A Virtual JATP? What You Should Expect

Independent school applications will open in Ravenna (the universal portal for applications) on October 1, 2020 for the 2021 school-year. For the first time since the required component was added to the independent schools admissions process, the JATP will also be offered virtually to lower school applicants. Atlanta member psychologists are offering virtual versions of the JATP in order to accommodate clients’ needs and safety comfort levels. Parents have the option to choose between a virtual or an in-person testing option.

Virtual Testing: What This Means for Your Student

This year, the JATP will be offered virtually (dependent upon each psychologist’s preferences. More information can be found on the JATP website).

What Type of Student is a “Good Fit” for Virtual Testing

Students who have a consistent ability to focus would be an appropriate fit for a virtual evaluation. Of course, any out-of-town students who are unable to travel to Atlanta for an in-person evaluation would also benefit from the convenience of a virtual evaluation.

What Type of Student is a “Good Fit” for In-Person Testing

For younger applicants (especially K, 1, or 2 students), we strongly recommend in-person testing. Because the format of the JATP is a single snapshot into a child’s life, we have found that an opportunity to build a brief rapport with a psychologist can help alleviate any testing anxiety or apprehension for younger students. So much of the JATP experience can be determined by the environment (even before the applicant begins any o the cognitive testing measures)—the room’s decor, whether there are visible toys, and the psychologist’s mood, attitude, tone, or personality. All of these aspects do not come across as vibrantly via the computer screen and especially to appeal to the visual learning proclivities of younger learners, we recommend in-person testing.

As a part of our high-touch service for our independent school clients, we guide each family through their specific school application strategy. While the JATP is not a coachable test, we believe that each family should be equipped with the insight to make an informed decision about every component of the independent school application process. To that end, we help each parent choose a psychologist, schedule their appointment, interpret their child’s test scores, and evaluate the follow-up summary. We help clients with a tailored strategy on when to register for the JATP and how to delegate their chosen psychologist in Ravenna so they can receive their test results. We share insight with families about how their child’s JATP scores will be reviewed in admissions committees, each specific to each school’s annual learning and campus goals.