Standard Application Online (SAO) Gateway to Prep
US VISAS | CANADIAN VISAS | OTHER VISAS
Summer programs, generally taken one or two summers prior to enrollment, enable parents and students to get a taste of the boarding school experience.
See all Summer Programs
Skip to Section Subnavigation Skip to Page Content
Our Friends in Boarding program is designed for those individuals and organizations - not eligible for traditional membership - which serve, study, or otherwise are deeply involved in the TABS community of schools.
TABS sponsorships come in all shapes and sizes to better serve you, our sponsors, regardless of your target market or budget.
Search All Jobs
Work for a TABS Member School or Associate Member!
Once you’ve narrowed your school choices to a handful of options, it’s time to begin the application process. Some families prefer to visit a number of schools before applying while others apply first and then schedule visits. It’s entirely up to your family but visiting a number of schools is the best way to learn the feel of each campus and realize which school is the best fit for you. Learn more about the importance of Campus Visits!
The Application process typically has 3 steps:
1) Complete Applications and send to your desired schools2) Take the required Entrance Exams3) Complete Financial Aid or Scholarship Applications
The first step is contacting a school’s Admissions Office directly and asking them for their application requirements and deadlines. Some schools have their own application to complete in addition to one of the Applications mentioned below - SAO or Gateway To Prep. As for deadlines, many schools have a fixed admission calendar with set dates for applying and admission notification while other schools offer rolling admission (which means they will accept applications on a space available basis throughout the year or after published application deadlines).
Boarding Schools Usually Accept One or More of the Following Applications:
The Standard Application Online (SAO)Gateway To Prep
Visit their online school profile or call the school to determine which they use. You can also view a list of all TABS member schools with notations by school names indicating applications used.
Ask each school about the required tests for student applications. Arrange to take the requiredtests, which generally include one or more of the following:
SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test) - call (609) 683-4440ISEE (Independent School Entrance Examination) - call (800) 989-3721For International Students:
English language requirements will vary by school. Please visit each schools website for the most update information. Possible English Language proficency exams may include:
TOEFL Junior (Test of English as a Foreign Language) - call (609) 951-1100
Duolingo English Test
iTEP SLATE (Secondary Leveal Assessment Test of English)
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Complete any aid or scholarship applications you want to submit. See our financial aid sectionfor more information.
Helpful Tips:
• Has your preferred school’s admission deadline passed? Check out AdmissionQuest’s free eBook: Applying to Private Schools After the Deadline.• Make photocopies of all the completed forms for your files.• Provide your teachers with the Recommendation Forms with addressed and stampedenvelopes for each school to which you are applying. Let teachers know the dates by whichthese forms are due in the admission offices. (It's a nice gesture to send your teachers athank-you note for doing this).
Use our handy checklist to stay on track!
The Association of Boarding Schools welcomes four new members to its Board of Trustees. Laura Danforth, Head... Share
Started at the higher education level in November 2016, in response to “expressions of apprehension” about s... Share
“My eldest child is in the eighth grade. I think I will send him abroad when he enters the 10th grade,” said V... Share
By Trish Fogarty Editor’s Note: Trish Fogarty posted this story to her Facebook page the night before her daug... Share
Editor's Note: This blog was originally posted in April 2015. We’re often asked why TABS doesn’t rank schools... Share
Helen H. Waldron, M.Ed., an academic tutor at Noodle Pros recently published an article, "Why Your Child Shoul... Share
It's more than an education; it's an experience. Are you ready for more? https://t.co/LV09tXnKmV Retweet
"Boarding school students succeed at significantly higher rates than private day & public school students.... Retweet
Share