Applying 101

1. Contact each school in which the student is interested and request information on their application process and application deadline. For schools participating in NOLA-PS Common Application Process (NCAP), visit NOLA-PS Enrollment.
2. Gather all needed documents to turn in to the school. These documents often include a copy of the student's birth certificate, social security card, 3 proofs of residency, last report card, standardized test scores, copy of parent or guardians license or state issued I.D. and IEP or 504 Plan (if applicable). For participating NCAP schools, these documents are not needed until after notification of school placement is received.
3. Prioritize completing school applications by their due dates. Separate documents that require a written statement and allow additional time to complete them.
4. Read the application instructions and use the application checklist (if provided). Fully complete the application and adhere to important dates. Review answers. Note: Most schools will not process incomplete applications.
5. Submit completed applications and required documents to the schools and confirm that they were received. Sign a log or request a received letter or email as proof of application submission.
6. Notify the school of any time conflicts if an interview or placement test is required. The earlier a school is notified the more likely they are to assist in rescheduling the interview or test.
7. For each school, mark on a calendar important dates such as: application deadline, approximate week acceptance letters will be mailed, notification of placement acceptance, interview date and time, testing date and open house dates. Create a system that will easily identify what is taking place and where. For example, write all Open House dates in red or all application deadlines in blue, etc.

When considering schools, one of the most helpful factors is to visit the school. Visit each school of interest at least once. Schools usually offer potential students three ways of viewing the school:

• Open House: Provide potential students the opportunity to visit the school and interact with staff. Schools typically hold large group tours of their facility, have a group question and answer session, and highlight their clubs or student run activities.
• Shadowing & Spend A Day: Provide the potential student with the opportunity to experience firsthand what attending the school will actually feel like. Schools typically pair potential students with current students in the same grade level. Usually students are allowed to spend an entire day at the school.
• Personal Tours: Provide a one-on-one tour of their facility and answers any questions about the school. These are usually held by appointment only.

Click to review school's pros and cons and to write down pros and cons of schools you are considering.

Some schools will ask potential students to write an essay as part of their application process. These essay writing tips will provide some guidance.

1. Read the essay topic and pay attention to what they are asking for specifically. Some schools may provide a topic to write about and may include several other questions. If the instructions are not clear, call the admissions office to get clarity. The essay should be written by the student using his or her own words.
2. Become familiar and comfortable with the topic; begin planning what to write. There is no right way to begin writing an essay. Some students prefer to make an outline and then fill in details later. Other students write down any thoughts that come to mind in no particular order and organize them later. Other students get inspired and write the entire essay in one sitting, then revise and edit it later. Whichever method is used, remember that an effective essay includes three major parts: introduction, body, and conclusion.
3. A common essay topic for high school applications is to discuss why the student wants to attend the school or why should the student be accepted into the school. However the question is written, this is an opportunity to indicate why the school is being considered and valued. It is essential to include goals and how attending the school will help achieve them, and  the type of student the school will gain. It is okay to provide information on extracurricular activities, such as cheerleading, band, or football; however, do not let them be the focus of the essay.
4. When the essay is completed, have someone proofread it for content and grammatical errors. Revise the essay based on suggested edits. Read the final draft aloud; this provides an opportunity to take a fresh look at the essay.
5. The final essay should reflect the student's  WORK! Schools will be able to see that the student took their time and put forth effort during the writing process. For the student, it is a great way to get acclimated to what will be expected during their school years.

Examples of High School Application Essay

Many high schools may require that students participate in an interview with administrators and teachers. Some schools may even require that parents also attend the interview. It may be a good idea to request an interview even if the school does not require one, especially if special circumstances need to be explained that may affect the acceptance of the application. Use the following tips to help stand out from the pack:

• Be Prepared. Before the interview be sure to research the school. Spend time on the school’s website, read their mission statement, view their achievements, look at the clubs and team sports offered. Become familiar with the school in order to ask the appropriate questions during the interview. Asking questions displays interest in the school and the answers may help make the final decision.
• Know Yourself. Refer back to the self-assessment taken to decide if the school is a good match. Look at the factors marked as a 5 and 1 to see how the school ratings compare. Knowing yourself and what type of high school experience is desired will make it easier to clearly communicate with the interviewer.
• Answering Questions. Several questions will be asked throughout the interview process. Pay attention and ask the interviewer to repeat and clarify the question if necessary. Do not give one or two word answers. The interviewer should gain additional insight about the student and interests based on the responses.
  • Prepare to answer tough questions and to clarify or explain anything about the application that may have stood out. Be sure not to focus on weaknesses, instead focus on strengths.
• Practice Makes Perfect. Practice interview techniques with parents, friends, and current teachers. It is best to practice with an objective person who will provide unbiased constructive criticism. Participating in mock interviews without the added anxiety allows one to discover strengths and weaknesses. Become aware of nervous actions such as hair twirling, fidgeting or even continuously clearing the throat, which are distracting to the interviewer. Practice being both the interviewer and interviewee.

