How to Get Into Riverdale Country School

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10Nov

How to Get Into Riverdale Country School

By Admissions Assist, School Admissions Guides Comments Off on How to Get Into Riverdale Country School

Key Dates and Information

  • Location: The Bronx, New York City
  • Application deadlines
    • Preliminary forms: November 15, 2023
    • General application: January 11, 2024
  • Financial aid deadline: December 15, 2023
  • Admission tests:
    • Pre-K: no testing required
    • Kindergarten: First Look Insights required
      • Deadline: January 7, 2024
    • Grades 1-4: no testing required
    • Grades 5-12: ISEE or SSAT required
      • Deadline: January 7, 2024
  • Admissions decision:
    • Pre-K: February 29, 2024
    • Kindergarten: February 8, 2024
    • Grades 1-8: February 13, 2024
    • Grades 9-12: February 23, 2024

Introduction

Riverdale Country School (Riverdale) is a highly regarded independent school in New York City. Serving students from pre-K through 12th grade, Riverdale promotes interdisciplinary learning and experience-based education. It was one of the top 10 most sought-after schools in 2023. 

We put together this guide with important resources and information to help you with the Riverdale application process. We also offer Admissions Assist courses to help families learn what to expect during the application process, prepare for admissions interviews, and to write stellar application essays.

Application

Riverdale’s entry-point grades are pre-K and kindergarten for Lower School, grades 6 and 7 for Middle School, and grade 9 for Upper School. Openings to other grades depend on available capacity, but interested students are welcome to submit applications. For non-entry point grades, the application fee is only charged if Riverdale is able to consider the application. 

Applicants to Riverdale must complete the following steps:

  • Attend an on-campus tour and a virtual information session (recommended)
  • Submit the preliminary application forms on Ravenna by November 15, 2023
  • Schedule the interview
    • Lower School
      • Pre-K and kindergarten applicants will be contacted to schedule a Zoom interview after submitting the preliminary application forms
        • Interviews are 45-60 minutes
        • Interviews take in place from late December to early January
        • A member of the admissions team will interview the applicant and parents/guardians together
      • Applicants to grades 1-5 will be contacted to schedule an interview only if Riverdale is able to consider their application
    • Middle School 
      • Applicants to grades 6 and 7 will be contacted to schedule an interview after submitting the preliminary application forms
        • Applicants to grade 6 participate in an online group interview
          • The group interview is one hour
          • A member of the admissions team will guide a small group of applicants through a lesson and group design project
        • Applicants to grades 6 and 7 participate in a one-on-one interview
          • Interviews take place from October to December 2023
          • Interviews are 45 minutes; the first 25-30 minutes is with the applicant, and the remaining time is with the parents/guardians
      • Applicants to grade 8 will be contacted to schedule an interview only if Riverdale is able to consider their application
    • Upper School
      • Applicants to grade 9 will be contacted to schedule an interview after submitting the preliminary application forms.
      • Applicants participate in a one-on-one interview and a group interview
        • The one-on-one interview is about 45 minutes; the admissions team will speak to the student for 20-25 minutes, and then to the parents/guardians for the remaining time
        • The group interview is 45-60 minutes; a member of the admissions team will guide a small group of applicants through a lesson and group design project
      • Applicants to grades 10-12 will be contacted to schedule an interview only if Riverdale is able to consider their application
  • Complete the online application on Ravenna by January 11, 2024
    • Application fee: $60
    • Lower School
      • Grades K-1: request the ISAAGNY Confidential School Report from current school
      • Grades 2-5: request the candidate evaluation form from current principal or teacher
      • Take an admissions test
        • Kindergarten: First Look Insights required
          • Register through Ravenna
          • Deadline: January 11, 2024
        • Grade 5: ISEE or SSAT required
      • Send transcripts/report cards from current year and previous year
      • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
    • Middle School
      • Complete the student interests and activities form
      • Complete the student essays
      • Send transcripts/report cards from the current and previous year 
      • Request the school report form from current school (optional)
      • Request letters of recommendation
        • Required recommendations: current math teacher and current English teacher
        • Optional recommendations: third teacher, coach, or supervisor
      • Submit admissions test scores
        • Grades 6-8: ISEE or SSAT required
        • Deadline: January 11, 2024
      • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
        • Deadline: December 15, 2023
    • Upper School
      • Complete the student interests and activities form
      • Complete the student essays
      • Send transcripts/report cards from the current and previous year 
      • Request the school report form from current school (optional)
      • Request letters of recommendation
        • Required recommendations: peer recommendation, current math teacher, and current English teacher
        • Optional recommendations: third teacher, coach, or supervisor
      • Submit admissions test scores
        • Grades 9-12: ISEE or SSAT required
        • Deadline: January 11, 2024
      • Complete the Character Skills Snapshot
      • Complete the financial aid application (if applicable)
        • Deadline: December 15, 2023

For more information about the Riverdale application process, visit their admissions page.

