FAQs

Admission
Financial Aid
About the School
School Rules
Academics
Campus Life
Day Students
Boarding Students
International Students
Visits/Keeping in Touch

Admission
How early can I apply to Mercersburg?
If you plan to enter in September 2008, the earliest you can apply is August 1, 2007.
The deadline for applications is January 15, 2008.

Are "yes" and "no" the only decisions that you might make on my child's application?
No. We often receive more applicants than we have space available, which means some applicants may be placed in a wait pool. If the opportunity to use our wait pool arises, the admissions committee will choose the student who best fits the available opening.

What does Mercersburg look for in applicants?
Mercersburg looks for academic achievement and promise, as shown by a student’s transcripts, test scores, and teacher recommendations. We also pay close attention to personal qualities, which we measure through motivation, character, extracurricular interests, and the ability to adapt to the Mercersburg community.

Is there a "preferred applicant" group?
Mercersburg strives to maintain a diverse campus that includes students from across the United States and around the world. We seek talented students from every walk of life.

I live a long way from Mercersburg. How can I meet with someone from the admission team?
Please contact the admission office at 717-328-6173. We will be happy to set up an appointment with you on campus or in your hometown, if one of our admission officers is traveling to your area.

How competitive is the applicant pool?
Each year, our admission office receives at least 800 applications for approximately 150 places. Those applicants seeking financial aid should submit their applications on time for full consideration.

What will my interview be like?
An admission officer will meet separately with you and your parent(s) or guardian(s). The interview is an evaluative session in which you can ask questions about Mercersburg while the admission officer gets a better sense of your academic, athletic, and artistic goals. Each interview lasts about 30 to 45 minutes.

What is the most important part of my application?
While strong scholastic achievement (as shown by a student’s academic record, standardized test scores, and teacher recommendations) is important, it does not guarantee admission. Other important factors include the applicant’s character, personality, motivation, extracurricular interests, and ability to live compatibly with others.

Is there an entrance exam?
We do not have a separate entrance exam. Depending on what grade the student is entering, we do require SSAT, ISEE, SAT or PSAT scores. Students whose primary language is not English must demonstrate fluency by taking the TOEFL.

What are the SSAT, ISEE, PSAT and TOEFL?
The SSAT, or Secondary School Admission Test, is a standardized test required for students entering as juniors (grade 9) or lower-middlers (grade 10).

The ISEE is the Independent School Entrance Exam. We will accept scores from this standardized test in addition to SSAT scores, though they do not replace SSAT scores.

The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) or SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores are required for students seeking admission at upper-middler (grade 11) or senior (grade 12) levels.

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is a standardized test for students whose first language is not English. This test makes sure potential students are proficient in English writing and comprehension.

What is the role of the parent or guardian in the interview?
The interview process is an open forum with students, parents or guardians, and the admission officer. During this process, parents or guardians have a chance to ask questions about the school, the application process, and financial aid. However, no specific questions are directed toward the parents or guardians.

Financial Aid
How much financial aid can I expect to receive?
The amount of financial aid you receive depends on your personal situation. More than 40 percent of Mercersburg students receive some kind of financial aid.

What is "demonstrated need"?
The financial aid committee determines your "demonstrated need" by reviewing the PFS and supporting documentation.

Will allowances be made based on the fact that we have just started a new business (or returned to college/graduate school)?
While significant changes in a family’s financial circumstance can impact the Report of Family Contribution (RFC), the financial aid committee’s goal is to maintain funding at proportionate levels over a student’s years of enrollment.

If a family’s circumstances change dramatically after enrollment contracts are submitted, they should contact Assistant Head of School for Enrollment-Christopher Tompkins, at 717-328-6173 or christopher_tompkins@mercersburg.edu to discuss the situation.

What consideration is given to other children in elementary, secondary, or postsecondary school?
The financial aid process considers all tuition expenses that a family has, including the student(s) applying for financial aid at Mercersburg.

How are a student’s assets used in calculating awards?
When considering available resources that can be used to fund a student’s education, we can take into consideration any of the following: a student’s savings; investments; trust funds; 529 funds; or any other assets in the student’s name, held for a student for any reason, or restricted in any way. The general rule is that a student’s assets are equally distributed over his or her time at Mercersburg, plus four years of college/university. Mercersburg does not consider tuition beyond the undergraduate level when determining eligibility for aid.

