How to Apply to Fessenden
Thank you for your interest in Fessenden for your child's education.
The admissions processes and timelines at our school in West Newton may vary slightly by entry grade. Please review the grade-specific guidelines listed on this page in addition to the application steps that are required for all candidates.
Application Steps & Dates for All Candidates
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Create a Ravenna Account & Submit an Inquiry Form
Establish an account on Ravenna, our day and boarding school's online application management system. Once your account is created, complete an inquiry form to start the application process. -
Campus Tour & Interview
Campus Visits Begin:
OctoberCampus visits begin in October and are a required part of the application process. Visit Ravenna after September 15, or contact the Admissions Office at 617-630-2300 or admissions@fessenden.org, to schedule your tour and interview. We strongly encourage you to schedule your tour and interview as early as possible in the fall. This will provide the Admissions team more time to get to know you and your family.
Notes:
- Students in Mainland China and Hong Kong, applicants to The Fessenden School are required to interview with Vericant (regardless of citizenship or the type of school they are attending) and submit their TOEFL Jr. results before scheduling a tour or interview. See the international boarding specific application steps at the bottom of this page for more details.
- Candidates for Grades 4 - 9 are required to attend the campus tour and interview. Visits for Pre-K - Grade 3 are for parents only.
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Online Application
Due by:
December 15 (International Boarding)
January 15 (Day)
Rolling Basis (Domestic Boarding)The online application, Common Parent Statement, and Fessenden Parent Statement Supplement, available on Ravenna, are due by December 15 for international boarding candidates and January 15 for day candidates. Domestic boarding applications are considered on a rolling basis. -
Transcripts
Due by:
December 15 (International Boarding)
January 15 (Day)
Rolling Basis (Domestic Boarding)The transcript record release form is available on Ravenna to download, sign, and submit to the candidate's current school. The school must upload prior and current year transcripts to Ravenna or email them directly to the Admissions Office at admissions@fessenden.org by December 15 for international boarding candidates, January 15 for day candidates, and on a rolling basis for domestic boarding candidates. -
Teacher Evaluation Form
Due by:
December 15 (International Boarding)
January 15 (Day)
Rolling Basis (Domestic Boarding)After December 1, please provide current teachers with the grade-appropriate student evaluation form available on Ravenna. Evaluations are confidential and the teacher/school must upload the forms to Ravenna or email them directly to the Admissions Office, at admissions@fessenden.org, by December 15 for international boarding candidates, January 15 for day candidates, and on a rolling basis for domestic boarding candidates.
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Financial Aid Requests
Deadline:
February 1The deadline for financial aid applications is February 1 for all candidates, including domestic boarding applicants. For more financial aid details, visit our financial aid page. -
Review Grade-Specific Application Requirements
Prior to applying, please review the grade-specific application requirements by selecting your son's entry grade from the list below.
Once all of the above and the grade-specific steps have been taken, the candidate's application is considered complete. To follow are the application submission and decision dates:
International Junior Boarding School Candidates
Application Deadline: December 15
Decision Date: January 15
Day School Candidates
Application Deadline: January 15
Decision Date: March 10
Domestic Junior Boarding School Candidates
Applications are considered, and decisions are made, on a rolling basis. Please note, if you would like to be considered for financial assistance, that application must be submitted by February 1.
Please note that applications completed after the published deadlines will be considered on a rolling basis based on availability. Contact Admissions for more information about availability and the second round admissions process. To be fair to all candidates, applications received after the specified deadline will be considered only after initial decisions are made.
Grade Specific Guidelines for Day and Boarding School Enrollment
Pre-Kindergarten
Students entering Pre-Kindergarten should be four years old by September 1.
Candidate Visit
Your son will participate in an on-campus Group Visit in December, January, or February. The visit structure and duration varies by entry grade and is conducted by the Admissions staff and teachers. Registration for all candidate visit dates will be available through your Ravenna account.
Kindergarten
Students entering Kindergarten should be five years old by September 1.
