The Bryn Mawr School

Click the tabs below to view the application steps for your child's entering grade.

Pre-Kindergarten

Applicants for 2021-22 entry must be three years old by September 1, 2020, to begin the Lower School admissions and assessment process for Pre-Kindergarten. For more information about the Lower School Pre-K program as well as our Little School option, please click here.

Step 1

Action: Attend a virtual or in-person visit experience
Due Date: Register online or call 410-323-8800; can be completed prior to application

Step 2

Action: Complete application and pay $60 fee. Application fee waivers are available for siblings of currently enrolled students and daughters of alumnae. Please contact us to obtain your code.
Due Date: December 15, 2020; Rolling after Dec. 15 (on a space available basis)
Form: Application

Step 4

Action: Attend individual Parent Information Session (virtual or in-person)
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application

Step 5

Action: Attend Applicant Observation Session
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application
Forms: See testing requirements below

Step 6

Action: Submit Common Referral Form
Due Date: Jan. 15, 2021 (sent directly from current pre-school)
Forms: Common Referral Form - PDF (150K)

*If your daughter's school is currently operating in an online environment and you would prefer to have her teacher from the 2019-20 school year submit a recommendation in addition to or in lieu of this year's instructor, that is acceptable.

K&1

Applicants must be four years old by September 1, 2020, to begin the Lower School admissions and assessment process for Kindergarten entry 2021-22.

Step 1

Action: Attend a virtual or in-person visit experience
Due Date: Register online or call 410-323-1310; can be completed prior to application

Step 2

Step 3

Action: Attend Individual student assessment
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application
Forms: See testing requirements below

Step 4

Action: Attend individual Parent Information Session
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application, often during student's testing

Step 5

Action: Submit School transcripts (First grade applicants only)
Due Date: Jan. 4, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Form: Transcript Release Form - PDF (150K)

Step 6

Action: Submit Common Referral Form
Due Date: Jan. 15, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Forms: Common Referral Form - PDF (150K)

*If your daughter's school is currently operating in an online environment and you would prefer to have her teacher from the 2019-20 school year submit a recommendation in addition to or in lieu of this year's instructor, that is acceptable.

2-4

Step 1

Action: Attend a virtual or in-person visit experience
Due Date: Register online or call 410-323-8800; can be completed prior to application

Step 2

Action: Complete application and pay $60 fee. Application fee waivers are available for siblings of currently enrolled students and daughters of alumnae. Please contact us to obtain your code.
Due Date: December 15, 2020; Rolling after Dec. 15 (on a space available basis)
Form: Application

Step 3

Action: Attend Parent Information Session (in-person or virtual)
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application

Step 4

Action: Attend Student Assessment
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application
Form: See testing requirements below

Step 5

Action: Submit School transcripts
Due Date: Jan. 4, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Form: Transcript Release Form - PDF (150K)

Step 6

Action: Submit Common Referral Form
Due Date: Jan. 15, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Form: Common Referral Form - PDF (150K)

*If your daughter's school is currently operating in an online environment and you would prefer to have her teacher from the 2019-20 school year submit a recommendation in addition to or in lieu of this year's instructor, that is acceptable.

5

Step 1

Action: Attend a virtual or in-person visit experience
Due Date: Register online or call 410-323-8800; can be completed prior to application

Step 2

Step 3

Action: Attend Parent Information Session (in-person or virtual)
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application

Step 4

Action: Student testing (ISEE - Independent School Entrance Exam)
Due Date: Jan. 22, 2021 (testing available at Bryn Mawr on Nov. 7, 2020 or Dec. 5, 2020)
Form: See testing requirements below

Step 5

Action: Submit School transcripts
Due Date: Jan. 4, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Form: Transcript Release Form - PDF (150K)

Step 6

Action: Common Referral Form
Due Date: Jan. 15, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Form: Common Referral Form - PDF (150K)

*If your daughter's school is currently operating in an online environment and you would prefer to have her teacher from the 2019-20 school year submit a recommendation in addition to or in lieu of this year's instructor, that is acceptable.

