What Makes the International Application Track Different From General Admission.
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In This Guide
Applying to Mater Dei Catholic High School from outside the United States looks meaningfully different from a general 9th-grade application. Where general applicants lean on transcripts, the HSPT, and a single recommendation, international applicants follow a track built around additional documentation and a required interview.
Quick Answer for Busy Parents
International applicants to Mater Dei Catholic High School, a college-preparatory school in the San Diego area, submit two teacher letters of recommendation (rather than the single Principal or Vice Principal recommendation general applicants provide), certified English translations of official transcripts, and complete a required one-on-one interview. Mater Dei partners with Amerigo Education to support its international student population.
How the International Track Differs From General Admission
| Requirement | General 9th-Grade Applicants | International Applicants |
| Recommendation | One Academic Recommendation (Principal/VP) | Two teacher letters of recommendation |
| Transcripts | 7th/8th grade report cards | Official transcripts plus certified English translations |
| Interview | Not required | Required, one-on-one |
| Testing | HSPT required, on campus | HSPT required, on campus |
Required Documents
International applicants submit official transcripts in their original language along with certified English translations, a step general domestic applicants don’t need. Combined with two teacher recommendation letters instead of one, the file requires more advanced planning and coordination with a student’s current school.
The Required Interview
Unlike general 9th-grade applicants, who are not required to interview, international applicants complete a required one-on-one interview as part of the admissions process, alongside transfer students. This is a meaningful difference in preparation: an international applicant should treat the interview as seriously as the HSPT itself.
Why This Matters for International Families
Mater Dei’s partnership with Amerigo Education reflects an institutional commitment to supporting international students specifically, not just a generic admissions policy applied to every applicant regardless of background. Families outside the U.S. should plan for a longer runway than general applicants: translated transcripts take time to prepare, two recommendation letters require coordinating with two different teachers, and both the HSPT and the required interview benefit from real preparation.
Get Into Mater Dei with the Best Educational Consultants in California
The international application track at Mater Dei is more document-intensive and interview-focused than general 9th-grade admission. Cardinal Education’s private school admissions consulting helps international families plan the extra lead time these requirements call for.
Applying to Mater Dei From Abroad?
Cardinal Education helps international families navigate translated transcripts, additional recommendations, and interview preparation.
Asian American families evaluating Mater Dei can turn to our dedicated guide, which applies these same fundamentals directly to Asian American applicants.
Considering Mater Dei Catholic High School?
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