How to Apply to Upper School for International Students

A community is enriched by its diversity and at Westtown School, we are committed to cultivating a diverse student body. We achieve this by ensuring that a broad array of countries and cultures are represented in our enrollment. Through our application process, you will get to know Westtown School on a deeper level just as we get to know you. We welcome your application and look forward to learning more about you!

We welcome prospective international families to inquire.  Westtown School is a SEVIS-approved school approved by the U.S. Department of Justice/Immigration and Naturalization Service to host students with F-1 Status Student Visas. Westtown issues I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Forms to enrolled students to support their F-1 Visa. International students who have a U.S.Permanent Residency card must submit a copy to the Admissions Office so we can determine if the applicant is eligible to enroll at Westtown School.

Applicants holding a U.S. passport or Green Card will be asked to share a copy with their application and will be considered domestic applicants.

ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENTS FROM CHINA:

• For the 2026-2027 school year, we will accept applicants for the 9th grade only.
• We will consider applicants for 10th grade only if they are currently enrolled in a US junior boarding school.
• Individual live interviews are by invitation only and will be completed virtually via Zoom.

Step 1: Request Information:

Begin by completing our Inquiry Form. This lets us learn more about your family’s interests and ensures that you receive updates about upcoming events and the application process.

Submit an inquiry form →

Step 2: Begin your Application

FOR INTERNATIONAL BOARDING STUDENTS:

Begin the Standard Application Online (SAO).  Click “Register/login” or “Get started with the SAO.” If this is your first SAO application, you will need to create an SSAT/SAO account. If you have used SAO before, you will simply log in. Complete Section 1, the biographical section of the SAO, and submit it to us.  This enables us to begin working with your application. Over time, complete and submit the student and parent essays, recommendations, and transcripts. We will also send you a short supplemental form to complete.

Begin your application →

FOR APPLICANTS FROM CHINA:

• A complete Standard Application Online (SAO) application and a Vericant Interview are required for a full, complete application. Our application deadline is January 15.
• Vericant Interviews are required for all applicants from Greater China and must be submitted by our priority deadline of December 1. A live interview is not required as part of the application process.
  • Exception: Applicants from U.S. junior boarding schools are not required to complete a Vericant interview. These applicants are invited to schedule an individual interview directly with Westtown’s Director of Upper School Admission, Jordan Reed (jordan.reed@westtown.edu).
• Our Admission team will review Vericant submissions from October 6 through December 1.
  • During the review period, select students will be contacted directly by an admission counselor if they are invited for an individual interview. Individual interviews are not scheduled by request. 

Step 3: Schedule a Tour of Campus

FOR INTERNATIONAL BOARDING STUDENTS:

For Upper School International Students, we conduct guided virtual and in person visits and interviews. Contact the Admissions Office at 610-399-7900 or email admissions@westtown.edu and your admission counselor will reach out to schedule.

FOR APPLICANTS FROM CHINA:

We welcome prospective families to visit Westtown, and have designated Group Tour dates scheduled September through December – please use this Westtown Campus Group Tour Registration Form.

Due to high demand, we are unable to accommodate additional tour dates and times.

A campus visit is not required and does not impact a student’s chance of admission.

Schedule Your Group Tour →

Step 4: Standardized Testing

Westtown takes a holistic approach to the application review process. We require a standardized test, and are flexible about which test we accept. Most applicants will take either the SSAT or the ISEE. We will also accept a score report from a WISC, PSAT, SAT, ACT, CTP. If the test you submit does not include a writing sample, we also require you to share a graded writing assignment from the current school year.

• Westtown School is one of the test locations for the SSAT for the general public. Testing dates for all locations and registration can be found on the SSAT website.
• If taking the SSAT test , the code for Westtown School is 8164. The Westtown School code for the ISEE test is 395230.

TOEFL or Duolingo is required for all students for whom English is not the native language. Students entering Westtown typically have a TOEFL score of 100 or higher. Exception: English proficiency testing can be waived only if a student has attended an institution where English is the primary language of instruction for three or more years.

Submit TOEFL scores to Westtown using code 1400.

FOR APPLICANTS FROM CHINA:

• The TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition or the TOEFL ITP Plus for China will be accepted in lieu of center-based testing.