Admissions

International Students

ounded in 1814, Emma Willard is one of the oldest boarding schools for girls in the United States. From its very earliest days, the student body has included girls from all over the world. The school’s founder, Madame Willard, enrolled girls from France, England, Scotland, the West Indies, Greece, and Turkey. In recent years, girls from Bermuda, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, the Republic of Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Mexico, Pakistan, Poland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, and Americans who live abroad have been members of the student body. International students, who represent 15–20 percent of the Emma Willard student body, join young women from all over the United States who come here to pursue a college-preparatory education. International students are quickly integrated into the community and are regularly found among the top award winners at graduation.

Academic Program

In addition to an excellent selection of courses, the Emma Willard curriculum provides the learning and research skills necessary for students to enter American colleges or universities with confidence. Most students select five courses each semester from the approximately 140 courses offered during the year. Students have the freedom to choose advanced level and elective courses in all departments. Each student has a faculty advisor who helps her develop her academic program. The Academic Dean and college counselor insure that her schedule will prepare her for college as well as develop her areas of personal interest. In addition to class work, students may arrange to participate in Practicum, the independent study program.

Formal college counseling begins in the junior year. The college counselor supervises all college placement testing (the PSAT, the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, and the TOEFL), coordinates visits to Emma Willard by college admissions officers, advises students on application procedures, and writes a comprehensive recommendation for each senior, based on the student's academic record and teachers' written evaluations.

English as a Second Language (ESL) Program

Emma Willard School provides an English as a Second Language (ESL) program for international students whose English is not yet strong enough for enrollment in language-intensive courses such as history and literature. The ESL program is designed to prepare students for full participation in the school’s academic programs and extracurricular activities. From the beginning of their Emma Willard experience, ESL students are immersed as fully as possible in the life of the school; they are typically housed with English-speaking students in the residence halls and placed in mainstream courses in most subjects.

ESL courses are offered at the advanced level of proficiency. At the advanced level, which is open to 9th, 10th, and 11th graders, students take two ESL courses in which they continue to work on improving their academic writing and reading skills. The small class size (average of six students at each level) and intensive schedule promote rapid progress in English proficiency and development of effective academic strategies. An ESL student's schedule typically includes mainstream courses in mathematics, science, arts, computer science, and physical education in addition to her ESL courses.

In order to graduate from Emma Willard School, all international students must complete a minimum of one year of entirely mainstream (non-ESL) courses, including English III and U.S. History. The ESL program helps students acquire the English proficiency and academic skills necessary to succeed in these courses alongside their native-English-speaking peers. As a strong foundation in English is essential for success in Emma Willard’s demanding curriculum, ESL students must be prepared to devote a great deal of time and effort, both in and outside of class, to fulfilling the requirements of their ESL courses.

TOEFL Preparation

Emma Willard School offers a special course to help students prepare for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The school arranges for students to take the exam at appropriate times and provides transportation to and from the test site.

Residence Life

Since we are primarily a boarding school, the Emma Willard dormitories become many students' home away from home. Security guards are on duty 24 hours a day, ensuring student safety. Houseparents are responsible for the well being of the girls on their halls, and while there are strict study halls and check-in times, the atmosphere on the hall is one of family. Whether it's a hall tea, watching television, baking cookies, or giving advice and friendship, students and houseparents contribute to the feeling of community at Emma Willard. Faculty and their families eat in the dining halls with students. During the week faculty are posted in the dormitories during study hall to provide academic assistance and advice. Three-quarters of the faculty live on campus and are connected to the dormitories by intercampus phones or e-mail.

At the crossroads of New England, the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Berkshires, New York's Capital Region offers world-class arts and entertainment, scenic vistas, shopping, and international restaurants and grocery stores. New York City and Boston are only three hours away and are often included in weekend activities, along with dances with boys’ schools, movies, and cultural events.

Special Programs and Assistance

Recognizing that international students have a number of special needs, Emma Willard School provides an orientation program and other support services.

New international students and their families are encouraged to arrive on campus early in order to participate in the International Student Orientation program. The orientation program provides the students an opportunity to get to know other students; meet members of the faculty, residence staff, and administration; and plan their academic programs with the help of their academic advisors. Parents can meet with the Dean of Students and visit the various campus offices to complete the process of enrolling their daughter at Emma Willard School. To round out the orientation activities, there is a trip to a local shopping mall and a party hosted by the Foreign and American Student Organization to welcome the new students to campus.

The International Student Advisor, Nina Fleishman '72, helps international students with such diverse issues as academic support, vacation arrangements, summer program applications, cultural orientation, and immigration matters.

The Foreign and American Student Organization (FASO) is a club that is made up of international and American students who wish to increase crosscultural awareness at Emma Willard School. This group sponsors an international dinner and other events during the school year for both the international students and the entire community.

Admissions

International students for whom English is their first language must meet the same admissions criteria as do United States citizens. In addition to an application fee of $100, they must submit a completed application, Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) scores, a transcript from the current academic year and recommendations from current English and mathematics teachers, as well as a third recommendation of their choice. A personal interview is highly recommended. If a campus visit is not possible, families may arrange a phone interview by contacting the Admissions Office.

Students for whom English is a second language are asked to take the TOEFL test. If that presents a hardship, please contact the Admissions Office.

Emma Willard’s school code for the TOEFL is 8629.

Once a student has been accepted and has returned her enrollment contract and deposit, the Admissions Office will issue an I-20 form. The I-20 must be taken to the American consulate in the student's home country in order to apply for an F-1 (student) visa. Click here to learn about new SEVIS fee requirements.

Any family wishing to be considered for financial aid must follow the procedures outlined on the Financial Aid page. Funds for international students are limited.