New to Independent Schools?

There are many options in the Philadelphia area and various ways to gather more information. We suggest you start researching at least the summer before the fall application process starts, so 18 months from the school year you of interest. 

1. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors!
2. Research online: Niche.com, Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS.org), and National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS.org) are three great resources. 
3. Check out social media school pages, such as our on Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, Facebook, and YouTube. 

Visiting a school is a great way to get to know a community, hear from students and families, learn about each school's admissions process, and more!

1. On the schools' websites, you can submit an inquiry to get on their mailing list and receive a welcome packet of information
2. Check out school websites to see if they have any events, like at GFS!
3. If you cannot make it to an event, you can check out Admissions videos. 

The application process itself has a few steps, so make sure to look at each school's website for exact requirements. Typically, schools request the following, with materials generally due in December. Please note that some schools do have rolling admissions, so make sure to confirm deadlines.

1. An online application with questions about your child and why you are interested in that particular school
2. An application fee of approximately $40; Fee waivers are available
3. Transcripts and report cards from current schools
4. Testing for Middle and Upper School (grades 6-12) including the ISEE and SSAT
5. Other assessments and testing for younger children
6. Recommendations
7. Graded writing samples
8. Student and parent/caregiver interviews 

Independent schools, like Germantown Friends School, raise money to provide financial aid, ensuring that there are resources available to make an independent school a viable option for families. GFS offers need-based aid, meaning that there is funding available based on a family's financial need. Learn more about Financial Aid at Germantown Friends School here. Please remember:

1. Check financial aid deadlines carefully
2. Ask questions!
3. Inquire about aid for non-tuition expenses, such as activity fees

Families will receive one of three decisions: accept, wait pool, or regret. If your child is accepted, there may be opportunities to visit the campus again and meet other accepted and enrolled families. At Germantown Friends School, we offer re-visit days for students and gatherings for families. If you chose to accept, make sure to do so by the deadline and submit a deposit. If you chose to decline the school, please do so in order to open a spot for a child on the waitlist.