How to Get Into Collegiate School: Admission Help From the Experts

Why Families Choose Collegiate School: An All-Boys Education in NYC

Collegiate School is a well-regarded K–12 day school in New York City, exclusively for boys. It’s widely considered one of the leading private schools in the United States, particularly noted for its strong academics, cherished traditions, and a close-knit, supportive community. Families often choose Collegiate because of its excellent track record in preparing students for top-tier colleges and universities. The school places a strong emphasis on fostering a love of learning, developing leadership skills, and encouraging responsible decision-making.

With a history stretching back to 1628, Collegiate School holds the distinction of being the oldest independent school in the nation. It was established by the Dutch West India Company and the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. Originally located in Lower Manhattan, the school has moved several times over the centuries to accommodate its growth. Its most recent and exciting transition was in 2018, when it moved to a modern, thoughtfully designed facility on the Upper West Side.

The all-boys environment at Collegiate helps to cultivate strong bonds of mentorship and camaraderie among the students.  The school values open discussion, personal integrity, and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. They believe in nurturing well-rounded young men by encouraging a balance between their studies, involvement in the arts, and participation in athletics.

How hard is it to get into Collegiate School?

Getting into Collegiate School is something many families aim for, and it’s no secret that the process is competitive. This reflects the school’s strong reputation for academics and its long history as the oldest independent school in the country. With smaller classes, usually around 14 students, and a great teacher-to-student ratio of about 6 to 1, Collegiate makes sure each boy gets individual attention, is challenged to learn, and feels supported along the way.

Applying to Collegiate involves a few steps. Families start with an online application, typically due in mid-November. The specific things you need to send in depend on the grade level your son is applying for, but generally include school records (transcripts), letters from his current teachers, and a confidential report from his school. Visiting the school and having a conversation with parents or guardians are also part of getting to know applicants and seeing how they might thrive in the Collegiate community.

Collegiate mainly welcomes new students into Kindergarten and Grade 9. For Kindergarten, boys need to be five years old by September 1st of the year they’d start. Applying for other grades (1 through 4, 5 through 8, and 10 through 12) is possible if spots open up. Families can still apply, and the school will reach out if there’s an opportunity.

The deadlines for applications are usually around the second week of November, and most of the supporting documents are due by early January. You can expect to hear about admission decisions in the middle to late part of March. Sometimes, if a spot becomes available later, they might review applications then, but it’s good to know that financial aid might not be an option in those cases.

For students applying to Grades 5 through 11, standardized tests are part of the process. They’ll need to take either the ISEE or the SSAT by early January. However, Collegiate looks at the whole picture when considering applications. Test scores are just one piece of the puzzle. They put more weight on what teachers say about the student, their school records, what the student and parents share in questionnaires, and how well the applicant seems like a good fit for what Collegiate School believes in and values.

Given the competitiveness of the process, families may benefit from working with private school admissions consultants who understand the ins and outs of the Collegiate School admissions process. Consultants can provide valuable guidance in presenting a compelling application and ensuring prospective students stand out in a highly selective pool of candidates.

Collegiate School Admissions Process

Creating an account on Ravenna is the first step in the Collegiate application process. You may apply, register for admission events, receive notifications, and monitor your application progress all through your Ravenna account. The admission steps you should take are as follows:

1. Create an Account on Ravenna Hub
2. Submit an Inquiry Form
3. Attend Admissions Events (Optional but Recommended)
4. Submit Required Documents and Complete the Application
5. Schedule and Complete an Interview
6. Submit Supplemental Materials
7. Enrollment Confirmation

For more details and to begin your application, visit the Collegiate School Admissions.

The Collegiate School Admission Requirements

Collegiate Parent Statement: Sharing Your Perspective

Parents or guardians of applicants are required to answer a parent/guardian questionnaire that is found on Ravenna. You will be asked to talk about your child and share information about their personality, achievements, and other personal information.

Tips for Writing a Strong Parent Statement for Collegiate

The parent statement is an integral part of the application process as it will help admissions officers better understand your child’s background and potential to become successful at Collegiate School. It will also demonstrate your family’s commitment to your child’s education. When choosing what to write about, remember that you have to be honest and authentic. Focus on your child’s strengths and unique characteristics, and provide anecdotes to support your statements. For some tips on how to write a powerful parent statement from experienced educational consultants, click here. 

Collegiate Teacher Recommendations: Importance & Guidelines

Applicants must submit recommendation letters from current math and English teachers and the principal or counselor. The forms can be found on Ravenna and must be submitted online via the same platform.

Securing Powerful Teacher Recommendations for Collegiate

Teacher recommendations are crucial for admission since they give a more thorough evaluation of your child’s character, personality, and academic aptitude. Because they deal with your child on a daily basis and can confirm your child’s academic success, they can make professional and unbiased observations. Building strong relationships with teachers is crucial if you want them to be able to provide strong recommendations that support other application materials when the time comes for them to do so.