Candidate Assessment
An Admissions associate will conduct an on-campus, one-on-one candidate assessment as part of the admissions process. Please visit Ravenna after September 15 to schedule an assessment for your son.
Candidate Visit
Your son will participate in an on-campus Group Visit in December, January, or February. The visit structure and duration varies by entry grade and is conducted by the Admissions staff and teachers. Registration for all candidate visit dates will be available through your Ravenna account.
Grades 1–3
Grades 1-3 are not typical entry points for Fessenden. However, there are occasional openings so we encourage you to begin the admissions process.
Candidate Visit & Assessment
Your son will participate in an on-campus Classroom Visit & Assessment as part of the admissions process. These visits happen during a weekday morning in December, January, or February. The Admissions team will reach out to families directly with more specific information about these visits.
Grades 4
Parent & Candidate Campus Visit & Interview
Campus visits begin in October and are a required part of the application process. All Grade 4 candidates will participate in the campus tour. During the parent interview portion of the campus visit, all candidates will participate in a one-on-one assessment with an Admissions associate. Visit Ravenna after September 15 to schedule your campus visit and interview. We strongly encourage you to schedule your tour and interview as early as possible in the Fall. This will provide the Admissions team more time to get to know you and your family.
Candidate Visit
Your son will participate in an on-campus Group Visit in December, January, or February. The visit structure and duration varies by entry grade and is conducted by the Admissions staff and teachers. Registration for all candidate visit dates will be available through your Ravenna account.
Grades 5–9 Day
Testing
SSAT or ISEE are optional.
Grades 5–9 Domestic Boarding
- Domestic boarding applications are considered on a rolling basis.
- If you would like to be considered for financial assistance, that application must be submitted by February 1.
- Our junior boarding school in New England allows both five-day and seven-day options for domestic boarding candidates.
Testing
SSAT or ISEE are optional.
Grades 5–9 International Boarding
- Seven-Day Boarding is the only option for international boarding students.
- International applications for our junior boarding school are due December 15, and decisions are communicated on January 15. If you would like to be considered for admission after January 15, please contact our Admissions Office for availability.
Requirement for Applicants attending school in Mainland China or Hong Kong
To better facilitate the interview process for students in Mainland China and Hong Kong, applicants to The Fessenden School are required to interview with Vericant (regardless of citizenship or the type of school they are attending) and submit their TOEFL Jr. results before scheduling a tour or interview.
Vericant will conduct initial interviews and facilitate short writing prompts. Please understand that Vericant does not evaluate candidates; all videos and writing samples are sent to The Fessenden School Admissions Office for assessment. Our Admissions team will review the completed Vericant interviews along with each applicant's TOEFL Jr. report to determine which students will be offered an interview with a member of The Fessenden School Admissions team. Please allow up to two weeks from our receipt of the Vericant interview to receive a response regarding a potential campus visit.
In order to meet The Fessenden School’s December 15th application deadline, applicants must interview with Vericant no later than Friday, December 1st. Please note your Vericant session carries the full weight of fulfilling our interview requirement.
Please establish an account on Ravenna, our online application management system, so you can be contacted after the review of your Vericant interview.
Who is considered an International Applicant?
- Applicants who are US citizens and live overseas are considered international applicants unless their parents file US tax returns.
- Applicants who are not US citizens are considered international applicants even if they are currently residing in or attending school in the US.
- US citizens employed overseas who file US tax returns are considered domestic applicants.
Testing
Candidates are required to submit TOEFL Jr. test results prior to scheduling an interview. SSAT, ISEE, or WISC-V test results are also welcome in addition to TOEFL Jr.
Apply Now
If you are ready to submit your Fessenden application today, please create a Ravenna account . If you already have a Ravenna account, please log in using the button below with your credentials.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The Fessenden School admits students of any race, color, creed, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or with any disability which can be reasonably accommodated by the school, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at The Fessenden School. The school does not discriminate on the basis of such factors in the administration of its educational policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, or other school-administered programs.