How to Apply

We are pleased that you are considering a Sandy Spring Friends School education.

There are two ways to apply for admission to our School:

• Apply on-line with the SSAT common on-line application. This is the easiest and most efficient way to apply.

• You can also download a Sandy Spring Friend School Upper School ISP application packet from our website.

To begin the application process, your completed Application for Admission form and $75 application fee should be submitted to our Admissions Office as soon as possible. Applications are being processed on a rolling admissions basis until grade levels are full.

Testing – One English proficiency test is required. Students may take one of the following tests:

• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) The TOEFL is the preferred test. For more information on how to register for the TOEFL, please visit their website at www.toefl.org. The SSFS recipient code for the TOEFL is 210937.
• The Secondary Level English Proficiency (SLEP)
• The Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT). The SSFS recipient code for the SSAT is 7090.

Please note: We do not require a minimum score on English proficiency tests since we offer four levels of ESL from beginner to advanced.

Interview - The Admissions Office will call or email to schedule an appointment for the parent and student interviews.

Day Visit - Not required if applicant is not living in the U.S. during the application process. However, if possible you are welcome to come for a Day Visit in order to have the opportunity to attend classes and spend a school day with a student host. For students applying to the Residential Program (either 5 or 7-Day Boarding), we offer overnight visits along with day visits.

Summer Immersion Program (SIP) - Required for all NEW ISP students
Saturday, July 10 through Friday, August 20, 2010
All new students are required to participate in a six-week Summer Immersion Program (SIP), a residential language and acculturation program prior to their first semester at Sandy Spring Friends School. The primary focus is on listening and speaking skills at all different levels (novice, intermediate, or advanced). Along with developing reading and writing skills, there are sessions on preparing for the TOEFL and ACT/SAT college entrance exams. Students also participate in a variety of experiential learning opportunities that allow them to develop and apply their English language in becoming fully acculturated to life, including the educational system, in the U.S.