Only one of us works; how does that impact the calculations?
The financial aid committee assesses each family’s financial situation individually based on circumstances, family size, parents’ ages, extraordinary expenses, retirement provisions, and so forth.

Because situations vary, an objective analysis system computes a recommendation based on information the family provides to the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS).

Are students who receive financial aid required to work on campus or expected to maintain certain performance standards?
Recipients of merit-based awards are required to maintain commended scholar status to renew their awards each year. The school does not require students to work on campus.

Will a request for financial aid affect my child's chances for admission?
While our financial aid program is generous, the budget it limited and we receive far more requests for financial aid than we can meet. By applying for financial aid, a prospective student is entering a slightly more competitive segment of the applicant pool.

If we receive financial aid this year, can we count on receiving it each subsequent year?
Mercersburg is committed to funding students for the duration of their enrollment, but families must reapply for financial aid for each school year. However, families can ensure priority review by completing financial aid applications by the deadline each year.

How does divorce or separation affect the financial aid application process?
For parents who are divorced, separated, or have never been married, we require each parent or family member to complete a separate application. Mercersburg expects all parents, guardians, domestic partners, and/or stepparents to play an appropriate role in financing and supporting their student’s education.

Why should I make a gift to the Annual Fund if my child is receiving financial aid from Mercersburg?
Tuition constitutes only about 50 percent of the cost of a Mercersburg education, and many families require assistance to cover the rest of the costs. Even families that are considered ineligible for financial assistance receive benefits from the endowment fund and/or the generous annual gifts from alumni, families, and friends of the school. Considering the importance of these gifts for so many students, the financial aid committee urges every family, including those receiving aid, to participate in the Annual Fund. This helps ensure future qualified students are able to cover the cost of their education.

About the School
Does the school have a religious affiliation?
While Mercersburg has its spiritual roots in the Reformed or United Church of Christ tradition, the Academy has no formal relationship with any faith. We hold voluntary interfaith chapel services every Sunday morning. All students are welcome, though attendance is not mandatory.

Do faculty members live on campus?
Yes, the vast majority faculty members live in campus housing, while the rest of the faculty live nearby. All faculty members have dorm duties in some capacity.

Is the school closed for holidays and breaks?
The school is closed during major school breaks, such as Thanksgiving, winter break, and spring break. However, during other breaks, such as long weekends, the school remains open.

Why are the endowment and the Annual Fund important?
The endowment and Annual Fund together make it possible to continue offering the highest quality education for our students. These funds allow Mercersburg to build and maintain modern facilities, retain excellent teachers, and help qualified students afford the cost of a great education. Keeping the endowment and Annual Fund strong ensures our continued strength in faculty and facilities, as well as ensuring a place for worthy students in our community.

How is Mercersburg accredited?
Mercersburg is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

In addition, the Academy is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools, the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington, the Council for Spiritual and Ethical Education, the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, and the Secondary School Admission Test Board.

Do you have the resources to accommodate students with special needs?
Mercersburg accommodates students who are physically challenged according to federal guidelines.

What grades are available at Mercersburg?
We offer education for grades 9 through 12, as well as a postgraduate year.

At what grade do most students enter the school?
Each year students apply at all grade levels. However, the primary entry point is ninth grade.

School Rules
Do students at Mercersburg wear a uniform?
No, but there is a dress code.

What if I need to take my child out of school for a day for personal reasons?
Please contact Tom Rahauser, dean of students, at 717-328-6118 or tom_rahauser@mercersburg.edu to make arrangements as soon as possible. Students are responsible for making up missed work or other obligations.

How do you handle discipline?
As a highly selective academic institution, Mercersburg attracts students who are choosing to enter a college preparatory boarding school. When students enroll, they and their parents agree to the codes of conduct outlined in the Blue Book (our community handbook) or articulated by the Academy.

Disciplinary matters serious enough to warrant a student’s dismissal are referred to the student-faculty Conduct Review Committee by the dean of students. The committee recommends a response to the head of school.

