Acceptances Are Out!

Students from across the country and around the world were notified yesterday: They were accepted to Brooks School and welcomed to join the 87 open spots in our community this fall! "The applicant pool was strong, so we had to make some difficult choices," said Director of Admission Bini Egertson P'12, P'15.

Brooks received 960 applications in total this year — a year that required admission officers to pivot from the usual process and adjust not only their admission timeline but the school's application requirements due to the pandemic.

Standardized tests were made optional and the interview season was extended through the first week of February. (During the summer into fall the school also collaborated with other independent schools to provide virtual fairs and webinars and held a variety of online panels specific to Brooks, as well). "We were flexible when it came to recommendations and accepted them from last year for students who felt they didn't have a connection to their current teachers due to hybrid and remote instruction," added Egertson.

The unusual circumstances allowed for some helpful silver linings. Video interviews, for example, meant that students and parents did not have to miss school and work, nor incur the expense of traveling to Brooks. "We were able to offer up interview times that worked for families," said Egertson.

"We also devised a slide deck of the stopping points on a tour," she added. "If families wanted a tour, we had two admission prefects talking 'live' with the family while they went through the images of campus and our facilities. Coaches and special interest faculty were wonderful about setting up individual and group Zoom meetings with prospective families, too. In many ways, families had way more information about Brooks 'up front' than they have had in the past."

And with 10 upcoming virtual events for accepted students, the dive into Brooks will continue to go even deeper.

Upcoming Events for Accepted Students

• Conversations with Head of School John Packard
• Chat with current parents
• Self-guided campus tour opportunities
• Academics & student life-themed presentations plus Q&A session
• Panel discussion with current students
• Panel presentation on arts and on athletics at Brooks
• A morning of class observations and the chance to meet department chairs
• The chance to attend a variety of faculty presentations on topics, including: "Robotics, Calculus, Coding and Engineering," "Experiential Science Through Anatomy and Physiology," "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our Curriculum," "Language Skills for the 21st Century," and "A Peek into the Process of Arts Exploratory."

"We hope," said Egertson, "we will have provided enough information for families to make an informed choice on April 10." And of course, choose Brooks!

Follow Brooks School on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to see all the activities, projects and happening in our community each day during the school year.

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