Applying to Schools: Review Materials

A Closer Look: Reviewing School Material

When you receive information from a school, you will first want to read the introductory items that provide you with an overview of the school. The history of the school may seem irrelevant; however, many school histories are rather interesting and you may uncover information and details that influence the school’s current attitudes, operations and goals.

Academic Requirements and Course Descriptions
Information regarding academic performance and continuation requirements is extremely important and should be reviewed carefully by both parents and students. Typically, this information and descriptive information about the courses offered are included in the school catalog. Pay special attention to the following:

• Do the courses offered sound substantive and interesting?
• Are all courses listed in the school catalog offered each year?
• If you have questions that are not answered in the material, call the school and ask for the information that is important to you.

Faculty
While the academic credentials of the faculty members might not have a direct bearing on the quality of the curriculum, they generally do indicate the school’s ability to attract and maintain a high caliber of qualified teachers. If a list of faculty is included in the material, review faculty length of service, age, publications, special competence or interests, etc.

Go to next topic: Reviewing School Materials (part 2).