How To Apply
Little School | Lower School | Upper & Middle School | Testing Requirements | School Visits | Late Applications
Applying to the Lower School
Parents of applicants to Kindergarten through Grade 5 are encouraged to attend a Lower School Fall Visiting Day. Please choose one of the following dates to visit: K-1st - September 27 or October 24; Grades 2-5 - November 6
You may register online or call 410-323-8800, ext. 1232.
For applicants to Kindergarten, Pre-First, and Grade 1:
- Application and $60 fee due December 3, 2012
- Individual testing, parent information session, and tour will be scheduled upon receipt of application.
- Common Referral Form completed by homeroom teacher due by January 15, 2013
For applicants to Grades 2-4:
- Application and $60 fee
- Student shadow visit and parent information session will be scheduled upon receipt of application (pages 3 – 5).
- Admission testing: January 5, 2013 at Bryn Mawr. (Grades 2-4 admission testing is also available on different dates at other AIMS schools. If your daughter tests elsewhere, please request that her scores be sent to Bryn Mawr.)
- Common Referral Form completed by homeroom teacher due by January 15, 2013
- Final transcript from previous school year and fall transcript from current school year
For applicants to Grade 5:
- Application and $60 fee
- Student shadow visit and parent information session will be scheduled upon receipt of application (pages 3 – 5).
- ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). You may register online at www.iseetest.org. The ISEE will be given at Bryn Mawr on December 1, 2012 and January 5, 2013. Note registration deadline! (The ISEE is also available on different dates at other AIMS schools. If your daughter tests elsewhere, please request that her scores be sent to Bryn Mawr.)
- Common Referral Form completed by homeroom teacher due by January 15, 2013
- Final transcript from previous school year and fall transcript from current school year
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Applying to the Middle and Upper School
Parents of applicants to Grades 6-12 are encouraged to attend a Middle or Upper School Fall Visiting Day. Please choose one of the following dates:
- Middle School: November 15 or December 4
- Upper School: October 10 or November 27
You may register online or call 410-323-8800, ext. 1232
For applicants to Grades 6 -12:
- Application and $60 fee
- Student shadow visit and parent information session will be scheduled upon receipt of application (pages 3 – 5). Applicants to 6th grade will split their visit between 5th & 6th grades. Applicants to 9th grade will spend their visit in the Upper School attending freshmen classes. Applicants to Grades 7 & 8 and 10-12 will shadow in their current grade. All applicants to grades 6 – 12 will have an interview with an admission officer on the same day of her shadow visit.
- ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam). You may register online at www.iseetest.org. The ISEE will be given at Bryn Mawr on December 1, 2012 and January 5, 2013. Note registration deadline! (The ISEE is also available on different dates at other AIMS schools. If your daughter tests elsewhere, please request that her scores be sent to Bryn Mawr.)
- Common Referral Forms completed by English and math teachers due by January 15, 2013
- Final transcript from previous school year and fall transcript from current school year
- Student Essay and Questionnaire due by December 14
We will keep you up-to-date on your application file and let you know when it is complete.
Questions? Call the Admission Office at 410-323-8800, ext. 1232.
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Testing Requirements
Standardized testing is a requirement for admission at all grade levels.
Applicants to Kindergarten, Pre-First, and Grade 1
Upon receipt of application, you will receive a testing date for your daughter. This will be an individual evaluation lasting about one hour. A variety of testing instruments will be used to determine each girl's developmental readiness for the grade to which she is applying. At the younger grade levels testing is not shared with other schools.
Applicants to Grades 2-4
Bryn Mawr offers only one date for group testing for these applicants, which is Saturday, January 5, 2013. Your daughter will take the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test and the Stanford Achievement Test. Testing is given in the Lower School Library from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. We will be happy to share the results of this testing with other schools. If the Bryn Mawr dates do not work for you, you may sign up for testing at another school. Please ask them to send your daughter's testing results to the Bryn Mawr Office of Admission. If your daughter does plan to test at Bryn Mawr, please fill out the registration form in the application packet.