How much access do students have to phones and the Internet?
All students, including day students, have personal voicemail and email accounts, and a personal campus phone number. Cell phones may only be used in dormitories or while off campus. Internet connections are available in our three computer labs and through the computers in each dormitory's common room, as well as through Ethernet data ports in each dorm room.

What happens if my child misses a class?
Students are required to attend all classes. Any student who misses a class but is not excused by illness is required to attend afternoon study hall.

Academics
How many Mercersburg graduates go on to postsecondary education?
Virtually all of Mercersburg students go to college immediately after graduating from Mercersburg. Each year a few students choose to take a "gap year" as part of the English Speaking Union; some return to their home countries for obligatory service. From 80 to 90 percent are accepted at Barron’s list of “very, highly, and most selective” colleges and universities across the United States.

Does Mercersburg have Saturday classes?
No. We hold classes Monday through Friday, from 8 am until 3:40 pm, except on Wednesday when classes end at 12:50 pm.

Are students required to purchase laptops?
No. All students have access to three campus computer labs during the day and evening, as well as computers and printers in each dormitory common room. Students may bring a personal laptop or desktop computer if they prefer.

About how many hours of homework will my child have each week?
We have a required two-hour study hall each evening, but, depending on the student’s schedule, he or she will require additional time for studying.

What is the advising system like at Mercersburg?
All students have an adviser who helps them choose courses and extracurricular activities, as well as discuss any academic or personal issues.

Mercersburg advisers communicate with students and other faculty throughout the year to help prevent problems or quickly resolve problems as they arise.

What if my child is having academic difficulty?
The learning services program helps students develop study skills and learning efficiency, and counsels students who are struggling academicly. Close relationships among students, teachers, and advisers help us quickly recognize challenges and address them early.

Does Mercersburg have different academic tracks?
Mercersburg offers college preparatory, honors and AP courses. We also provide independent and directed study for students who wish to take classes beyond the existing curriculum.

Campus Life
How is the food at the dining hall?
Students regularly rate the food in the dining hall as good to excellent and enjoy the variety. Breakfast and some dinners are served buffet style. Lunch and some dinners are served family style.

Are sports mandatory?
No. But 70 percent of students choose to compete in interscholastic sports.

What are weekends like at Mercersburg?
Students may be involved with meetings or activities associated with one of more than 20 clubs and organizations. They may be competing on one of our 29 interscholastic athletic teams. On-campus events include movies; dances; athletic events; student performances in dance, theatre and music; and much more. Off-campus events include concerts; theatre performances; museum exhibitions; athletic events; and shopping in nearby Washington, D. C., and Baltimore; as well as outdoor events, such as skiing, biking, hiking, and kayaking trips, coordinated by our director of outdoor education.

With written permission, students may spend 10 weekends off campus, including a long weekend each term. Please see our activities calendar for a complete list of weekend opportunities.

What is security like at Mercersburg?
Maintaining high standards of safety is a priority at Mercersburg. Our security department has five officers for 24-hour patrol.

Is transportation provided for students?
Yes. Mercersburg will help arrange transportation to and from airports as well as Amtrak stations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; and Martinsburg, West Virginia. When available, school drivers may provide necessary transportation, and we also arrange transportation with local car services.

Students are responsible for the cost of transportation, which is billed to their student account. However, students should be prepared with extra funds should travel delays or cancellations occur. To help cut transportations costs, students might consider traveling in groups to and from airports or stations.

Mercersburg also provides transportation for day or weekend excursions. Email Karen Hunka about arrangements.

What is the weekday evening schedule like for boarders?
Students come together every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evening for family-style dinners. In addition, students have study hours in the dorms from 8 to 10 pm, Sunday through Thursday. Depending on their extracurricular activities, students may have practice, meetings, or group activities.

Day Students

Can anyone be a day student?
No. Students living within 25 miles are day students; all others are boarding students. All students must board on campus during their senior year.

What time do the students need to arrive at school, and when are they released from school everyday?
Classes begin at 8 am and end at 3:40 pm, except on Wednesdays when classes end at 12:50 pm. Other committments may necessitate a longer day.

Do you have any type of program that will allow my child to stay at the school until I can pick him or her up at 5 p.m. when I get off work?
Students can take part in extracurricular activities that will keep them busy with meetings or practice, depending on the group or team schedule. If a day student is on campus during the dinner hour, they are required to attend. All day students must depart campus by 8 p.m.

