2019-2020 Application Requirements for Merrimack Valley-Area High Schools

Financial Testing Application Application Aid Additional Application Interview Shadow Day School Name Required Used Deadline Deadline Requirements or Notes Requirements Requirements

Online School Short Answer/Essay Questions Abbott Lawrence Academy Application Transcripts Fill Out Online – Lawrence, MA ISEE Form January 31 N/A Teacher Recommendations N/A Shadow Form

SSAT, Online School Inquiry Form completed first Austin Preparatory School – ISEE, or Application December December Transcripts School Visit for New Reading, MA HSPT Form 15 15 Teacher Recommendations Applicants Optional

Inquiry Form completed first Required; Call School Brooks School – North Transcripts to Set Appointment Tour Prior to Andover, MA SSAT GPS or SAO January 15 January 15 Teacher Recommendations Date (978) 725-6271 Interview

Transcripts Online School Teacher Recommendations Central Catholic High HSPT or Application Info Session at CCHS for Parents School – Lawrence, MA SSAT Form or SAO December 9 December 9 on 12/9 during HSPT N/A N/A

January 15 Inquiry Form completed first Required; Call or E- Online School (Day) Transcripts mail School to Set The Governor’s Academy – SSAT or Application January 31 Teacher Recommendations Appointment Date Tour Prior to Newbury, MA ISEE Form (Boarding) January 15 Personal Recommendations (978) 499-3120 Interview

Printed School Greater Lawrence Technical Application Guidance Counselor Must School – Andover, MA N/A Form February 1 N/A Complete Page 2 of Application N/A N/A

Inquiry Form completed first Transcripts Call or E-mail School SSAT or Teacher Recommendations to Set Appointment Tour Prior to Groton School – Groton, MA ISEE GPS January 15 January 15 Personal Recommendations Date (978) 448-7510 Interview

Inquiry Form completed first Transcripts Call or E-mail School Lawrence Academy – Teacher Recommendations to Set Appointment Tour Prior to Groton, MA SSAT GPS or SAO January 15 January 31 Personal Recommendations Date (978) 448-1530 Interview

https://www.andover.edu/pals

Financial Testing Application Application Aid Additional Application Interview Shadow Day School Name Required Used Deadline Deadline Requirements or Notes Requirements Requirements

Lawrence High School 9th Grade Academy – Lawrence, MA N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Required; Schedule Inquiry Form completed first Online or Call School Milton Academy – Milton, Transcripts to Set Appointment Tour Prior to MA SSAT GPS January 15 January 31 Teacher Recommendations Date (617) 898-2227 Interview

The Character Skills Snapshot is Required Noble and Greenough Transcripts Required; Schedule Tour Prior to School – Dedham, MA SSAT Ravenna January 15 March 1 Teacher Recommendations Online Interview

December School Set Up Notre Dame Cristo Rey Online School 13 (First Family Income Verification Interview after High School – Lawrence, Application Priority Transcripts Application is MA HSPT Form Deadline) N/A Teacher Recommendations Submitted Shadow Days

Request Information/mailing list Transcripts Phillips Academy – SSAT or Teacher Recommendations Schedule Online via Tour Prior to Andover, MA ISEE GPS February 1 February 1 Personal Recommendations GPS Account Interview

Inquiry Form completed first Schedule Online via Phillips Exeter Academy – SSAT or Transcripts Gateway to Prep Tour Prior to Exeter, NH ISEE GPS January 15 January 31 Teacher Recommendations Schools Account Interview

Required; Call School Online School Inquiry Form completed first to Set Appointment Pingree School – Hamilton, SSAT or Application Transcripts Date (978) 468-4415 Tour Prior to MA ISEE Form or SAO January 15 January 15 Teacher Recommendations ext. 262 Interview

Online School Inquiry Form completed first St. John’s Prep – Danvers, SSAT or Application December December Transcripts MA HSPT Form 15 15 Teacher Recommendations Optional Shadow Days

Glossary of Terms

Online Applications: GPS – Gateway to Prep Schools online application: https://www.gatewaytoprepschools.com/

Online School Application – a school’s own online application form found on their Admissions website

Printed School Application -a school’s own paper application form

SAO – Standard Application Online: https://ssat.org/sao

Ravenna – Ravenna Online Application: https://www.ravenna-hub.com/login

High School Application Exams: HSPT – High School Placement Test (often used by Catholic high schools): https://stsusers.com/stsusers/registration/static/boston.php

ISEE – Independent School Entrance Exam: https://www.erblearn.org/parents/isee-overview

SSAT – Secondary School Admission Test: https://ssat.org/

Other Requirements: Inquiry Form – an online form on the school’s Admission website that allows applicants to express interest in applying

Transcript – an official record of grades from an applicant’s middle school

Teacher Recommendation – a letter from a teacher expressing an applicant’s academic ability and work habits

Personal Recommendation – a letter from someone who knows the applicant well (not a relative) that can speak to their qualities and characteristics outside of the classroom; could be a coach, mentor, family friend, etc.

The Character Skills Snapshot – an online assessment that measures different qualities: https://ssat.org/snapshot (a student SSAT account must be created to register for this assessment)

Interviews: An interview is usually conducted by a member of the Admissions Office, an alumni (graduate) of the school, or a faculty or staff member of the school. They will ask the applicant questions about many topics, including their family and background, their academic and extracurricular interests, and why they are applying to the school. It is also an opportunity for the applicant to ask questions about the school and what it is like to be a student there.

Tours and Shadow Days: These on-campus experiences allow an applicant to see and explore the campus in different ways. Tours, typically conducted by a student trained to work in the Admissions Office, will walk an applicant and their family around the campus and point out specific aspects of the school’s facilities and features. Shadow Days allow an applicant to spend time following a student through their daily schedule and experience classes and free time alongside that person.

https://www.andover.edu/pals