The journey begins long before your child crosses the school’s threshold on the first day of grade 7. The diligent work that you do as a parent will set the stage for your child’s future. High school is meant to be enjoyable, foster intellectual curiosity, provide opportunities for social discovery, and give growing independence a nudge. With that in mind, how do you determine which school is the best fit for your child.

Here are seven tips to successfully navigate the admissions process and find that perfect fit;

•Research
Your initial research can be done from the com- fort of your home by analyzing each school’s website. The parent and child should conduct independent searches and compare notes. You will realize that the criteria that are most important to your child are different than what are important for you. I encourage you to consider them all as highy valuable.

• Open house
A school’s open house is their opportunity to show and tell you about their programs and the student experience. I encourage you to interact with student ambassadors, teachers, administrators, and other parents. The more conversations you have, the more certain you will be of your impression. Most importantly, pay attention to how you and your child feel whenyou are in a school. Does it feel like a culture that shares your family’s values? Is your child comfortable, happy, and engaged?

• Application forms
Find out what the requirements are for each school and then prepare in advance. Most schools allow you to complete the initial application form online.

• Evaluations
Schools will recommend a general review of what was learned the previous year in Math, English and French, plus a good night’s sleep prior to testing day. Parents should be mindful of their child’s self-esteem and instill a positive mindset on the day of the evaluations.

• The interview
Some schools conduct interviews with parents, the child, the entire family. I recommend that you inquire about each school’s format and practice some general questions with your child to build their self-confidence.

• Managing responses
The reality is that every school has its own procedures and timeline. There can be a significant time between responses from schools. I strongly suggest that you determine your top three schools in order, prior to the responses being given, and then not deviate once the results are known.

• The final decision
Now is the time to confidently make your decision. Do not procrastinate or secure multiple spots. Allow your child to be happy and celebrate by finalizing the details with your school of choice, and look forward to the next step in his or her future.

The process of finding the right school can be both daunting and challenging. These tips are meant to help you navigate the process and arrive at a decision that your child and your family are comfortable with.