Admissions Interview

Applicants to Riverdale’s entry-point grades (pre-K, kindergarten, grade 6, grade 7, and grade 9) will be contacted to schedule an interview after submitting their Preliminary Forms. Applicants to non-entry point grades will be contacted to interview only if there is available space and Riverdale is able to consider their application. Interviews are offered virtually and in-person. 

Pre-K and kindergarten applicants interview with their parents/guardians. The interview is 45-60 minutes long.

Applicants to grades 6, 7, and 9 participate in a one-on-one interview with the admissions team. The admissions team speaks with the applicant for 20-30 minutes, and then with parents/guardians for 15-20 minutes. 

In addition to the one-on-one interview, applicants to grades 6 and 9 participate in a group interview. The group interview is 45-60 minutes, during which a member of the admissions team guides a small group of applicants through a lesson and a group design project. 

The admissions interview is a great opportunity for you to show Riverdale who you are beyond your application. Test Innovators’ Interview Prep course helps students and parents prepare for the interview. During the course, you will prepare for interview questions, learn how to highlight your strengths, and solidify your interview skills. 

We suggest researching Riverdale before your interview so you can explain why you are interested in the school. Read about their philosophy of character education and their emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Check out the curriculum for Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School and consider the academic opportunities that excite you. Look into the athletics teams for Middle School and Upper School, and be prepared to share if you hope to get involved with a team. Let your excitement for opportunities at Riverdale come through in your interview! 

Admissions Tests

Applicants to grades 5-12 are required to submit either SSAT or ISEE scores. 

It is important to prepare for the SSAT and ISEE, so that you can become comfortable with the test, learn unfamiliar content, and practice key test-taking strategies. As an official practice partner for the SSAT and the only officially endorsed ISEE practice platform, Test Innovators is here to help you do your best on these important tests.

Our platform offers full-length practice tests with immediate scoring that allows you to compare your test scores to target scores for Riverdale. After each test, your personalized plan will identify areas for improvement, so that you can focus on targeted practice to boost your scores and confidence.

Check out our SSAT Prep Guide and ISEE Prep Guide to learn more about preparing with Test Innovators. 

Financial Aid Application

Riverdale aims to promote socio-economic diversity and to support students who are a great fit for the school community regardless of their ability to pay full tuition. They offer grants to families that demonstrate need through the financial aid application. 

Riverdale accepts financial aid applications through the Clarity website. Prospective families applying for financial aid must complete the following by December 15, 2023: 

  • Submit the Parent Financial Statement
  • Upload supporting documents, including 2022 tax documents and information about household income and expenses

Refer to Riverdale’s financial aid page for more information. 

Extracurricular Opportunities

Athletics

Riverdale has the following sports teams:

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Crew
  • Cross country
  • Fencing
  • Field hockey
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Ice hockey
  • Indoor track and field
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Squash
  • Strength and conditioning
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Ultimate frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Water polo
 

Visit Riverdale’s website to learn more about their Middle School and Upper School athletics programs.

Arts

The arts play an important role at Riverdale. Art is integrated across the Lower School Curriculum. Middle School students take art classes all three years, and Upper School students are required to take at least three years of arts courses. Middle and Upper School students can choose from a wide array of courses across three departments: music, visual art, and theater, dance, and film. See Riverdale’s website to learn more about the arts programs in Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School.

Special Programs

Riverdale students are able to participate in a variety of clubs and activities. Options for Middle School students include Robotics, Yearbook, Debate, Girls Who Code, and Storytelling. Options for Upper School students include Film Club, Outdoor Club, Girls Learn International, and Spanish Literary Club. Clubs and activities are a great place to draw inspiration for your interview and application essays, so take some time to explore all of Riverdale’s Middle School and Upper School clubs and activities.

Conclusion

Test Innovators is here to support you with your application to Riverdale. We will help you prepare for your interview, achieve your best results on the SSAT and ISEE, and write outstanding application essays.
 

Preparation Resources:

Start preparing today!

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Originally published on July 29, 2022. Updated on November 10, 2023.

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