Being thorough and particular when evaluating a private school choice is extremely important for parents. But one thing is certain…the competitive private schools will be equally as picky when choosing your child as a member of its incoming class. Private schools have been using the traditional academic criteria of SSAT/ISEE and grades for a number of decades. However, admissions personnel have long recognized that these cognitive measures are limited in their ability to predict a student’s fit in their schools’ community and program. Increasingly, they are determining how to accurately evaluate character attributes of a student as a factor in private school admissions.
Numerous traits were evaluated and discussed by admissions professionals participating in think tanks and summit meetings regarding admissions and character. Character attributes were then rated according to importance. Among these character attributes, honesty, integrity, empathy, curiosity, creativity, teamwork, adaptability, resilience, community, generosity, self-control, adaptability and optimism were included on the list of the most important.
Each institution considers the positive attributes in the light of the goals of the school with regard to their students’ success. They have spent the last several years determining the best way to evaluate students’ character attributes during the admissions process.
Intended to complement the cognitive measures currently assessed in the admission process, the Character Skills Assessment (CSA) which is a non-cognitive assessment offers insights into an applicant’s character attributes and adds great value to the holistic evaluation of applicants.
This assessment is intended to provide a complete and comprehensive picture of each applicant, providing insight into important issues of character that currently are often difficult to evaluate. Schools will use these assessments to make even better-informed decisions.
By understanding CSA, helping students and parents develop meaningful and compelling student essays and parent statements, reviewing applications, providing mock interviews, and developing continual private school admissions strategies, Dr. Lowe’s clients are accepted to top U.S. private schools, including: Lawrenceville, Exeter, Andover, Choate, Deerfield, Loomis, St. Paul’s, Hotchkiss, Taft, Hackley, Masters, Groton, Middlesex, Kent, Milton, Thacher and Cate.
Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director and lead admissions expert at Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group’s Boarding School Admissions Consultants, an affiliate of Private School Admissions Advisors. Dr. Lowe specializes in providing exclusive concierge-type admissions advisory services for U.S. and international students who are interested in applying to top U.S. boarding schools. Dr. Lowe helps U.S. and international students gain admissions into top U.S. boarding schools even after they have been wait-listed and rejected.
Dr. Lowe and his team of diverse admissions experts provide unrivaled, unmatched and unparalleled admissions advisory and educational research services for their clients. Most importantly, you work DIRECTLY with Dr. Lowe and get the benefits of his entire team. By working with Dr. Lowe, one-on-one, you work with his reputation, his expertise, his experience and his success!
Dr. Paul Lowe - Admissions Expert 