Do you provide bus transportation for day students?
We provide parking for students who drive to and from campus. Pennsylvania law allows public school transportation; contact your local school district for information.

My child is involved in a commitment outside of school (e.g., gymnastics, piano). Will he or she have to give it up?
Outside commitments can become difficult for day students. Please discuss the situation with an admission officer.

Boarding Students
If my child enrolls as a day student, can he or she switch to become a boarding student?
As a general rule, no. You may submit a request through the offices of the associate head of school or the assistant head of school for enrollment. Please note that Mercersburg can not offer additional financial aid for a change of status prior to the senior year.

Do you provide an orientation for new boarding students?
Yes, students will attend Inbound, a program that acclimates them to the campus and allows them to meet their fellow students and explore the surrounding community.

Where do boarding students live at Mercersburg?
Mercersburg has seven dormitories for our students. Boys are housed Main Hall, Keil Hall, or Fowle Hall. Girls reside in South Cottage, Tippetts Hall, Swank Hall, or Culbertson House. All rooms are air conditioned and furnished with voice and data outlets as well as beds, dressers, and desks.

How are roommates assigned?
New students are assigned to rooms and roommates, though requests made on individual rooming questionnaires are considered. Returning students can pick their roommates, and their housing assignment is decided by lottery.

What are the student rooms like?
Most students live with a roommate in one of our seven modern dormitories. All dorm rooms are air conditioned and furnished with beds, dressers, and desks, as well as voice and data outlets. Up to 17 faculty members are involved with each dorm, either as a resident, as an adviser, or iby doing weekly duty. Most common rooms are equipped with kitchenettes and televisions.

Can my child bring a computer?
Yes, laptops and desktops are allowed. Both Windows and Mac operating systems are supported on the campus network and are used in academic departments.

How often can a boarding student go home?
In addition to scheduled vacations—Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break—students may stay off campus for 10 regular weekends during the year.

Seniors may be off-campus for 12 weekends each year.

Students must fill out a weekend form and submit it to the dean’s office prior to leaving.

International Students
How many students from my country are at Mercersburg?
In the 2006–2007 school year, international students came from 26 countries including Bermuda, Canada, Ecuador , Germany, Jamaica, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Panama, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa; Hong Kong, PRC; Latvia; El Salvador; Poland; Slovakia.

I do not speak English very well. Will I be able to succeed at Mercersburg?
In addition to the required TOEFL exam, we also offer an intensive ESL+ program in the summer. This program helps improve English conversation and writing comprehension while acclimating students to the Mercersburg community before the school year starts. We often require international students to enroll in the program before coming to Mercersburg.

Mercersburg does not offer ESL within the academic program. Students whose primary language is not English must arrive fully prepared for the demanding nature of the academic program.

Do I need a special visa to study at Mercersburg?
We welcome any and all students who hold the appropriate documentation to study in the United States. Mercersburg can provide assistance to receive the F-1 student visa.

What international airport is closest to Mercersburg?
There are two airports about 90 minutes away from Mercersburg: Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Most students find Dulles to be more convenient.

Is financial aid available to international students?
International families may complete the financial aid process in addition to their applications for enrollment. Aid for international students is very limited.

Visits/Keeping in Touch
Can family visit the school?
Yes, we host family weekends when families are invited to come and get a taste of Mercersburg life. In addition to meeting faculty, students, and other parents, we have art displays, music and drama performances, athletic events, counseling workshops, and more. Please refer to our school’s events calendar to plan your trip.

How do I find out how my child is doing in his or her classes?
Parents receive grade reports with written comments from their child’s adviser six times a year, or about every five weeks. We urge parents to contact the adviser by telephone or email at any time to discuss any aspect of their child’s life at Mercersburg.

Can parents or guardians visit classes?
Parents or guardians may visit classes on the Friday of family weekend in both the fall and spring. Please refer to the school’s events calendar to find when these weekends are held.

How do I reach my child in an emergency?
Please contact the school via the student’s adviser or Dean of Students Tom Rahauser at 717-328-6118 or tom_rahauser@mercersburg.edu. We will contact your child and arrange communication as quickly as possible.