Transcript for Collegiate School: Demonstrating Academic Readiness

Applicants must submit transcripts from both the previous academic year and the first semester of the current one. Once submitted, the school will handle the process directly.

 Improving Grades for Collegiate Admission 

The transcript will demonstrate your child’s readiness to handle Collegiate School’s rigorous curriculum. But what if your child’s grades aren’t all that outstanding? Start private school admissions consulting early! Our tutors and academic coaches will work with your child to improve grades and achieve scores that meet the requirements. We provide online or in-person tutoring for a variety of courses as well as diagnostic testing. However, because we are aware that boosting GPA won’t guarantee success, we provide academic coaching that teaches executive function skills as a more holistic strategy. 

Collegiate Personal Statement: Crafting Your Story

There are questions that an applicant has to answer within a limited character count. The questions delve into your child’s personality, skills, and interests, as well as their expectations of Collegiate School. The questions might seem simple and easy to answer, but admissions officers are looking at certain characteristics and values in your child that will determine if they are a good fit at Collegiate School. 

Expert Advice for Your Collegiate Personal Statement

Our private school admissions consultants can guide your child and give advice on how to best answer the questions truthfully. Our years of experience working with families applying to Collegiate School have allowed us to understand what they are looking for in applicants. From your child’s personal circumstances, we can identify what traits and characteristics will interest the admissions team and be considered for admission. Here are some useful tips on how to write a compelling personal statement.

Standardized Tests for Collegiate: SSAT & ISEE Requirements

Applications from Grades 5-11 must include ISEE or SSAT results. Admissions personnel can better assess each applicant’s academic preparedness and likelihood of succeeding in the school’s demanding environment with the use of these exams.

Preparing for the SSAT/ISEE for Collegiate

We are aware that getting ready for standardized tests can be somewhat stressful, but we can be of assistance. We will help your child through customized test preparation strategies based on our years of expertise working with families applying to Collegiate School. Our objective is to alleviate the burden of test preparation and ensure that your child is prepared to present their best self on test day. We offer individualized SSAT practice tests and ISEE practice tests to make sure your child submits impressive scores. 

Collegiate Admissions Interviews: Making a Great Impression

Interviews are a required component, varying slightly by grade level. Here’s how interviews work by entry level:

Kindergarten

• Parent/Guardian Interview: Required
• Student Visit: Conducted in small groups where faculty observe applicants through age-appropriate activities

Grades 1–4

• Parent/Guardian Interview: Virtual meeting
• Student Visit: Includes participation in classroom-like settings and a writing sample (depending on age)

Grades 5–11

• Student Interview: Included as part of a visit day, which features:
  • A roundtable discussion
  • Group activities
  • On-site writing sample

• Parent/Guardian Interview: Conducted virtually and scheduled after the student visit is completed

Ace Your Collegiate Interview: Preparation Strategies

Your child will be assessed and evaluated based on how they conduct themselves on those occasions. With nearly 20 years of experience in the industry and helping numerous families get into The Collegiate School, we know what they are looking for. With informed interview preparation, our admissions consultants will introduce your child to common interview questions and teach them how to answer them truthfully while adhering to their values. 

Visiting Collegiate: Tours, Open Houses & Virtual Options

The Collegiate School offers a range of opportunities for prospective families to learn more about its programs and community through campus tours, open houses, and virtual information sessions.

Collegiate Campus Tours: Explore the Upper West Side
Collegiate offers in-person tours for prospective families. These are available in the fall for applicants to Kindergarten through Grade 11. Tours are led by members of the admissions team and provide a look inside classrooms and shared spaces. Families must register through Ravenna to attend.

Collegiate Open Houses: Experience the Community
Open houses are held in October and are divided by grade level. Visitors hear from school leadership, meet teachers, and learn about the academic program. These events also highlight the student experience and school culture. Registration is required and completed through Ravenna.

Collegiate Virtual Information Sessions: Learn Online
Virtual sessions are offered for families who cannot attend in person. These sessions include an overview of the school, the admissions process, and life at Collegiate. Admissions staff also answer questions from participants.

What is Student Life Like at Collegiate School?

So, life at Collegiate? Think “brotherhood of brainy bros” (but way cooler than it sounds!). It’s a K–12, all-boys adventure where you’ll actually want to hang out with your classmates, and even some of the teachers (they’re secretly pretty awesome). Every day is a fun mix of flexing those brain muscles in class and diving headfirst into a seriously impressive lineup of extracurriculars. Basically, you’ll have so many cool things to try, you might need a time-turner.

Forget just sitting at your desk—Collegiate is all about finding your inner leader and using your voice (respectfully, of course, unless you’re in a debate, then all bets are off!). You’re encouraged to jump in, get involved, and maybe even change the world a little (starting with the school bake sale).

