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Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the admission process at Sandia Prep. We know this can be a stressful time for our applicant families, so we want you to understand how admission decisions are made at our school. We hope this explanation will clarify and answer some of your questions.
Our Bias
At Sandia Prep, the Admission Committee has a definite bias — we look for reasons to admit students. This bias is weighed with our responsibility to keep our school student population small, which helps us do what we do best — teach each child individually.
Who decides which students to admit?
Whether or not to admit a child to Sandia Prep is a committee decision. This is very important for you to know — on our Admission Committee, no one person has more influence than another. This committee approach to decision-making strengthens our decisions and ensures that each child has the same opportunity in the admission process.
What principles does the Admission Committee follow as it looks at each child?
Three basic principles guide us through the admission process for each student application here at Sandia Prep. We are truly aware that not every school is for every child — one size does not fit all.
1. Sandia Prep is a college preparatory school. We want to be confident that any student we do admit will be able to succeed in this environment.
2. Sandia Prep is characterized by an interesting and “balanced” student body. In the admission process, we seek to bring together a group of students with varying backgrounds, interests, talents and personalities.
3. Sandia Prep is committed to our families. As a result, we give special consideration to members of our school family when appropriate. At the same time, no one is automatically guaranteed admission.
What is the actual admission process?
Once all applications are completed (no later than February 8, 2008), all student files are sent to the Admission Committee. This committee consists of the Director of Admission, the Associate Director of Admission, the Headmaster, the Assistant Headmaster and the appropriate Grade Coordinator (we have four Grade Coordinators, responsible for grades 11 and 12, 9 and 10, 7 and 8, and grade 6).
Each application is read thoroughly by each of the committee members. Grade-level Admission Committee meetings are then held. Every part of the file is important and is discussed on its own merit by the committee. As you can imagine, after this first run-through, we often find we have more capable students than we can admit. At this point, the committee reviews all student files in an attempt to build a balanced class in terms of the students’ individual backgrounds, interests, talents and personalities. After a thorough review, the committee members decide whether to admit, not admit or place an applicant on hold.
What does it mean when you say a child is “on hold”?
Students who are not admitted outright to Sandia Prep are placed in an unranked pool. All of these children are students whom we would like to have at our school, providing we had the space. Should a class vacancy occur, the entire pool is reviewed in an effort to recreate the class “balance” so carefully created in the initial admission process.
A final word...
We know the process of admission is not an exact science. We try to be as thorough and caring as possible in evaluating each and every application to Sandia Prep. We hope this brief explanation of our admission process answers some of your questions.
Sincerely,
The Admission Committee
Dick Heath, Headmaster
Ron Briley, Assistant Headmaster
Karen Lyall, 7th & 8th Grade Coordinator
Dibby Olson, 6th Grade Coordinator
Willie Owens, 9th & 10th Grade Coordinator
Carla Tidwell, Associate Director of Admission
Ester Tomelloso, Director of Admission
Rick Wettin, 11th & 12th Grade Coordinator