Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What qualities make a student a good candidate for University Prep?
A. When considering applicants, our admission teams look for a variety of personal qualities. We pay particular attention to students who show potential for academic success in our college preparatory program, manifest a commitment to learning, will assume personal responsibility for making a positive contribution to the school community, and will respect the dignity of others and their surroundings. Success at University Prep typically comes to college-bound students who can profit from a school that offers small classes and close working relationships between students and teachers.
Q. What is the admission process?
A. The application season runs from September 2009 through Thursday, January 14, 2010. During this time, candidates should complete the Preliminary Application form and return it with the required application fee no later than Thursday, December 10, 2009. Applying online allows you secure access to check the status of the application throughout the admission process via the universityprep.org Web site, including online access to your child's admission decision on March 19, 2010. The Parent Statement and Student Essays should be completed as soon as possible and e-mailed to admissionoffice@universityprep.org. Applicants are invited to visit the school. During the visit, applicants observe classes, meet teachers and current students, and get an overall sense of the school. Parents/guardians are also invited to tour the school on the morning of their child's visit day. The ISEE test, two teacher evaluations (one from a current English teacher and one from a current mathematics teacher), and an interview with the applicant are required to complete the process. Admission decision letters will be mailed on Thursday, March 18, 2010. Applicants have until March 29, 2010 to make a decision regarding enrollment.
Q. Are parents able to visit the school?
A. Yes. The best time for families to visit is during our evening Open Houses, held October 8 and November 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This gives prospective parents and students an opportunity to tour the campus and talk with students, faculty, administration, and current parents. Also, parents/guardians are invited to tour on the morning of their child's school visit.
Q. Which admission test is administered, and what information does it provide?
A. The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is administered for admission purposes. It provides a baseline for all who apply because it is the only common piece of information we have for all applicants. The test is also useful in placing students in classes. Test registration materials are available from the Admission Office or can be obtained online at www.iseetest.org. For information or questions regarding the ISEE test, please call the ISEE operations office directly at 1.800.989.3721.
Q. Does the school accept students with learning disabilities?
A. University Prep considers applications from students with special needs and/or disabilities. Please include in the Parent Statement any information about special needs or disabilities, private test results, or psychological or educational assessments. If you do not wish to submit such information, please understand that your application will be considered without regard to any special needs the student may have.
We offer an Orton-Gillingham Language Training Program for students with language disabilities. Typically, students meet with language training teachers five periods per week. The program is limited in the number of students it can serve, and has an additional cost of $8,424 for 2009-2010.
Q. How does the school make admission decisions?
A. The admission teams, consisting of faculty and administrators, read applicants' folders and evaluate candidates in light of all information collected. The final admission decision is based on the candidate's potential for academic excellence, commitment to learning, respect for others, and willingness to make a positive contribution to the school community. We strive to ensure that each student has the greatest chance for success in our program, asking whether University Prep is the best match for each candidate's needs. Financial aid allocations are made by a separate committee. Admission decision letters will be mailed Thursday, March 18, 2010.
Q. Are siblings automatically accepted to University Prep?
A. No. In addition to the qualities listed above, the admission teams consider a variety of factors, including gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and sibling status when making decisions. Because the teams seek to balance each class, we are unable to accept all siblings. However, we offer an early admission process to sibling applicants whereby they receive their admission decisions in mid-December.
Q. Does University Prep accept international students?
A. We accept international students for a semester or an academic year, and we can accommodate up to two students per semester. International students should submit an application following the same deadlines as local students. We are not able to provide English as a Second Language services for foreign nationals. Therefore, English proficiency is considered in our acceptance of international students. Limited financial assistance is available, and we do not offer boarding. We require that international students live in the Seattle area with a host family. The Associate Director of Global Education coordinates host families and acts as the liaison for international students. The Admission Office manages I-20 visas.
Q. What does it mean to be placed in the wait pool?
A. Students who are placed in our wait pool are qualified alternates but have not been accepted because of limited space. Should a vacancy occur, the team will look at all alternate candidates and select a member from the group to fill the space.
Q. If you do not accept my child, will I be told why?
A. No. We are unable to share the specific reasons that lead us to make admission decisions. Because many candidates are qualified for our program, decisions are often difficult to make. Those accepted are simply slightly better matched for our program. Furthermore, applicants' folders contain confidential information that may not be disclosed.
Q. How long is the school day?
A. School hours are 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m., after which athletics and other after-school activities begin. Middle School students may access a supervised quiet study from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. daily at no additional cost. Office hours during the school year are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Q. What is the size of the school? How large are classes?
A. Enrollment is approximately 485 students in grades six through twelve. Academic courses number up to 16 students per class. The student-teacher ratio is 9 to 1.
Q. What is the profile of the faculty at University Prep?
A. The majority of our teachers hold advanced degrees and are involved in continuing education. Our accomplished faculty have rich backgrounds in their respective fields and manifest genuine interest in their students. Faculty also spend a great deal of time with students in cocurricular activities.
Q. How are students assessed?
A. Students are assessed using multiple strategies, including but not limited to homework, projects, participation in class discussions, papers, tests and quizzes. For the graduating classes of 2009-2014, students will receive letter grades (A-E) at the end of each quarter and at the end of each semester. In addition, they will receive written comments from their teachers at the end of first and third quarters.
