November 2023 Secondary School Newsletter

November Secondary School Newsletter Applications, Autobiography & Answers to your Questions!

We are certainly in the heart of the secondary school process during November. By now, most of you have attended in-person tours and open houses, your kids have interviewed, they are scheduled for SSATs if necessary, and application lists are beginning to take shape. At this point you are hopefully gaining a greater sense of clarity about both the schools themselves and the process of applying.

Below you will find a few details regarding next steps, all of which will be covered in greater detail at the November 9th 8:00-9:30 a.m. parent meeting. *Please note: This newsletter is dense with information as we’re entering into the application phase of the process. Read it carefully, and please ask any questions for us to best guide you.

SSAT Update We are hosting the SSAT at Brookwood on Saturday, December 2 from 8:30am to approximately 12:30pm. As you know, submission of scores is optional to most schools this year with some notable exceptions, and each situation is totally unique. Following receipt of the results, please feel free to schedule time with Evan to discuss whether or not to submit scores to schools, as making this determination is going to be a team effort.

The Application and Recommendation Forms In a process that seems to get more challenging each year, there are more than a few ways to complete the student applications to independent secondary schools. SAO-the Standard Application Online-is a common online form that is used by 500+ schools, while Gateway to Prep Schools, Ravenna, and TABS Common Application forms are also online application platforms used by smaller groups of schools. There are also school-specific online applications, which you may feel are most appropriate as the questions/prompts are relevant to that school. Most of the schools that Brookwood students apply to accept the SAO. We fully understand that the student and parent components of the SAO are more streamlined for you to complete online, since completed sections are sent directly to all schools to which you’re applying. The lists of schools that accept SAO, Gateway, and Ravenna are linked below and can also be found in the parent portal.

We created Brookwood School standardized forms for the Transcript Release, School, English, Math, and Special Interest/Personal recommendations. These forms can be accessed below as hyperlinks or found in the secondary school database within the Heron Hub Parent Portal.

Print and complete: (1) Transcript Release and School Recommendation form, enter the list of schools to which your child is applying and have your child deliver to Mrs. Marrero; (2) Subject Recommendation Request forms, and have your child deliver one to Mr. Carver (math) and one to Mr. Falconer (English). The Special Interest/Personal Recommendation form may be completed by a Brookwood coach, music or art teacher, although we feel it is best to provide a perspective outside of Brookwood when possible; please consider having outside recommenders add their unique voice to your applications. We are ready to receive all forms, and the description and distribution process of rec forms has been communicated with your 8th graders. *In some cases, a school may require a third academic recommendation letter. It is important to check this early as your child will need to ask an additional Brookwood teacher to write on their

behalf; use the same Subject Recommendation Request Form as required for English or Math, however, you will be responsible for ensuring this additional letter is submitted directly to the school(s) by the rec letter writer.

Completion of the myriad forms tends to be one of the more daunting aspects of the application process and we will be covering this in greater detail during our November meeting. Never hesitate to contact us at any time by phone or email to help sort through the confusion; we are very accustomed to fielding inquiries about application logistics.

Finally, several of you have asked when it is appropriate to begin completing applications. Finishing the fall term and wrapping up school visits/interviews should be your top priorities right now; do not feel pressured to complete and submit applications early, as it does not improve chances for admittance. It is perfectly acceptable to begin working on applications over Thanksgiving Break, and earnestly during the Winter Break in December when there are less competing interests for your child’s time and attention. Early preparation and allowing ample time to review, edit, and polish responses to short answer questions and essay prompts will alleviate stress with the January 15 deadline following soon after we return from break; we are aware some schools have earlier deadlines and you should adjust your application completion plan accordingly.

Database Access = Application Awareness Once transcript release forms are delivered to Cathy, she will enter them in the database, and you will now be able to view “active” applications in process. If you do not see a school listed that you plan on applying to, please notify Cathy; while English and math teachers do not need “formal” notification of school additions, a quick email or conversation is helpful to keep track of the many moving components during this phase. We will cross reference the listed schools on both Subject Recommendation Request forms and the Transcript Release form to ensure we send to all schools.

Database Resources Recently Added: 2024 List of Schools that accept the SAO 2024 List of Schools that accept Gateway and Ravenna online applications 2024 Brookwood Transcript Release/School Form 2024 Brookwood Subject Recommendation Request Form 2024 Brookwood Special Interest/Personal Recommendation Form 2024 Non-School Personnel Recommendation Guidelines Autobiography We have set aside time during the school day for students to complete their autobiographies, but we could use a little help from you at home as well. Students have been told to get these submitted no later than 11/10/23. An extremely important reference point as we write recommendation letters, please remember to sign off on the autobiography content acknowledging that it’s both complete and accurate.

Got a question? Need some assistance?

We know questions may arise at any time! Cathy is definitely your best bet for logistical or technical questions about applications, while Evan tends to focus more on a student’s academic, testing, and extracurricular profiles relative to specific schools. Grade 8 students are also welcome to drop by, email, or set up meetings to ask us questions. Remember, no concern or question is too small.

Onward!

Evan and Cathy