A Holistic Review: What We Look For In A Brearley Applicant

We review a student's application with an attention to character, intellectual curiosity, and a desire to grow and be challenged both individually and collectively among a diverse community of students, families, alumnae/alumni, staff, faculty, and administrators. We are seeking academically motivated students who will contribute positively to our community and parents/guardians who will also partner well with us as we foster a more inclusive program.

The Application Process

A Step-by-Step Guide

List of 7 items.

  • 1. APPLICATION AND FEE

    The application deadline for grades 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 has now passed. 
     
    Should we have places in the spring after our first round of admission is complete, we will consider late applications. 
     
    If you would like us to contact you in the spring or summer to start the application process for entry in the fall of 2023, please complete the Late Application available on Ravenna for grades 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. 
     
    Should we open the application process for any particular grade, we will contact you to the start the process. If you do not hear from us, please know that the grade is fully enrolled for the 2023-2024 academic year. 
  • 2. BREARLEY'S VIRTUAL ASSESSMENT

    A virtual assessment may be scheduled after the application has been submitted.
  • 3. PARENT/GUARDIAN AND APPLICANT CAMPUS VISIT

    Applicants and their families will have the opportunity to schedule their in-person campus visit once Part I of their application has been submitted. The campus visit consists of a tour of The Brearley School guided by an Upper School Student Ambassador, in addition to student and parent/guardian interviews with a member of our Admissions Committee. During the parent/guardian interview, the applicant will take her Math Assessment.

    Families must schedule their tours and interviews by December 6, 2022.
  • 4. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT, TEACHER REFERENCES, AND GRADED ESSAY

    Links for an applicant's school and teachers to upload transcripts, teacher references, and a graded essay may be accessed directly from your account on Ravenna. Please do not share these links with your child's school and teachers until AFTER November 15, 2022, so that they reflect as much of the term’s work as possible. The deadline for submitting these materials is January 12, 2023.  
    • Transcript Release
    • 2022-2023 English and Math Teacher References
    • Graded Analytical Essay with Teacher Comments from Current English or History Class
  • 5. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

    Families requesting financial assistance should check the appropriate box on the application. The request for aid must be made at the same time the application is submitted (the application fee is waived.) We ask that you please adhere strictly to all filing deadlines. 
  • 6. ADMISSION DECISIONS

    An applicant's file must be complete by January 12, 2023 in order to be considered in the first round of decisions. The Office of Admission will notify families on February 14, 2023 for Middle School (Grades 5-8) and on February 21, 2023 for Upper School (Grades 9-10.) Accepted students will be invited to revisit Brearley before making their decisions.

    The parent reply date for Middle School applicants is March 3, 2023, and March 16, 2023 for Upper School applicants. 
  • 7. STANDARDIZED TESTING

    An applicant is required to take the ISEE or SSAT exam, for Brearley this admission season. We suggest you register for a test date no later than December 2022 so that Brearley will receive the results in time for the first round of decisions.

    You may register for the ISEE exam online here
    . Our ISEE code is 333475.

    You may register for the SSAT here
    . Our SSAT code is 1799.

    Please remember to list Brearley as one of the schools to which you are applying, so that test results will be sent directly to us.

    *Should applicants applying for financial assistance need support with internet or computer access, we encourage them to contact the Office of Admission at (212) 570-8600 to speak with a member of our team. 

Admission Timeline

Important Dates

List of 11 items.

  • August 22, 2022: Applications Open

  • October 19, 2022: Open House

  • November and December: Virtual Assessments

  • December 1, 2022: Application Deadline

  • December 2, 2022: Deadline for Scheduling Tour and Interview

  • December 15, 2022: Financial Assistance Application Deadline

  • January 12, 2023: Deadline for Transcripts, Graded Essay, Teacher References

  • February 14, 2023: Middle School Notification Date

  • February 21, 2023: Upper School Notification Date

  • March 3, 2023: Grades 5-8 Family Reply Deadline

  • March 16, 2023: Grades 9-10 Family Reply Deadline

Inquire About Your Application

Please email our office with any questions that you have throughout the process.
The Brearley School is a K-XII independent day school for girls in New York City. Empowering girls of adventurous intellect to think critically and creatively.
610 East 83rd Street
New York, NY 10028
(212) 744-8582 

590 East 83rd Street
New York, NY 10028
(212) 744-8582