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Demystifying Admissions: What to Expect at Your Family Meeting 

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At BASIS Independent Brooklyn, we embrace students and families who have an interest in learning at an international level, a desire to make a contribution, a willingness to work hard, and an ambition to join a collaborative, supportive, and inspiring community. We work hard to cultivate a culture where academics are encouraged, learning is celebrated, and students find joy both in class and in our community!  

What is the Family Meeting? 

The Family Meeting is our opportunity to understand each student and family beyond the traditional admissions metrics. That is why Family Meetings are usually led by a member of our Admissions team and last at least 30 minutes.  

In these meetings, we focus on personal interests, problem-solving examples, and social experiences to gauge the student’s character and fit for our school community. Families also share their reasons for choosing BASIS Independent Brooklyn as well as their goals for their student(s).  

These meetings are also a dedicated space for parents and guardians to ask more detailed questions about tuition, electives, transportation, and extracurricular options as they begin to think about joining our community. 

Prior to the Family Meeting, we strongly encourage families to visit our website and blog, attend an Admissions Event, or speak with a member of our Admissions Team. 

Who is required to attend the Family Meeting? 

At least one parent or guardian is required to attend the Family Meeting. Students applying to Grades 2 and above are also required to attend. Students applying for PreK– Grade 1 do not attend the Family Meeting.  

If your child is required to attend the Family Meeting and does not, you will be asked to reschedule.  

What do you recommend parents do to prepare their student(s) for the Family Meeting? 

Preparation is not needed since students get to talk about themselves. One of the things we recommend parents and guardians do is proactively frame this meeting as a friendly conversation with people who work at a school rather than a formal interview.  

Our goal is to have a genuine conversation with a family, and a relaxed environment will better support this.  

What if we are applying for more than one student? 

Only register for one Family Meeting, and bring both students, if required to attend, to the same meeting. 

Primary Program Art Class – Photo by Mark Opirhory

When does the meeting have to take place? 

Families applying during our Early Admissions cycle (siblings of current students and alumni only) must complete their Family Meeting by Wednesday, November 26, 2025. Those applying for Regular Admissions must complete their Family Meeting by Thursday, January 8, 2026. 

How do we register for a Family Meeting? 

Once you have submitted your application on Ravenna, you will be prompted to schedule your Family Meeting directly on the application platform.  

If you’re not ready to choose a date and time, you can always log back in at a later date and register for one. Please note: As we get closer to the application deadline, there are fewer meeting times available. We would suggest scheduling one as soon as you are able. If you wait and are unable to schedule a Family Meeting for one of our offered times, your application will be incomplete, and you will not be considered for admission.  

How long is the Family Meeting? 

Family Meetings are generally 30 minutes long for PreK-Grade 1 applicants and 30-45 minutes long for Grades 2-10 applicants. Oftentimes, those hosting the Family Meeting will have back-to-back appointments and will be unable to go beyond the 30 or 45-minute mark.  

How will the Family Meeting be held? 

Family Meetings can be held on campus or on Zoom. Please note, Family Meetings default to in-person. You must reach out by phone or email to request a virtual meeting. 

Can we ask questions during the meeting?  

Yes! This meeting is just as much an opportunity for you to learn about us as it is for us to learn about you. Please note that some Family Meetings will be led by administrative team members other than the Admissions Team. If their role is not in relation to your question(s), they will let you know and encourage you to reach out to the appropriate person for an answer.  

What happens after the Family Meeting? 

The Family Meeting also serves to prepare families for the next stages of the admissions process, especially for students in grade 5 and above, who may participate in a Shadow Day after applying. Shadow Days offer a deeper immersion and a first-hand experience of our school. 

We look forward to meeting you and your student(s) soon at your Family Meeting! 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

You can contact our Admissions Team at brooklyn-admissions@basisindependent.com. 

PreK Class Morning Meeting – Photo by Troy House

A Day in the Life of a Grade 7 Mountaineer

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We are excited for you to meet Kunqi, a Grade 7 student at BASIS Independent Bellevue! Kunqi joined us from a local public school this school year. He heard about our school from his friends and was excited to join our founding year. Kunqi is also a member of our first graduating class, the class of 2028!

