According to the National Center for Education Statistics, five million students are attending private school in the U.S. this year. Deciding to send your child to private school is an important decision to make as a family. Generally, private schools are more academically rigorous and can cost close to $40,000 annually. If your family has made this choice, Kids In The House experts have tips from how to navigate the interview to how to afford it each year.

Sandy Eiges, Founder of LA School Scout, helps families each year apply for private school as an education consultant. The application part of the process may be very difficult for some parents. Eiges explains that schools are looking for “authentic” applications. “What you need to do is respond to each individual school, knowing what the personality of each school is and being authentic about your child and your family,” says Eiges. This is also great advice for the school interview as Eiges tells parents to be honest and engaging. “They are looking for parents who are going to be comfortable at their school and who will be part of the school family,” explains Eiges.

The entrance exam can also be a daunting task to any potential student. Carolyn McWilliams, educational specialist, explains that schools use the exam to compare achievements across school environments. “This testing allows the school to be able to see verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning abilities of the potential student compared to their achievement in each of those areas,” explains McWilliams. It also helps to make sure the student’s learning style and level will match the school’s curriculum.

Lastly, once your child gets into private school, it’s important to consider the costs and develop a plan for how you will pay for it. Kim Hamer shares important advice for every family and that is that never let the cost of private school discourage you from applying.  She encourages families to apply for financial aid, even if you don’t need to help covering the full cost. “Schools are looking for families who need a little bit of help,” says Hamer. “It may increase your chances of actually getting into private school.”

Do you still have questions about getting your child into private school? Join us tomorrow at 1:30pm PST for “ADMISSIONS 101: How To Get Into Private School” a Google Hangout hosted by Kids In The House. Sandy Eiges, Founder of LA Scout, Gennifer Yoshimaru, Brentwood School, and Elizabeth Gregory & Kavita Ajmere, Harvard Westlake, will be answering your questions live. Start tweeting your questions with the hashtag #KITHangout!