FILL OUT AN INQUIRY FORM
We know it’s routine, but this is where the wheels of admission start turning. This form is the first step in getting to know Mercersburg and Mercersburg getting to know you.
Filling out an inquiry form helps us connect you with one of our admission counselors and provide you with more information about Mercersburg. You can fill out an inquiry here.
SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW
There’s no reason to stress—we promise! This is just a conversation where an admission counselor can learn about you and where you can ask questions.
The interview is a critical part of the admission process. It’s an opportunity for your admission counselor to have a one-on-one conversation with you to gain a better understanding of your interests and character. Following the interview, we invite your parents or any other guests to join the conversation and ask any questions.
Interviews can be scheduled by contacting the Admission Office at 717-328-6173 or admission@mercersburg.edu. Appointment times are typically available on weekdays in the morning or afternoon.
Please note: in this unusual year, we are requiring international students to submit their TOEFL scores and the Student Biographic Profile portion of the Standard Application Online (SAO) before scheduling an interview. If the TOEFL or other language proficiency tests are unavailable to you, please contact the Admission Office at 717-328-6173 or admission@mercersburg.edu.
COMPLETE ANY REQUIRED STANDARDIZED TESTING
We have a testing-flexible policy this year because of COVID-19.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and with the understanding that many students do not have equal access to standardized testing at this time, Mercersburg Academy is implementing a “testing flexible” policy for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Applicants for Grade 9, 10, or 11
Students applying for ninth, 10th, or 11th grade will not be required to submit standardized test scores. If you do not submit test scores, we will instead require an additional recommendation from a current teacher of your choosing. We will continue to accept the SSAT, PSAT, SAT/ACT, ISEE, state tests, and others for those students who are able and choose to submit standardized test scores. (Please note that if your school provides a narrative transcript instead of traditional grades, then standardized testing will be required.)
Those who do not submit standardized test scores will not be disadvantaged in any way during the application process. We do an entirely holistic review of each student, and testing is only one variable. If you do choose to take the SSAT or a similar test, we invite you to send the results to us to include as an additional item in your file. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Admission Office with any questions.
Postgraduate Applicants
We will continue to require standardized testing for our PG applicants; however, students are permitted to submit PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores from the previous two years if necessary.
International Students
Non-native English speakers will remain required to submit results from the TOEFL (at-home or in-person tests), DuoLingo, or IELTS exams. Students who have been enrolled in schools where English is the primary mode of instruction for more than three years are not required to submit language proficiency test scores.
SSAT School Code – 5026
TOEFL School Code – 0877
SUBMIT THE STANDARDIZED APPLICATION ONLINE (SAO)
Simple for us, simple for you—it’s the only application we accept. Be aware that the SAO includes a transcript and teacher recommendations.
DEADLINE: JANUARY 31
We only accept the Standard Application Online (SAO). Please complete and submit your materials by the January 31 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 (see Step 3 above)
FILL OUT A FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION
If your family is interested in exploring need-based financial aid, your parents will have some paperwork to complete.
DEADLINE: JANUARY 31
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 the Admission Office that they have done so.
The deadline for all financial aid applications for prospective families 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 received.
Questions as you navigate the application process? Contact the Office of Admission at 717-328-6173 or admission@mercersburg.edu.
Important Dates
Application Deadline
January
31
Admission Decisions Announced
March
10
Admission Responses Due
April
10
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. Due to the ongoing pandemic, our officers are unable to travel to your area, and campus visits are currently on hold. We are ready to make ourselves available to speak via phone, Zoom, Skype, or another platform that is suitable for you. Please visit this page to meet our admission officers and to find their contact information if you’d like to schedule a time to connect.
A. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that many students do not have equal access to standardized testing at this time, Mercersburg Academy is implementing a “testing flexible” policy for the 2020-2021 academic year. See Step #3 above.
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.
A. We are happy to accommodate virtual interviews over Zoom, Skype, or another platform that works well for you. One of Mercersburg’s admission officers will meet with the prospective student for 30 minutes and with the parent(s) for 30 minutes. Do your best to find a suitable location with a reliable Internet connection and good lighting. Turn on your camera and microphone so we can do our best to recreate the in-person experience!