Join us to learn more about the student experience as Kunqi takes us through his school day on a Wednesday.

Kunqi starts his day with Physics, which is brought to life by Subject Expert Teacher, Mr. Nielsen. His class is learning about the theory and application of friction and dynamics. Kunqi shared that initially this topic sounded intimidating, but that he is able to understand and apply it along with his classmates as they work together. He shared that in Physics they do many labs, which he enjoys.

His next class is an elective course, Creative Writing, taught by Subject Expert Teacher, Mr. Wilson. This is one of Kunqi’s favorite classes. He shared that in his previous school he had writing projects where students were critiqued by their peers and the feedback was not always constructive. In his current Creative Writing class, he is able to redefine himself as a writer and continue to improve his skills through frequent projects. The class is currently focused on persuasive writing and essays. He is working with a classmate on a topic he selected to write about, which is reverse discrimination in college admissions.

After Creative Writing, he walks to Algebra & Geometry II, which is taught by Subject Expert Teacher, Mr. Norcross. The class is diving into square roots and complex numbers. Kunqi communicated that math was previously a subject he was not entirely confident about. However, he has boosted his confidence in this class. Prior to joining BASIS Independent Bellevue, Kunqi did not find math challenging enough. In Mr. Norcross’ class, Kunqi expressed that he is more focused and motivated and the class is engaging. If he has questions or is in need of more explanation on a math topic, he regularly collaborates with his classmates to solve problems together. This makes him happy as he enjoys working together with his classmates.

Kunqi’s 4th period is World History, taught by Subject Expert Teacher, Mr. Tyler. They have been preparing for a unit test and reviewing a study guide. Kunqi enjoys listening to Mr. Tyler share historical information and the discussions that take place in class amongst himself and his peers. He expressed that he finds this class to be an engaging class in the sense that history is full of viewpoints. Students are currently studying reformation and revolutions across the world.

After History, Kunqi, heads to lunch with his friends, which is in our Multi-Purpose Room (MPR). Lunch is 50 minutes.

After lunch, Kunqi walks to Chemistry, which is led by Subject Expert Teacher, Dr. Hegde. Dr. H, as students call her, challenges students while encouraging them to add to a topic. Through this exchange, which Kunqi describes as a Socratic seminar, he learns through the disagreement and discussion between two sides. Both perspectives, the duality of each subject/content, help increase his understanding and application of the content. Chemistry is currently focused on molecular trends and periodic trends. Students in Grades 6 – 8 take Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as separate courses concurrently each school year.

For his 6th period, Kunqi has English, taught by Subject Expert Teacher, Ms. Marlow. His class is currently focused on grammar, specifically personal, reflexive, and intensive pronouns. Kunqi shared that Ms. Marlow is very down to earth and makes grammar interesting and engaging. Kunqi and his classmates ask tough questions and Ms. Marlow also does the same. In class, students recently finished reading The Giver and Romeo and Juliet. Next, students are allowed to select their own text and conduct a presentation. Kunqi has selected Pride and Prejudice.

Kunqi ends Wednesday with French which is taught by Subject Expert Teacher, Mr. Drouet. This is Kunqi’s first time taking French. He is bilingual and enjoys seeing connections between French and Mandarin. He shared that his French teacher is impressive as he also teaches Spanish. Kunqi would enjoy the opportunity to visit Paris and learn more about the culture and history of France.

After French, Kunqi heads to his locker and prepares for dismissal if he is not participating in an after-school club. He enjoys dismissal as he gets to talk to other Grade 7 students and catch up with some of his friends and hear about their day.

On a typical school night, Kunqi has about an hour to an hour and a half of homework. His homework time also depends on how much time he spends studying for a quiz or test.

After his school day, Kunqi participates in World Travel Club. This summer, the club will be traveling to London, Paris, and Rome over nine days. He is also a member of the Seattle Orchestra and plays on two different basketball teams outside of school. Additionally, Kunqi is a Student Ambassador at BASIS Independent Bellevue who assists in hosting Shadow Students.

Kunqi is excited to see his self-improvement as he progresses through our middle and high school program.

BASIS Independent Bellevue, a private school, opened with Grades 2 – 7 to start and will add a grade level each school year as we expand to a full middle and high school (Grades 5 – 12).