Your application timeline
The prep school admission cycle runs on fixed dates — SSAT windows, January deadlines, the March 10 decision day. Set your child's entry year and see exactly where you stand.
- Spring 2026
Decide whether prep school is right — before touring
Talk as a family about why entering 9th grade makes sense, what your real budget ceiling is, and day vs. boarding. This is the conversation Claire is built for.
- Summer 2026
Build your long list & start SSAT prep
Research 8–12 schools, browse verified tuition and aid data, and begin light SSAT practice — 20 minutes a few times a week beats cramming in November.
- August 2026 · up next
SSAT registration opens — book fall test dates
Register early for October and November national dates so a retake in December or January stays available as a safety net.
- Sep–Nov 2026
Campus tours & admission interviews
Schedule tours and on-campus or virtual interviews. Go beyond the tour script — ask questions the website can't answer.
- October 1, 2026
Financial aid applications open (SSS)
The School and Student Services (SSS) Parents' Financial Statement opens October 1. Start early — gathering tax documents takes longer than the form.
- Oct–Dec 2026
SSAT national test dates
National administrations run roughly monthly (mid-October, mid-November, mid-December). Most applicants sit the test twice.
- November 15, 2026
Request teacher recommendations
Ask English and math teachers before Thanksgiving break — they get flooded in December. Provide them a short note on your child's strengths.
- December 2026
Essays drafted & final SSAT sitting
Essays should be in near-final form before winter break. The student's voice — not a polished adult voice — is what admissions wants to read.
- January 15, 2027
Application deadlines (most schools) — Jan 15, 2027
The majority of boarding and day schools close applications between January 10 and February 1. Confirm each school's exact date.
- January 31, 2027
Financial aid deadlines
Aid deadlines usually track the application deadline. Late aid applications are the #1 avoidable mistake for families who need support.
- March 10, 2027
Decision day — March 10, 2027
Most boarding schools release decisions on 'M10.' Plan the revisit days that follow — they're the best fit-check you'll get.
- April 10, 2027
Enrollment deposit due — April 10, 2027
'A10' is the standard reply deadline. If you're weighing aid offers, call the schools — there is often more flexibility than families assume.
- September 2027
First day
Move-in, orientation, and the start of the experience you planned for.
Dates are the easy part. Fit is the hard part.
Claire turns this generic calendar into a plan for your child — which schools, which SSAT target, which essays — matched to their actual strengths.