Private kindergarten

The tour This is your opportunity to scope out the school. Look at the facilities and the equipment that may be available for, say, sports or art, so you can understand what the school offers besides the academic work. Also, pay attention to the parents standing next to you. “These are the people who you may be with for the next 13 years,” says Amanda Uhry, of Manhattan Private School Advisors. “If you don’t like them now, you won’t like them later.”

The tour is also a chance for you to make an impression. “I made sure that I went to the front and was always, always visible. Not in an obnoxious way but just so they saw that I was enthusiastic and interested,” says a Brooklyn mom whose daughter is now at Packer.

The essay The golden rule of essay writing: Don’t lie about or exaggerate your kid’s capabilities. “The schools are looking to make sure you have a realistic picture of your child and that the picture is somewhat in line with what the school reports say and how the child acts in the visits,” says Robin Aronow, Ph.D., an education consultant at School Search NYC. “Rather than giving a whole list of adjectives, tell an anecdote that brings your child to life.”

“I tried to point out my son’s positive qualities with stories that showed how he was a loyal friend and a quick learner,” says Rebecca Banerji, a West Side mom of Julian, 6, and Beverly, 4, whose son is enrolled at Collegiate. “I didn’t say that he’s the most brilliant child in the world, because as much as we think he’s a great kid, he’s not the most brilliant child in the world.”

The interview You’ve been on a job interview, right? Then you know how to act in an admissions interview—turn off your cell phone, avoid touchy subjects like politics and religion (unless it’s a religious school), be on time, dress appropriately. Both parents (if both are in the picture) should be present. Aronow suggests you take turns answering the questions so the admissions director gets a sense of your family.