Interview Etiquette. These are a few basic rules that you should adhere to when going on an interview:

• Dress nicely. Dress appropriately and tastefully. Select the outfit the night before and make sure shoes are clean.  If unsure of what to wear, go with a conservative look. In this case, it is better to be overdressed than dressed too casually.
• Arrive on time. This is probably one of the most important rules to remember because it can set the tone for the entire interview. Plan to arrive a few minutes early. Arriving early will provide time to collect thoughts and calm nerves.
• Body Language. Sometimes we may not realize that our body language gives off a different message than what we mean to convey. Keep good posture at all times and do not slouch. Make eye contact and listen attentively. Being nervous is not uncommon, however, participating in mock interviews will help overcome those feelings.
• Attitude. Maintain a positive attitude. Be polite and professional. Never use slang terminology. Speak clearly and demonstrate confidence.
• Avoid making negative remarks. Schools want students who are positive, enthusiastic and those who are able to meet and deal with challenges.
• Time constraints. The interviewer will allow time for questions, however, if the interview time has expired ask about contacting them at a later time to have additional questions answered.
• Thank yous. Before leaving, thank the interviewer for the meeting. In addition, it is a good idea to send a thank you note or email, which will allow the opportunity to reaffirm one or two key points of the interview.

A strong recommendation letter can make all the difference in getting into the school of choice. The following guidelines will help secure the strongest recommendation possible:

• Know what is required. Many schools will have specific directions about how the recommendation letter should look, how many letters are needed, and when they are due. They may also indicate who should write the recommendation. Follow all instructions and make sure the person writing the recommendation knows exactly what the school’s expectations are and what they are looking for in a student.
• Ask the right people. The person writing the recommendation should know the student well and provide specific examples of personal characteristics, academic strengths, and accomplishments. This means that the best recommendation may be from a favorite English teacher, coach, pastor, or an adult mentor. Family members should not write a recommendation; schools want to see that the student has developed relationships in their community.
• Be polite when requesting a letter of recommendation. Request the recommendation at least thirty days before the due date,  and  provide  clear directions on how the letter should be written and submitted. If the school requests the letter to be sent directly to them, give the recommender a pre-addressed stamped envelope. Because the  person  writing  the  letter  has  committed their time and energy to create a thoughtful recommendation, the student should send a thank you card.
• Follow up to make sure it is mailed! As the deadline approaches, the student should send a  reminder to the person writing the recommendation. This letter could play a major role in the student's future, so it needs to arrive on time. Follow up with the person as necessary without badgering them.

Schools may use testing as a part of their admission and placement process.

Schools that use tests as a gauge usually place students with similar skill/knowledge sets in the same classroom or assign different or additional courses. Schools that use a test to determine acceptance may or may not operate on a “track” system because all of their students enter with a similar skill set.

Students transferring from a non-public school to a public school must take and pass the high stakes standardized test administered to all 8th graders in NOLA Public Schools during the Spring of the year of application.

In either case, ask the school admissions office how the test will be administered, what is to be expected and if there are any older versions that are accessible for review. Visit www.testtakingtips.com to learn test taking strategies and helpful tips!

Whether applications have been submitted to one school or five, staying on top of acceptance letters is a must. Some schools may have a strict acceptance deadline and may require notification of a student’s intent to enroll by sending an email, placing a phone call, signing an acceptance agreement, or paying a deposit. In any of these situations, allow ample time to consider all options before making a decision.

If the acceptance letter has not arrived by the date it originally was suppose to arrive, immediately call the school and let them know the letter has not been received and request another letter or ask if one could be picked up from the school. Schools must send either an acceptance or a denial letter to every applicant.

If accepted to more than one school, review the list of “factors to consider when choosing a high school” and the student self- assessment. Compare the schools by making a pros and cons list for each school, and visit the schools again to assist in determining the selection.

When considering a private or parochial high school consider how tuition will be paid because unlike public schools, they are not free to attend. The cost of attending these types of high schools can vary from a few thousand dollars up to five figures, however, schools may offer a variety of options to assist with tuition costs.

Below are some of the most common types of financial assistance that are offered by schools:

• Work-study: Need-based students are allowed to work at the school doing various tasks before or after school.
• Scholarships: Scholarships may be merit-based (certain GPA or test scores) or need based depending on the school. Once a scholarship is awarded, the student must continue to meet these requirements in order to keep the scholarship.
• Grants: Unlike scholarships, grants are funds given to a student. They are usually awarded based on financial need and do not require repayment, and students do not have to maintain certain requirements.
• Bank Loans: Some schools will allow tuition to be financed with a loan obtained through a bank. Most schools will facilitate this process. Payments for tuition are made directly to the bank on a monthly basis and the payment will include interest.
• Payment Plans: Schools may allow tuition payments over a number of months, usually broken down into a number of equal payments. Unlike bank loans, payments are made directly to the school. Some schools may offer an incentive (less cost) for paying the tuition in full rather than making monthly payments.
• Louisiana K-12 Scholarship Program: Also known as the “voucher program,” is available to Louisiana students attending underperforming public schools. Students apply for a state-funded scholarship to any approved non-public school or ‘A’ and ‘B’ rated public school outside their attendance zone.

For detailed information and to find a list of schools participating visit www.lascholarshipprogram.org.

Schools will require the following documents to complete the registration process:

• Birth certificate
• Immunization Records
• Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for special needs and gifted/talented students
• Proof of address (driver’s license, utility bills, copy of lease, etc.)

In addition to the above documents, some schools may require other documents depending on the school and the grade to which applying.