EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally published in 2021. It was last updated in November 2024.

by Assistant Head of School for Strategic Priorities and Enrollment Management Sarah Jallo

Getting ready to apply to a new school can seem daunting and full of unknowns. You may be asking yourself questions such as, “What do I need to do to prepare my child? What is my first step? What should I be looking for in a school? What are schools looking for in my child? How do I know if the school is the right one?” Those are all great questions that I want to answer for you!

With the admission season just underway, I thought it best to focus first on what I would say are the two most important things to keep in mind as you embark on this process. While there are many questions still to answer, when I whittle it down to the core pieces of advice that I really wish families would take to heart from the very beginning, here is what comes to mind:

1. It truly is all about the right match.

This is #1 by a long shot. I know that from the outside this can seem like a platitude, but it is quite the opposite―it is key to the entire process. Finding the right match for your child is the most significant factor in your search. Every child is different and so is every school. The goal is for your child to be in an environment that best sets them up to learn and grow in confidence and skills―and that is found in a place where they feel they belong, experience success in their learning, and can thrive through opportunities and in areas that matter to them.

There are many excellent schools, so it’s important to look past reputation to focus on the learning and social environments that will serve your child’s specific learning style, interests, and goals. Understand what motivates them and gets them excited about school and then find places where that can happen on a consistent basis.

This is not to say there is a perfect school out there—there can and should be a handful of matches that are right for your child, not just one perfect match.  There will be ups and downs for every child in every institution, but on the whole, identifying a good match will make their educational experience more meaningful and beneficial, which best prepares them for life after graduation and beyond their school walls. And it will also foster a good relationship between the family and the school, which is important when helping students work through challenges together.

2. Honesty is the best policy.

Be your authentic selves in the admission process and be honest with the school about what you are looking for and who your child is. You should expect the same level of honesty and authenticity from schools about who they are and who they serve. No school can be all things to all people, nor can your child.

Being in “the best” school won’t matter if your child is feeling unsuccessful or unhappy (something that will only make students feel incapable, disconnected, and unable to take full advantage of their educational opportunities). Again, it is all about the match, so rather than focus on the end-goal of getting your child into a particular school, start by asking the questions that matter to you and determining if it is one of the schools that will serve your child best. The school can’t answer questions that aren’t asked. And the last thing you and the school want is to start the year thinking “we wish we had known that."

Since I first wrote this post, my title has changed from director of admission to assistant head of school for strategic priorities and enrollment management. As much of a mouthful as that is, it goes to the heart of what this blog is about. School admission, for families and the institution, is about much more than the offer of admission itself or filling seats in the school. It reflects the deep understanding that there is no greater priority or benefit to the school than having a community of students who will thrive on our campus and carry our mission forward for the next generation of Westridge students. So, today my time is spent on the 4th-12th grade student experience and ensuring that we are connecting all that we do from admission through graduation—that we do all we can to deliver the experiences you expect of us after getting to know us as a prospective family.

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About the author:

Sarah Jallo is the assistant head of school for strategic priorities and enrollment management at Westridge School. She has more than 17 years of experience working in admissions and enrollment management at independent schools. She holds a B.A. from Emerson College, an M.A. from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and a Leadership in Enrollment Management Certificate from the University of Southern California.