Steps to BWL's Application Process

To begin the admissions process, please create a Ravenna account and submit a completed application along with your non-refundable application fee.

Once an application has been received, families will have the opportunity to register for a visit through Ravenna. We offer in-person interviews for Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 5 applicants, and in-person or virtual interviews for Grades 6-12 applicants, in addition to a virtual parent meeting. Further details are posted under the student interview/parent meeting tab. Once registered, families will receive a confirmation email with details about each event. 

Admissions decisions will be posted in your Ravenna account on the dates agreed upon with ISAAGNY as follows:

Pre-Kindergarten Notification: February 27, 2025
Kindergarten Notification: February 6, 2025
Grades 1-8 Notification: February 13, 2025
Grades 9-12 Notification: February 21, 2025

Once your application has been submitted, you may register for student interviews and parent meetings through Ravenna.

Student interviews/visits
As educators, we have carefully designed our interviews to be developmentally appropriate for the age of each applicant. Our goal is to learn about each applicant through a comprehensive experience. All interviews are conducted by a member of the Admissions team.

Pre-Kindergarten
Our 30-minute small group visits are structured, social, and interactive. Our visits include both group and one-on-one activities. 

Adults/parents may wait at BWL during this visit; please see our Visit BWL tab for Tour opportunities.

Kindergarten
Our 45-minute small group visits are structured, social, and interactive. Our visits include both group and one-on-one activities. 

Adults/parents may wait at BWL during this visit; please see our Visit BWL tab for Tour opportunities.

Grades 1–5
Each applicant will meet individually with a member of the Admissions team for about 45 minutes, in person.

Adults/parents may wait at BWL during this visit-please see our Visit BWL tab for Tour opportunities.

Grades 6–12
We offer a flexible schedule and opportunities for interviews for our older applicants. Each applicant will meet individually either in person or virtually with a member of the Admissions team for about 30 minutes.

Parent/Adult meeting (Pre-Kindergarten–12th Grade)

This virtual 30-minute conversation with a member of our Admissions team helps us to get to know your family and gives us an opportunity to answer questions you may have about BWL. We suggest that you tour and explore our website prior to the meeting. For families with applicant siblings, only one meeting is necessary. 

NOTE: If you prefer to come to campus for your parent/adult conversation, please contact the Admissions Office directly.  We’d be happy to welcome you to campus. Additionally, we understand each family’s schedule is different. Should the time offerings as indicated in Ravenna not suit your schedule, please contact the Admissions Office directly.

School Reports and Teacher Recommendations

The confidential school report form is sent via Ravenna to your child’s school. The transcript request form (linked below) should be sent directly to the applicant's school and the transcripts should be emailed to admissions@bwl.org with the applicant’s name in the subject line. Applicants for Grades 2–12 must submit school reports for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 from their current school. All completed forms for our first round of admissions are due Thursday, January 9, 2025.

Entering Pre-Kindergarten:

• ISAAGNY Pre-Kindergarten Confidential Form

Entering Kindergarten and Grade 1:

• School Report/Transcript Request Form

• ISAAGNY Kindergarten & Grade 1 Confidential Form

Entering Grades 2–12:

• School Report/Transcript Request Form

• ISAAGNY General Recommendation (Confidential)

Standardized testing

Standardized testing is not required as part of the application process for Grades 2-12. Families are welcome to submit test results, which will be considered as part of the student’s candidacy. Not submitting test results will have no impact on a student’s chances of admission. The Admissions Committee does strongly encourage submitting test scores in the following scenarios:

• Student is coming from a homeschool curriculum
• Student is moving to NYC from outside the tristate area
• Student’s academic record does not reflect their true potential

Note: The Admissions Committee reserves the right to require a student to submit the results of a standardized test if it is determined instrumental to making an admission decision.  

Student writing sample

All Middle and Upper School applicants  (Grades 6–12) are required to submit a response to one of the ISAAGNY Common Essay prompts.

Siblings and children of alumni are vital members of our community. We participate in the ISAAGNY option to offer early notification to these community members who are applying to Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten.

Friday, December 6, 2024, is the Early Notification date for Kindergarten application files that are complete. As a point of reference, the regular notification date for Kindergarten is Thursday, February 6, 2025. 

We offer preferential interview and tour options for siblings and children of alumni who are applying to all grades.

Please contact the Admissions Office for further details:

admissions@bwl.org

212-861-0404

We are thrilled to welcome you to New York City! We understand that relocating is exciting, but often trying, and we are happy to work with you to ease the stress. Feel free to contact us at admissions@bwl.org to let us know how we can best help you and your family start your new life in New York City. In addition to being one of the world’s most dynamic cities, BWL is located not far from the United Nations. We are comfortable working with families from outside NYC and outside the USA, and those who are seeking a school on an uncommon timeline.

Our Community

As a Pre-K-12 school with a rich history, we are proud of the strong and active community we’ve built with our students, their families, our faculty, and alumni. Our students apply to BWL from all over the city, country, and the world, and we deeply value the varied perspectives that each of our students brings to our community. As an independent school in a big city, we are committed to our goal that all community members feel affirmed, respected, and at home. 

Our Neighborhood

The Birch Wathen Lenox School is located on 77th Street on the Upper East Side, which is home to some of the finest cultural and research institutions in Manhattan. Our neighborhood is a wonderful place to learn and explore, and provides the perfect backdrop for the BWL educational experience. Just a few blocks from Central Park, BWL is conveniently located in the heart of New York City.

Visiting BWL

We understand that when you’re relocating to New York City, your schedule might be varied and hectic. We are happy to accommodate, and will work with your schedule so that you can visit our school. Let us know what we can do to help facilitate your visit by emailing us at admissions@bwl.org.

Getting to BWL

We are located at 210 East 77th Street, which is close to several modes of public transportation, including the 6 train at 77th Street (2 blocks away) and the Q train at 72nd Street (6 blocks away), as well as MTA buses headed uptown, downtown, and crosstown. Private bus transportation can be arranged for BWL students through TDM Express via phone at (347) 231-9454, or via email at tdmexpressinc@aol.com.

International Applicants

We fully support families through the Visa/I-20 process. BWL is a SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program) certified school. 

More questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at admissions@bwl.org. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Dr. Andrew T. Weller
Dean of Admissions and Enrollment

Constance Schaefer
Associate Director of Admissions

Emily Mitaro
Assistant Director of Admissions

Jake Roseman '15
Head Tour Guide

Billie Williams
Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Coordinator

We hope you will be in touch!

admissions@bwl.org
 

We are proudly aligned and supportive of the following educational communities:

• Early Steps
• ISAAGNY
• NYSAIS
• Parents League
• Project Rousseau
• Summer Steps