Preparing for successful admission to a private middle school or high school

By May S. Ruiz

We all know that it’s college admissions season — as much a rite of passage as a dreaded time — when 12th-graders are feverishly writing supplemental essays in addition to the personal statement they submit with the common app, before spending the rest of their last year in high school anxiously waiting to hear from the colleges.

However, this is also the middle and high school application period. All over Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, fifth and eighth-graders planning to attend private schools are taking the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) or HSPT (High School Placement Test), writing essays, and interviewing to gain admission to a middle school or high school.

Not much is written about it since the focus is mainly on college admissions and also because it affects only a small group, but it’s just as stressful and anxiety-inducing for young students and their parents.

Brianna Chu, a tutor at Mundo Academy and someone who’s currently guiding students through middle and high school applications in addition to college admissions, has put together a guide with tips to help students and parents navigate it.

Organization and time management are key to a successful school search, whether it’s a middle school, high school, or college. Above all, have reasonable expectations. There is a school that is the right fit for your child.              

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