Beginning with the class of 2015, we will hold parent-teacher-student conferences for Middle School students during first and third quarters, and students will receive written comments at the end of second and fourth quarters. Students will begin receiving letter grades (A-E) the second semester of their eighth grade year.
Q. How does the school respond to the needs of individual students?
A. In addition to enjoying small classes and close working relationships with teachers, students excel in a warm, caring atmosphere that allows for individualized attention. At the beginning of each school year, we assign to each student a personal advisor from among the faculty and staff. Advisors meet with students regularly and follow their progress. When necessary, advisors confer with students, teachers, and parents. Parents are encouraged to contact their child's advisor whenever they have concerns.
Q. What activities are offered?
A. Last year, activities included Student Government, National Honor Society, Mock Trial, Math Team, Key Club, Opera Club, Philosophy Club, Projectile Club, Women in Science Club, Language Honor Societies, Literary Magazine, Multicultural Student Alliance, Gay/Straight Student Alliance, Creative Arts Society, Tailgate Club, Random Acts of Kindness Club, Outdoors Club, Chess Team, Anime Club, Magic Club, Arts for a Cause Club, English Honor Society, Dungeons and Dragons Club, and Global Awareness Group.
Q. What athletic teams does University Prep have?
Fall
Cross Country Middle and Upper chool
Girls Volleyball Middle and
Soccer Middle and
Winter
Basketball Middle and
Spring
Tennis
Track and Field Middle and
Ultimate Frisbee Middle and
Girls Softball Middle and
Boys Baseball Middle and
In addition to our interscholastic athletics, we offer a Friday Night Ski Program. These programs provide each student the opportunity to participate in sports throughout the year.
Q. Do you have a college counseling program?
A. Yes. University Prep's college counseling program begins in the junior year. Juniors and seniors participate in individualized conferences with the college counselors. Throughout the school year, college representatives visit campus and talk with interested students.
Q. How do students commute to school?
A. Our students come from all over the greater Seattle area and they choose a variety of ways to travel to and from school. Walking, riding bicycles, carpooling, and Metro custom bus routes servicing specific neighborhoods are popular methods of transportation. We also publish a zip code directory in August, which assists with carpooling.
Q. How is University Prep accredited?
A. University Prep is accredited by the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS). The association accredits independent elementary and secondary schools in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Accreditation of an institution by PNAIS indicates that it meets or exceeds the association's criteria for the assessment of institutional quality periodically. An accredited school is one which has the necessary resources to achieve its stated mission through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. The PNAIS accreditation program has been awarded national recognition by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
Q. What opportunities are there for parents to participate in the life of the school?
Parents may participate in field trips and other class activities, act as guest speakers in the classrooms, or assist with on-campus events such as Founders Day, Grandparents Day, and Admission tours. In addition, some parents may be invited to join the Board of Trustees, which is responsible for the governance of the school. In the 2009-2010 school year, we have invited volunteers to become ambassadors for the Annual Fund. Ambassador responsibilities will involve communicating the merits and benefits of participating in the Annual Fund to fellow parents.
Q. What about fundraising at University Prep? We are also conducting The Campaign for Endowment, a multi-year, strategic effort designed to substantially increase the school’s endowment. By building our endowment we will be able to react to change, have the financial strength to seize opportunities, and have vital cash reserves necessary to effectively manage the unanticipated challenges that will inevitably occur over time. With regards to our programs, an effective endowment will allow us to achieve more than would ever be possible with tuition and the Annual Fund alone. The Parent Council is responsible for the final fundraising component at U Prep -- the annual Auction. Each year net proceeds from this celebratory evening fund special projects and programs that provide faculty support and enhance student life both in and out of the classroom. Q. What is the student incidental fee? Q. Is financial aid available?
A. There are many opportunities for parents and guardians to become actively involved at University Prep. Each spring the Parent Council actively solicits parents to volunteer for school’s many committees, including the annual Auction Committee. The beginning of the school year is also a busy time for matching parent interests and talents with volunteer opportunities. Parents are encouraged to either contact their Parent Council class representatives or to directly contact the school to indicate their areas of interest. All U Prep parents are automatically considered members of the Parent Council.
A. University Prep conducts fundraising activities to ensure that we maintain the margin of excellence in our programs. In recent years the Annual Fund has contributed over $500,000 annually to the operating budget. U Prep actively seeks and receives generous participation from current families, as well as board members, alumni and alumni parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and friends of the school. Full community support makes it possible for the Annual Fund to offer such things as: an enriched Fine Arts program; technology upgrades providing critical tools for students and teachers in the 21st century; opportunities for faculty professional development; additional resources for the library; and better support for PE and sports teams, particularly the JV sports program.
A. The fee covers special trips, theater tickets, accident insurance, laboratory fees, technology fees, art fees, student publication fees, etc. This annual fee is not used for textbooks, which cost extra. A limited number of used textbooks are available.
Yes. University Prep is committed to an economically diverse student body. Therefore, we provide financial aid to families on the basis of need. Need is determined by a process designed by School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS) and our own Financial Aid Committee. Approximately 20 percent of our student body receives aid. Applications for financial aid may be obtained from the Admission Office and must be submitted to SSS by Thursday, February 4. In addition, a copy of your complete 2009 tax returns and W-2s need to be received by University Prep by Thursday, February 5. Families who fail to submit their application by Thursday, February 4 might not be considered for aid. Admission decisions and financial aid awards are made independently. Direct your questions to the Associate Director of Admission and Financial Aid at financialaid@universityprep.org.