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Recruitment Information

Program Requirements

The Wadleigh Scholars Program is looking for bright, enthusiastic, intelligent, hardworking 7th graders and 8th graders (exception basis).

Candidates and their parents must contact us between November and early January. Candidates should have at least an 85+ average in all subjects and be willing to apply to independent, private boarding schools.

Parents must demonstrate the commitment to the Program in supporting the efforts of their children and the mentors.

Student must be in 7th Grade, unless otherwise arranged.

Student must be bright, enthusiastic, intelligent, and hardworking.

Student must have at least an 85+ average in all subjects.

Student must be willing to apply to independent, private boarding schools.

Parent/Guardian must demonstrate their commitment to the Program.

Parent/Guardian must support the efforts of their children and the mentors.

Parent/Guardian must be able to transport student to Manhattan location.

Program is on-location in Harlem from August – June. Learn More.

Program Schedule

New Applicants

Phase 1 Program Introduction
(Preliminary Engagement)

November – May

WSP Questionnaires Submission & ABC Application Submission

November to January

Recruiting candidates in the 7th grade (some 8th graders)

  • Distribute/Fulfill checklist needed for initial review (click here to see the List of what is needed!)
  • Distribute questionnaires to eligible parents and candidates (after current and previous years’ grades are reviewed and approved)
  • Attend WSP Open House/Information Session (late January/early February)
  • Deadline to submit information – after 2nd marking period or progress report (usually at the end of February/early March)
  • Attend Open House/Information Session (late January/early February)

February to March

  • Begin A Better Chance (ABC) application
  • Review ABC application components with prospective scholars and parents/guardians
  • Invitation to the Wadleigh Scholars March/Spring Meeting – 3rd Saturday in March
  • Interview date in March for prospective students

April to May

  • Review ABC application components with prospective students/families before deadline
  • A Better Chance application due on April 15th  
  • Evaluation SSAT test in April for prospective scholars

May

Conditional Selection
  • Review interviews, test results and interaction to determine conditional acceptance
  • Selected scholars notified of conditional acceptance for the upcoming Fall.

July – August

Summer Program
  • Summer enrichment program conducted for conditionally accepted scholars
  • SSAT Prep and writing workshops (5 weeks)
  • Aug – Scholars take the Summer evaluation SSAT test. Scholars are selected based on Summer Program performance and the SSAT results.  

Selected Scholars

Phase 2 Committed Program Engagement
(For Selected Scholars)

August – December

Work with WSP Scholars
  • August – Begin working on SAO application questions for students and parents/guardians – August
  • Identify and finalize list of 4-5 prep school for each scholar
  • September – December – Enrichment sessions begin for approximately 13 weeks. Math, English, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension and test taking skills are reviewed each week
  • Scholars take practice SSATs each month for evaluation purposes
  • Discuss benefits of Independent School Open houses: scholars and families are strongly encouraged to attend events in NYC Metro area
  • Schedule interviews at boarding schools on a student’s list
  • October – ABC referral schools discussed 
  • Financial Aid applications – begin
  • Financial Aid applications – complete and submitted online
  • December – Official SSAT given in December (usually 2nd Saturday in December)
  • December – WSP Winter meeting – held in conjunction with boarding schools winter breaks

January – June

Program Year for Scholars
  • January – Recap of SAO application process and discussion of SSAT scores
  • Jan-Feb – Black history assignment distributed – student will have three weeks to write an essay on their selection and deliver an oral presentation – January/February
  • Feb-Mar – Group debate presentation distributed – students are grouped to conduct research  on a selected topic and provide a debate to discuss/argue their case – February/March
  • March – Prep Schools notify families of Admissions Decisions. WSP discusses discussion acceptances, rejections, wait lists and responsibilities of WSP scholars and parents moving forward
  • March – WSP Spring meeting – held in conjunction with boarding schools spring holiday break
  • March – Review financial aid packages/information received from schools on those accepted students
  • April – Scholar/Family deadline to respond to admission offers.
  • April – Conduct etiquette class and discuss values and evaluation of Program 
  • June – Wadleigh Scholars June celebration
    Current year scholars/families, alumni scholars/families, educators, supporters and other professionals gather to celebrate and close out the season.