How I Got Into a Top 10 Private High School: Application Guide for Parents & Students

Applying to a selective private high school can feel overwhelming for students and parents.

How do you find schools that fit, keep track of everything, and help a student’s individual strengths come through?

In How I Got Into a Top 10 Private High School, Lydia Dai and her father, Ying Dai, Ph.D., bring together student and parent perspectives on the admissions journey. Drawing on their family’s experience, they share practical guidance for approaching each step with preparation, purpose, and confidence.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Build a thoughtful school list. Look beyond rankings to explore academic fit, school culture, and the kind of community where a student can learn, contribute, and thrive.

• Turn a complicated process into a manageable plan. Organize school visits, testing, recommendations, and deadlines before everything piles up.

• Find the stories worth telling. Develop essay ideas from your own experiences and revise your writing while keeping your voice.

• Prepare to speak with confidence. Approach interviews with meaningful examples, thoughtful questions, and practice that helps you sound like yourself.

• Make sense of the supporting pieces. Navigate SSAT and ISEE testing, extracurricular activities, portfolios, and parent statements.

• Handle decisions—and what comes next. Work through acceptances, waitlists, and rejections; consider costs and financial aid; and prepare for the transition to a new school.

For students, discover what makes your story worth telling and learn how to bring it to life in your application. Turn your interests, experiences, and aspirations into essays and conversations that help schools get to know the person behind the grades.

For parents, feel more confident about when to step in, what to ask, and when to let your child lead. Help your family stay organized and make thoughtful decisions while giving your child the support and space to grow.

Every applicant’s journey is different. Whether you’re just beginning your school search or already staring at an unfinished application, this book will help you see what needs your attention and take the next step with greater confidence.