Staying Organized through the Finish Line: Wait to Rank. (HS edition)

/

By Abigail Kahn

Welcome to the final stretch! If your to-do list seems to be growing, not shrinking, and your 8th grader is officially “done” looking at schools, you are right where you should be. Trust that celebration is around the corner! 

As with every part of the application process, these final weeks are best taken one step at a time. Mid-late November is all about logistics: finishing assessments, uploading portfolios, and maybe (just maybe) squeezing in another open house or two (yes, virtual counts!). Most importantly, it is about finalizing your list of 12(ish) programs. 

Don’t get ahead of yourself. We know there is a natural tendency to compare schools and get lost in “what-ifs,” but resist the urge to rank. Once, and only once you have your final list of programs and all your assessments are complete, should you rank in true order of preference. We recommend waiting until the end of November, and with good reason. 

  • Give your 8th grader a beat. Between essays, tours, and constant school chatter, your teen’s best thinking is not happening in the height of the moment. A few days of space from applications can lead to more grounded conversations and clearer instincts.

  • New information is still coming in. Even if you feel done touring, every new conversation can shift your thinking. If you are already ranking, each new nugget turns into a stressful re-shuffle. You won’t forget, so weigh schools with all the information you have at the end. 

  • Ranking too early leads to re-ranking (and re-ranking…). One thoughtful conversation beats several scattered ones. Do your mental load a favor.

Ranking can feel like the hardest step in the process, but remember there is no “right” answer. While we are known to preach that having school choice is a gift, the goal is not to chase some imagined perfect high school experience. Every school on your list comes with its pros and cons, and that is how it should be. Go into this final step with confidence in the work your child has already done. An engaging and impactful high school experience awaits.