Applicants to Grades 5-12
Bryn Mawr administers the ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) on two dates. They are Saturday, December 1, 2012 and Saturday, January 5, 2013. You may register online at www.iseetest.org. (Please note registration deadlines!) If these dates are inconvenient for you, your daughter can take the test at another school in the area and have her scores sent to Bryn Mawr. Please refer to the ISEE brochure in the application packet or go to the website for more information.
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School Visits
We invite prospective students and their families to visit Bryn Mawr and take a tour with a member of our admissions staff. Our Upper School Fall Visiting Days offer another way for prospective applicants to grades 9 - 12 to see the school with their parents or guardian.
If your daughter is applying to grades 2 - 12, she may spend a morning visiting classes with a Bryn Mawr hostess. Her shadow day will be scheduled upon receipt of the first part of her applications (pgs. 3 - 5) and the application fee. For applicants to grades 6 - 12, the required student essay and student questionnaire may be submitted at a later date, prior to the application deadline.
For K, Pre-First, Grade 1 | For Grades 2-5 | For Grades 6-12
For K, Pre-First, Grade 1
While applicants to Kindergarten do not have a "shadow" visit, they will be invited to campus in late winter for a special event. Accepted students and their families will also be invited to attend a party in February when they will have the opportunity to spend time in the classroom, meet the teachers and other new girls, and see the Lower School campus.
Accepted applicants to Pre-First and 1st Grade will be invited to attend the Accepted Students' Shadow Day on February 26, 2013.
Grades 2-5
What should I wear for my shadow day? A typical day at Bryn Mawr is active; you will move around campus, both indoors and out-of-doors. We suggest that you wear comfortable school clothing, sneakers, and bring outerwear appropriate to the weather.
What time should I arrive at Bryn Mawr?
You should plan to arrive at the Admission Office by 8:30 am.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
No, our teachers will have everything you need in the classroom. Just come ready to meet new girls, learn along with your hostess and her classmates, and have fun!
Can I request a hostess?
If you have a friend in your grade at Bryn Mawr, please let us know. We'll do our best to accommodate your request. Sometimes visiting girls like to shadow with someone they already know, but others prefer to be paired with someone new.
Where should I go when I arrive?
Please come to the Admission Office – a small, modern wooden structure just behind the large white house. Your parents will find visitor’s parking near the building. You will get a nametag and we will give you one for your hostess. Then we will say goodbye to your parents and walk down the hill to the Lower School!
What will my morning be like?
Once you get to the classroom, we will introduce you to your hostess and her teacher. Your hostess will introduce you to her classmates. In no time you will have made lots of new friends! Then it is off to classes. You will go to all of your hostess' classes to get a sense of what it is like to go to school at Bryn Mawr. Don't plan on being in the same classroom all morning; your hostess may go to different buildings for some classes. In the middle of the morning, you will have an outdoor recess. Just like you, Bryn Mawr girls get hungry, so you'll get a snack! You may bring your own snack, but we have plenty to share.
Is it all right to participate in class?
Absolutely! We can't tell you what the girls will be studying on a particular day, but if you feel comfortable participating in the discussion, please join the conversation. If you would rather sit quietly and listen, that's okay too. Do what feels good for you and we know you will have a fun morning. Our teachers and students are very excited that you have come to visit them at Bryn Mawr.
Do I have to take a test today?
Not on your shadow day! However, girls applying to Grades 2-4 do take an entrance test. You can take this test at Bryn Mawr on Saturday, January 5, 2013.
The registration form for this test is in the application packet. If this date is inconvenient, the test is given at other AIMS schools on different days. Please request that they send your scores to Bryn Mawr.
If you are applying to 5th grade, you need to take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). You can register for it online at www.iseetest.org. We give it at Bryn Mawr on December 1, 2012 and January 5, 2013.
