Emma Willard School Admissions E-book

ARE YOU AN EMMA GIRL? Tips and advice for making the admissions process all about

YOU.

Look forward to all that’s about to change A new school, new friends, new challenges.

This is an exciting time, with discoveries to be made about yourself and where your future may lead.

Find out if Emma is the right school for you .

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THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS Just as Emma is unique, so is our admissions process.

Doing your homework ............................................................. 5 Getting to know each other .................................................... 7 Taking the first step ................................................................... 9 Visiting Emma .............................................................................. 13 Let’s chat ....................................................................................... 15 Testing I, 2, 3 ................................................................................. 17 Getting recommendations ....................................................... 19 5 tips for success ......................................................................... 21 Reasons why Emma might be the right school for you ... 23

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Doing your HOMEWORK

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It’s probably safe to say that doing your homework and taking the time to study got you where you are academically. The same holds true when it comes to choosing the next school you’ll call your own. A decision that will shape your next few years isn’t something to rush into. It’s important to take the necessary time to learn all you can about Emma and the other schools you may be considering.

Read everything you can—letters, brochures, emails, websites, blog posts. The more you know, the better your decision.

Look with a critical eye—what is it that you REALLY want in a school? Academic rigor? Individualized attention? The opportunity to build lasting friendships?

Make it all about YOU—not because your mom, aunt, or friend went to a particular school, but because that school might be the right choice for you.

YOUR BEST FIT: Is Emma the right school for you?

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Getting to know EACH OTHER

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There’s so much more to Emma admissions than simply reviewing transcripts and processing applications. While grades and test scores are certainly important, it’s making personal connections with prospective students and their families that matters to us most.

As your Admissions team, it’s not only our job, it’s our passion to bring out the best version of you and let you explore Emma in ways you never imagined before.

We can’t wait to get to know you! Meet your Admissions team.

With five full-time admissions professionals, two part-time administrative staff members, and a network of staff members and volunteers, the Admissions team travels locally and across the globe in search of connections with prospective students and their families.

WHAT’S THE ADMISSIONS TEAM LIKE? “At Emma, you come in and talk about the things YOU want to do, and the Admissions team is completely supportive of that.”

—Courtney, class of 2015

What makes an Emma Girl?

Get to know some of our students and see for yourself.

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Taking the FIRST STEP

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Girls who apply to Emma are unique. It’s those very differences that make the Emma community such a strong, cohesive environment for learning. At Emma, our dynamic admissions process is specifically tailored to each girl and her unique interests. This one-on-one attention helps ensure that Emma is truly the right fit.

Whether it’s visiting campus, completing an application, or taking the entrance exam, taking the first step is important and exciting! Our Application Checklist can help you stay on track throughout the process.

The National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS) reports on the value of an all-girls’ environment.

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The best way to discover Emma is to visit campus for yourself.

MAKING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR VISIT

Emma Willard School is unique among boarding schools, and you’ll feel it. The distinctive flavor you will find on our campus—unlike any high school you have previously visited—is worth the trip from wherever you are. Scheduling a campus visit is about much more than simply choosing a date and time. With your input, we’ll work to create a visit experience that’s all about you—keeping your special interests, favorite subjects, and future goals in mind.

HINT: Try to have several dates or times in mind for your visit. This will allow us flexibility given our daily schedule and how it lines up with your interests.

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Please complete our Visit Planning Form to make your visit as personalized as possible. Our Admissions Visit Coordinator will be in touch to confirm a date and time. We look forward to welcoming you to campus!

Open House

This is a full-day, comprehensive exploration of life on campus and of our philosophy as a school. Class visits are designed just for prospective students, and there are ample opportunities to get to know Emma faculty, current students, and many other potential future classmates who share your interest in this incomparable school. For dates, visit our Admissions News and Events page.

Emma 101

These smaller and more personalized morning sessions are designed to provide families with a unique understanding of the value of all-girls education, a tour of campus, and a class visit to see learning in action.

Emma on the road

Our regional receptions allow prospective families to learn about Emma in their own backyard. They bring together alumnae, parents, and other prospective families, as well as a member of the Admissions staff and student representatives to answer your burning questions.

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Visiting Emma WHAT TO EXPECT Your personalized visit experience at Emma lasts about three hours.

Here’s what you can expect:

Meet your student hostess. She was chosen just for you to help you feel at home at Emma.

Tour the campus. See if you can imagine yourself here among the beautiful Tudor Gothic buildings and expansive 137-acre campus.

Sit in on a class. You’ll be amazed at the energy in our classrooms!

Your class will be selected in one your favorite academic subjects.

Interview with a member of our Admissions office. Remember, we want to get to know the real you, so just be yourself!

Say goodbye. For now… We’ll stay in touch throughout the admissions process via e-correspondence, social media, and mailings.

