing teachers in advance about upcoming absences and for making arrangements about missed work. Although faculty understand that students must be absent for school visits, it is a good idea for you to avoid visits on days when announced tests have been scheduled. Even in the best of worlds, misunderstandings arise. A student who senses any difficulty with a teacher should discuss it with his advisor. It is extremely important for your child to stay on top of his course work during this time. First term grades play a very significant role in admissions decisions.
Following the interview, a short thank you note to the interviewer from your child is always appropriate and, in fact, is suggested.
A Word of Caution - Some families allow themselves to be falsely encouraged or discouraged by how they think the interview “went” or by what the personnel of a school said or did. Some interviewers are naturally more enthusiastic than others and some follow up with closing comments and thank you letters and others do not. Remember, admissions decisions are made by whole admissions committees and are based on the applicant’s academic record, teacher recommendations, test scores, the record of extra-academic contributions to Peck, and special talents. In comparison with these criteria, the weight of an interview is relatively small.
**** Block out student’s and family’s calendar October to January to allow time for student to draft and complete application sequence in a timely fashion. ALWAYS COPY APPLICATIONS to avoid writing on original. Always keep copies of finished applications.
Early November
Register to take the December SSAT at Peck. LIST Peck’s SSAT # (5710) and SSAT #s of receiving schools on registration form to assure scores are received by secondary schools.
First term grades and transcripts sent to secondary schools.
Organize sequence of applications and deadlines. Always try to be in Early ROUND if school has rolling admissions. (N.B. Early Rolling Admissions requires November SSAT scores).
December
Day applicants and boarding school applicants take SSAT.
Thinking and writing applications is squarely your child’s applications; however, parents are urged to help by brainstorming ideas and by proofreading for mechanics and clarity of expression.
Make sure varying school deadlines are clearly posted on home calendar. Plan to complete applications so that there is no doubt student’s and parents’ materials will arrive on time.
Although applications are generally not due until mid or late January, Peck strongly recommends the December vacation as the best time for completing them. Early applications carry no real advantage, while those written in late December are usually more thoughtful and generally reflect the perspective gained from visits, interviews and fall experiences. Follow carefully each school’s directions for completing the applications. If a school indicates that the application must be handwritten, they mean it.
Early January
Check status of student’s application file at receiving school. Inform Upper School Office immediately of any problems. Peck will gladly resend any materials which seem to be missing.
January 15
Applications submitted (deadlines for individual schools may vary).
Mid term grades for the second marking period are sent to secondary schools.
Certain day schools may begin to share their decisions.
February 1
Boarding schools begin to read and evaluate candidate folders. Peck maintains regular communication with schools.
March 10
Day school decisions during month. Notification of acceptances mailed for boarding schools.
March 10 - April 10
Possible second visits. Be very quick to arrange re-visits. These slots tend to fill up quickly.
April 10
Responses to schools on acceptances / rejections.
Deposit made to hold place.