When is my visit over?
At 12:30 pm someone from the Admission Cottage will come down to the Lower School and walk you back up the hill. Your parents will be waiting for you; I am sure they will want to hear all about your morning!
We look forward to your visit!
Grades 6-12
Why is this visit important?
We want you to experience what it feels like to be a Bryn Mawr student. The best way to do that is to visit campus, attend classes, see advisory and Convocation, meet the girls, and hang out during a break. During your visit you will meet with an Admission Officer and tell her all about your academic and extracurricular activities. We want to get to know you and we know you want to learn about Bryn Mawr. A shadow day is a great way to get acquainted.
What should I wear for my shadow day?
A typical day at Bryn Mawr is active; you will move around campus, both indoors and out-of-doors. We suggest that you wear comfortable school clothing: jeans, slacks or a skirt are fine. Sneakers or other comfortable shoes are recommended, because you will do quite a bit of walking between classes and activities. Also, bring outerwear suitable for the weather.
Do I need to bring anything?
The only thing that you might want to bring is a book. Chances are you won't have time to read, but some visitors like to have one with them "just in case."
Can I request a hostess?
If you have a friend in your grade at Bryn Mawr, please let us know. We will do our best to accomodate your request. Sometimes visiting girls like to shadow with someone they already know, but others prefer to be paired with someone new. We keep your interests in mind, as well as the schedules of our students. If everything works out, we will assign your friend to be your escort. If not, you will be matched with another hostess. In either case, we think you will have a great morning.
What grade will I visit?
Girls applying to grades 7 and 8 and grades 10-12 will shadow with girls in their current grade.
However, if you are applying to 6th grade, you will spend part of your morning in 6th grade and part in 5th grade. If you are a 9th grade applicant, you will split your time between 9th and 8th grades. This arrangement will allow you to experience both divisions, and to meet girls in your current grade.
What time should I arrive?
You will be greeted at the Admission Cottage at 7:45 am; your parents can park right in front of the building. We will have a brief questionnaire for you to fill out and we will provide you with a schedule for the day. Your hostess will meet you in the Admission Cottage. Then you are off for the morning, attending classes with your hostess. During that time you will meet many other girls (you may even know some of them from outside of school!).
Do I need to prepare for my visit?
Absolutely not. Just come and enjoy being a Bryn Mawrtian for a day.
Should I bring my own lunch?
(only applicants to grade 9 stay for lunch)
No need. You are Bryn Mawr's guest for the day. We have really good food: salad bar, sandwiches, and a variety of hot meals. Not to mention homemade cookies and soft ice cream! Your hostess will show you where things are in the cafeteria. There will be lots of girls who want to join you for lunch. Depending on the weather, you may even eat outside.
Do I have to take an entrance test on my shadow day?
No, there aren't any tests on your shadow day. The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is required as part of the application. You can register for the ISEE online at www.iseetest.org. Make sure you check the registration deadlines carefully. We welcome you to take the test at Bryn Mawr on December 1, 2012 or January 5, 2013. However, if those dates aren't convenient for you, you can take the test at another AIMSschool and have them send the scores to Bryn Mawr.
What if I have more questions after my shadow day?
Not a problem! If you have other things you want to discuss, or questions you forgot to ask while you were on campus, just give us a call at 410-323-8800. For the most part, Ms. Canestraro (ext. 1330) works with Middle School applicants and Ms. Titus (ext. 1237) works with Upper School applicants, but anyone in the Admission Office would be happy to talk with you.
We look forward to your visit!
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Late Applications
We realize that not everyone's life runs on an admissions calendar! If you find yourself in the position of relocating to Baltimore or just coming late to the notion of a school change, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Following the conclusion of our admission season on April 1, we will review applications and make decisions based on academic qualifications and space availability.
Please contact the Admission Office at 410-323-8800, ext. 1232. We welcome your interest in Bryn Mawr.
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