YOUR BEST FIT: Is Emma the right school for you?

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A day in the life ...

Listen in on what students are saying when they’re talking to each other. By doing so you’ll find the most real conversations Check out the dorms, dining hall, Student Center, or the research bar, cozy fireplace, or café in the library to experience the everyday life of an Emma Girl Learn about the history of Emma—it will open your eyes to how important our school really is Ask to connect outside of your visit with an alumnae, parent, or current student—everyone has an Emma story to tell

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Let’s CHAT

At Emma, much of the admissions process is qualitative, making the interview experience a large part of the equation. It’s our way of making sure your personality and “who you are” come first. Aside from sending acceptance letters, this is our favorite part of the process. We interview prospective students in a variety of ways; on campus, in your home or school as we travel, and via Skype for international students.

Though you might be nervous about putting your best foot forward, the interview isn’t something you’re meant to “rehearse.” It’s a conversation—an opportunity for you to share your interests and goals and learn how Emma might help you on your journey to achieve them.

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Tips

It’s OK to be nervous—you wouldn’t be the first!

Represent yourself as honestly and authentically as possible—tell us about your hopes, dreams, and fears Prepare a list of questions that are unique to your goals and educational journey Keep an open mind. Don’t just think about who you are today, but who you want to one day become This isn’t just about high school. This is about choosing your home away from home

What is the Admissions team looking for?

A mind at work A brave girl A girl who is ready to take her education seriously, leap into something completely new, and be a part of something bigger than herself A girl who isn’t simply shopping for a new high school, but understands the deeper implications of her education

WAS THE INTERVIEW INTIMIDATING? “Naturally I was nervous—talking to someone I’ve never met. But my interviewer was so nice and easy to talk to. She put me at ease.”

—Emily, class of 2014

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Testing 1, 2, 3

While we look at much more than test scores when selecting our future Emma Girls, standardized tests help us learn more about each girl’s academic background.

For admission consideration, you must take one of the following tests:

Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) The SSAT measures the basic verbal, quantitative, and reading skills students develop over time, and offers our Admissions team a glimpse at your potential for academic success.

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SAT or Preliminary SAT (PSAT) The SAT tests your knowledge of reading, writing, and math and how well you can apply that knowledge. The PSAT provides firsthand practice for the SAT.

TOEFL

The TOEFL test, administered via the Internet, is used to demonstrate English-language proficiency to perform academic tasks for those whose first language is not English.

Prepping for required tests The best way to prepare for the exam is to become familiar with the philosophy of the test. For example, the SSAT takes points off for getting something wrong, but not for leaving an answer blank. More SSAT strategies are available at SSAT.org.

Visiting the individual test websites is a good way to become familiar with the content, format, timing, and scoring

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Getting RECOMMENDATIONS

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We love to hear from your current teachers. Hearing directly from them helps us learn even more about you, your strengths in the classroom, and what excites you most. We require completed recommendation forms from three current teachers, including your English teacher, Math teacher, and teacher of choice.

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my teacher

Even if you didn’t score well in math on the standardized test, your current math teacher’s recommendation usually means more than the test score.

Who to ask?

For your teacher of choice, ask one who knows you and the effort you put in every day toward your studies—even if it’s not in one of your best subjects. Classes you struggle in are the ones you often learn the most from. Growth stories can be better than those boasting performance in a class in which you naturally excel.

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5 tips FOR SUCCESS

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Dos

and

DO be yourself.

Don’ts DON’T try to project an image of what you’re not. We want the real you.

DO focus on what YOU want

DON’T choose a school based on who

from a school.

may have attended before you.

DO dig deeper than what you see

DON’T be afraid to ask tough questions.

on the surface.

DO plan ahead to make the

DON’T sell yourself short by not making

experience your own.

the investment in time.

DO give the admissions process

DON’T worry about the outcome. If

your all.

you’ve been honest with yourself and given it your very best, the process will ultimately determine if Emma is the right school for you.

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Reasons why Emma might be THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOU Emma lets you choose your path through of a variety of personalized programs With over 120 classes from which to choose, the Emma curriculum will allow you to find your passion and excel You’ll be encouraged to discover your own “Emma Voice” and use it to make a difference in the ways that matter most to you You’ll learn that there is enormous potential and power in being a girl, both in and out of the classroom With girls coming from 26 states and 34 countries, you’ll learn firsthand about the cultures, traditions, and values that shape our world

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT EMMA? “It’s the little things—like the intelligent conversations that happen accidentally at lunch, the casualness with which people who live a mile from campus and on the other side of the world interact with no barriers between them, and the moments where Emma comes together for a cause or an event—that make Emma special.”

—Natalie, Emma Girl

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Now’s the time to decide if Emma is the best fit for you.

Do you belong at Emma?

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