Independent school notification day
- Parents Unite
- Mar 9, 2025
- 2 min read
Congratulations to all the students who receive good news today. You belong!
As you bask in well-earned acceptance(s), here are some things to think about as you determine your next steps:
Choosing a school aligned with your values
We wrote this piece last year before the current culture shift. While some schools may have scrubbed their websites and proclaimed they have distanced themselves from DEI, it’s unlikely that they have moved on, so don't be deceived.
Implications for college and beyond
Independent schools position their value proposition as a path to get into an elite college (which ultimately helps secure employment at a “top firm”). Consider how your prospective K-12 independent school will prepare your student for a “post-DEI world” where skills matter.
Some universities claim they are moving on from DEI, though it isn’t clear what happens to the infrastructure and the people leading it.
How will colleges respond to increased scrutiny and recent Federal actions? Will they be looking to accept independent-thinking truth seekers or conformist social justice activists?
Will there be demand for actual “viewpoint diversity?” If so, how will your independent school prepare your student(s) for that?
If the purpose of higher education is to prepare students for adulthood and supply the working world with talent, it seems reasonable to expect that they would reflect the current culture shift.
This would require college admissions officers—the gatekeepers of the process—to reconsider the types of students they aim to attract and retain. The first question on the 2025-26 Common Application is about identity. While there is also a question about “challenging a belief or idea,” how would a student’s response be received if it presented a viewpoint that didn’t align with the dominant campus ideology?
Leading the way
We should look to the recent Wall Street Journal ad taken out by highly popular schools Vanderbilt and Washington University as exemplary. They advertise their “commitment to excellence, academic freedom, and an environment that fosters growth and development.”
A helpful tool for making an informed decision
The ideas behind this resource can be applied at both the independent school and college level.
“Choosing which college or university to attend is a momentous decision. Yet so many college-bound students focus solely on prestige, reputation, and student perks in making their choice. Too few consider the academic offerings and educational environment that can help students flourish intellectually. ACTA’s resources provide insights on how to distinguish which colleges and universities foster rigorous study of the liberal arts and a campus culture that promotes academic freedom. These resources help students and parents make informed choices about where to direct their tuition dollars.”
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