Applying to a new school may seem daunting, but we’re available to help every step of the way. Here’s everything you need to know about how to apply:
Filling out an inquiry form helps us connect you with one of our admission officers and provide you with more information about Mercersburg. You can fill out an inquiry here.
The interview is a critical part of the admission process. To schedule an interview and campus tour, please contact the Admission Office at 717-328-6173 or admission@mercersburg.edu.
- Appointment times are typically available on weekdays in the morning or afternoon.
- International applicants are asked to complete their on-campus interview by December 13, 2019.
- If you are unable to visit campus, we also conduct interviews off campus and can make arrangements if we are traveling to your area.
- Applicants for 9th or 10th grade must submit the SSAT.
- Applicants for 11th grade must submit the SSAT, PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
- Applicants for a PG year must submit the SAT or ACT.
- Non-native English speakers must also submit results from the TOEFL exam.
TOEFL School Code – 0877
We only accept the Standard Application Online (SAO). Please complete and submit your materials by the January 15 deadline to ensure full consideration of your application. Until you submit part or all of your application through the SAO, no information will be transmitted to Mercersburg Academy’s Admission Office.
The application components:
- Student application (including $50 fee for domestic students and $100 fee for students living abroad)
- Character skills snapshot (optional part of the SAO but encouraged to provide insight into a student’s character and personal growth)
- Transcript(s) with current and previous two years of grades (PG applicants must provide their full high school transcript)
- Teacher recommendations (English, math, and guidance counselor or principal recommendations required)
- Fourth recommendation (optional)
- Standardized test scores
Any family interested in being considered for need-based financial aid must complete the Parent Financial Statement through School and Student Services. Include Mercersburg Academy’s code (5026) and a copy will be made accessible to the school.
All new applicants for financial aid must submit to SSS their current year's and their previous two years' federal income tax returns, including W2s and 1040s with all schedules and attachments. For families with multiple children in tuition-charging schools, a copy of the financial aid award received at each child's institution should be uploaded to SSS as soon as it is available to the family. The family should then notify Mercersburg's Office of Admission that they have done so.
The deadline for all financial aid applications is January 31. Current-year tax documents that are not available by that date should be completed and uploaded to SSS as soon as they are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Mercersburg seeks to identify 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.
A. Because we receive more applicants than we can accommodate, some applicants may be placed in a wait pool. If the opportunity to use our wait pool arises, our Admission Committee will choose the student who best fits the available opening.
A. Each year, nearly 800 students interview for approximately 150 available spaces.
A. We strongly encourage you to make arrangements to visit campus, but our admission officers may also be available to meet with you in your city or town during their domestic or international travels. On occasion, they may also choose to schedule a meeting via Skype or FaceTime.
A. One of Mercersburg’s admission officers will meet with the prospective student for 30 minutes and with the parent(s) for 30 minutes. The interview is an evaluative session in which the admission officer will ask and answer questions and get a better sense of the student's academic, athletic, and artistic goals.
A. Mercersburg requires that all applicants to the ninth and 10th grades submit SSAT (Seconday School Admission Test) results, and that all applicants to the 11th grade submit PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test), SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), or ACT results. All applicants for a PG year must submit SAT or ACT results.
Students whose primary language isn’t English must demonstrate fluency by taking the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The Admission Office is looking for TOEFL scores above 90 and SSAT scores above 2100 to show English proficiency. (If other English proficiency tests are taken, please contact the Admission Office to determine whether alternative test results can be accepted.)
A. We welcome any and all students who hold the appropriate documentation to study in the United States. Mercersburg provides assistance to international students applying for an F-1 student visa.
To check the status of your application, you will have to log into your SSAT account to view your SAO. Once an item has been submitted through the SAO, we will have access to it and will process the items 3-5 days after submission. The Admission Office will also contact you periodically with updates and reminders.
Important Dates
Application Deadline
January
15
Admission Decisions Announced
March
10
Admission Responses Due
April
10