When the textbooks close, the fun really begins. Imagine joining a club that geeks out over the same things you do, belting out tunes in the glee club (pitch-perfect or hilariously off-key, all are welcome!), scoring the winning goal, or maybe even channeling your inner Shakespeare (in Latin, no less!). There’s a team, a stage, or a cause for pretty much everyone. Plus, Collegiate has those legendary traditions and school events that make you feel like you’re part of something truly special—the kind of memories that’ll make you smile even when you’re old and gray (and maybe still quoting lines from that Latin play).

Collegiate School Curriculum Overview

So, Collegiate’s learning plan? Think “brain-boosting bonanza” from kindergarten graduation to senior send-off! They’re not just about stuffing facts into heads; they’re all about lighting that “aha!” spark and turning boys into master thinkers. From tackling epic tales in literature to wrestling with the mysteries of math and science (in a good way!), exploring history’s hilarious and not-so-hilarious moments, dabbling in cool languages, and unleashing their inner artists (it’s all on the menu).

They’re big believers in the “work hard, play hard (your own unique talents)” philosophy. So, while they’ll definitely get those brain cells firing, they also want every guy to find their own awesome. Forget boring lectures – expect lively classroom throwdowns (intellectual ones, of course!), where sharing your brilliant (or slightly out-there) ideas is encouraged. You’ll learn to argue your point like a pro, write so clearly it’s almost magic, and speak with the confidence of a seasoned TED Talker.

Down in the Lower School, it’s all about building that rock-solid foundation in the three Rs (reading, ‘riting, and ‘rithmetic – plus some cool stuff like art, music, and science experiments that might (safely!) explode). Middle School ups the ante, adding the ancient awesomeness of Latin to the mix (veni, vidi, vici, future scholars!). And by Upper School? Buckle up for the college prep express, with options for those brain-bending AP classes, electives that let you geek out on your favorite subjects, and even the chance to become a research rockstar. The ultimate mission? To create guys who are not only smarty-pants but also genuinely curious, have a strong sense of what’s what, and actually enjoy the whole learning adventure.

What Sports does Collegiate School offer?

The Collegiate School offers a competitive and well-rounded athletics program that promotes teamwork, leadership, and physical wellness. Students can participate in a variety of sports across three seasons, with opportunities at the varsity, junior varsity, and middle school levels. The athletics program is a key part of student life and encourages students to develop discipline, resilience, and school spirit.

Collegiate is a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) and the Ivy Preparatory School League. Student-athletes are encouraged to participate in multiple sports and learn the values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship.

Collegiate School Arts and Music Programs

Collegiate School offers a vibrant arts and music program that encourages creativity, self-expression, and artistic growth at every grade level. From the earliest years, students are introduced to visual arts through drawing, painting, sculpture, and mixed media. As they move through the divisions, they explore more advanced techniques and art history, culminating in portfolio development and exhibitions in the Upper School. The curriculum is hands-on and process-oriented, giving students the space to develop their own artistic voice.

The music program is equally rich, offering general music classes in the Lower School and expanding into vocal and instrumental ensembles in the Middle and Upper Schools. Students can join chorus, orchestra, and jazz band, and many take private lessons in various instruments. Performance opportunities are frequent and include concerts, recitals, and community events. Whether it’s composing original music, performing classical works, or experimenting with digital sound, Collegiate’s music program fosters a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Clubs and organizations at Collegiate School

The Collegiate School offers a wide array of clubs and student-led organizations that reflect the diverse interests and passions of its student body. These extracurricular activities play an important role in building leadership skills, fostering community, and encouraging personal growth beyond the classroom. Students are empowered to take initiative, form new clubs, and take on leadership roles that align with their academic and creative pursuits.

Whether participating in a long-standing organization or launching a new initiative, students at Collegiate find many ways to engage, lead, and make an impact.

Who are some famous Collegiate School Alumni?

The Collegiate School has a long history of distinguished alumni who have made notable contributions across a variety of fields including the arts, media, philanthropy, and public service. Here are some of the most well-known Collegiate alumnae:

• John F. Kennedy Jr. – Lawyer, journalist, and son of President John F. Kennedy
• David Duchovny – Actor best known for The X-Files and Californication
• Calvin Trillin – Celebrated humorist, food writer, and political journalist
• Jeff Zucker – Former president of CNN and NBCUniversal
• Ezra Koenig – Lead singer of the indie rock band Vampire Weekend
• David Harbour – Actor best known for his role in Stranger Things
• Whit Stillman – Oscar-nominated filmmaker and screenwriter
• Noah Feldman – Harvard Law professor and constitutional scholar
• George Plimpton – Journalist, writer, and longtime editor of The Paris Review

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