6-12

Step 1

Action: Attend a virtual or in-person visit experience
Due Date: Register online or call 410-323-8800; can be completed prior to application

Step 2

Step 3

Action: Attend Student Interview
Due Date: Scheduled upon receipt of application

Step 4

Action: Submit Student Questionnaire (in Parent Portal) and Essay
Due Date: Dec. 15, 2020
Form: Student Essay

Step 5

Action: Student testing (ISEE - Independent School Entrance Exam ) or SSAT
Due Date: Jan. 22, 2021 (testing available at Bryn Mawr on Nov. 7, 2020 or Dec. 5, 2020)
Form: See testing dates and requirements below

Step 6

Action: Submit School transcripts
Due Date: Jan. 4, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Form: Transcript Release Form - PDF (150K)

Step 7

Action: Submit Common Referral Forms (1 Math teacher, 1 English teacher)
Due Date: Jan. 15, 2021 (sent directly from current school)
Form: Common Referral Form - PDF (150K)

*If your daughter's school is currently operating in an online environment and you would prefer to have her teacher from the 2019-20 school year submit a recommendation in addition to or in lieu of this year's instructor, that is acceptable.

International Students

We are eager to learn more about interested families and their ambitions for an American education for their daughters. To apply to Bryn Mawr, please complete the steps below. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Step 1

Complete application and forms:

Student Essay/Questionnaire
Parent Statement (optional)

Step 2

Pay application fee of $125 USD.

Step 3

Provide school transcripts OR report cards for current year plus previous two years.

Step 4

Complete admission testing (ISEE, SSAT, or SAT) and provide TOEFL results.

Step 5

Submit Common Referral Forms from both the math teacher and English teacher, OR a letter of recommendation from the school principal.

A math recommendation should include a brief outline of topics covered this year. The English recommendation should include a synopsis of the novels read in class and the student's ability to write a sustained essay on a work of literature, due to the fact that Bryn Mawr English classes are focused on reading literature and writing analytically, not grammar.

Step 6

Complete a Skype interview or campus visit.

The application, processing fee and all of the supporting documents should be submitted as soon as possible. A Skype Interview will be scheduled after receipt of all materials. If the student is accepted, her family will be sent a contract to sign and return with the designated deposit. When the contract and deposit are returned to the School, the student will be officially enrolled, and the I-20 form will be issued from Sevis.

*International students who will not be living with a natural parent and are seeking a host family are required to be represented by one of our partner agencies, Ivy International Group, Apex International Education Partners (AIEP), or New Oasis International Education for the duration of their time at Bryn Mawr.

*If your daughter's school is currently operating in an online environment and you would prefer to have her teacher from the 2019-20 school year submit a recommendation in addition to or in lieu of this year's instructor, that is acceptable.

Testing Requirements

List of 4 items.

Pre-Kindergarten

Bryn Mawr uses a combination of developmentally appropriate testing and observation to measure social-emotional and academic readiness for Pre-Kindergarten. More information about this year’s assessment logistics procedures will be available soon.

Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Tests: Pre-K Testing
Location: The Bryn Mawr School - Get Directions
Grades K&1

Bryn Mawr uses a combination of testing instruments that helps the Admission Committee measure developmental and academic readiness. Students are tested individually in the mornings during the months of October, November, December and January.

Date: October- January
Time: Mornings - time scheduled upon receipt of application
Tests: Grades K&1 Testing
Location: The Bryn Mawr School - Get Directions
Grades 2-4
Bryn Mawr offers group testing for students applying for grades 2 - 4. More information about this year’s assessment logistics procedures will be available soon.

Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Tests: Otis-Lennon School Ability Test - Stanford Achievement Test
Location: Admission Cottage Get Directions
- We will be happy to share the results of this testing with other schools.
- If the Bryn Mawr date is inconvenient for you, you may sign up for testing at another school. Please ask them to send your daughter's testing results to the Bryn Mawr Admission Office.
- If your daughter does plan to test at Bryn Mawr, please make sure to register in your Parent Portal.
Grades 5-12
The ISEE exam is required for applicants to grades 5-12. Bryn Mawr offers two dates for ISEE testing. Alternatively, applicants to grades 9-12 may also take the SSAT.

Date: Nov. 7, 2020
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tests: Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) Register Now
Location: Centennial Hall - Get Directions

Date: Dec. 5, 2020
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tests: Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) Register Now
Location: Centennial Hall - Get Directions
- If the Bryn Mawr dates are inconvenient for you, you may sign up for testing at another school, a Prometric center, or ISEE at Home. Please be sure to add Bryn Mawr's ISEE school code 210050 for us to receive the scores.
- Please indicate on the ISEE or SSAT registration that they should send your daughter's testing results to the Bryn Mawr Admission Office. Results must be received by Jan. 22, 2021.