A Focus On Collaboration In Admission

By Jenna Rogers King
Director of Admission and Enrollment

The admission season is upon us, which means that our campuses are teeming with visitors who are eager to learn more about Riverdale and its people, programs, and philosophy. The admission team is often asked what we value in applicants and their families. We explain that what we value aligns very closely with what the school values: Mind, Character, and Community. We aim to enroll students who will take advantage of the Riverdale experience and the opportunity to develop their cognitive abilities and their character while making positive contributions to our diverse and inclusive community.

In our admission process, we ask for many standard application items, such as essays, report cards, test scores, and teacher recommendations. However, we also use the process to give prospective families a better sense of who we are as a school. Last year, we changed the Upper School admission process to better reflect our pedagogical approach and our priorities. In addition to engaging in a one-on-one interview with an admission team member, all Upper School applicants participate in a group design challenge, which allows us to observe applicants in a more authentic learning setting while helping them understand Riverdale's focus on collaboration.

The admission process also requires Upper School applicants to take the Character Skills Snapshot, an online assessment tool that provides information about students' character strengths, which complements the other application materials we receive.

We believe that there is not one typical Riverdale student, and our process is designed to help us better understand what each applicant will bring to the school community. For more information about our admission and financial aid application processes, please visit: https://www.riverdale.edu/admission/.