March 10th – If you are not the parent of an 8th grader, March 10th is a day like any other. If, however, you are an 8th grader or the parent of an 8th grader that has applied to an independent secondary school, then you understand that March 10th is “Decision Day.” That is, Mach 10th is the day that most independent high schools announce their admission decisions. Over the years, this has started to change, as more schools are engaging in rolling admission; but for many of our families, this coming Tuesday will be a stressful one. I know, as I went through “Decision Day” with both of my children.
As Head of School, however, I am less anxious, as I am confident that The Beech Hill School goes to great lengths to help those students and families that are interested in exploring their post-BHS options. In the fall, we welcomed almost 20 high schools to our annual school fair, and in our Skills classes, all 8th Grade students spent time considering what they were seeking in a high school. Likewise, as early as the 7th Grade spring, all students learn how to take standardized tests, like the SSAT. In addition, all parents can work one-on-one with me in considering the possible pathway ahead for their child. By the time that students are in the application process, they should have a high degree of confidence that the schools to which they are applying are a good fit. Historically, BHS students have had great success in the application process.
Of course, no matter how confident one might be that they have applied to a school that is the perfect fit, and that they have taken all the steps necessary to make their application stand-out – nothing in life is certain. And it is that uncertainty that makes Tuesday a challenging day for our students and families. As such, I wish our students and families the best of luck this Tuesday.