Admissions

International Applicants



COME LIVE AND STUDY AT THE ONLY BOARDING SCHOOL IN SILICON VALLEY



Founded by Hungarian monks in the 1950's, Priory has been an international school from its very beginning. Students from all over the world have lived and studied here on campus for over a half-century in one of the most exciting areas on the planet. 

Every year, students from around the world apply to Woodside Priory. Here are some of the things that make our school unique:

  • From our very beginning in 1957, we were founded as an international boarding school by Hungarian Benedictine monks.
  • We are the only boarding school in Silicon Valley. Priory sits in the very heart of the world's technology industry. The campus is less than 30 minutes from the headquarters of companies like Facebook, Apple, Oracle, and Google, and many of our day student families work in the tech industry.
  • Our 50-acre (20-hectare) campus is located only 30 minutes from San Francisco International Airport so it is easily accessible.
  • We are only 10 minutes away from Stanford University and only 40 minutes away from the beautiful city of San Francisco. We leave campus every weekend and go to world-class museums, shows, sports events, restaurants, and shopping around the Bay Area.
  • Our campus is surrounded by mountains, horse farms, trails, and nearby beaches so there are outdoor activities all around like hiking, climbing, surfing, riding, and more.
For more information about our boarding program, please go to http://www.prioryca.org/Page/Boarding.  

Below, you'll find information about how to apply as an international student. Please note that the international application process is different from non-international students, so please follow these instructions below. 

International Student Application Process

List of 6 items.

  • Visiting during the school year

    International applicants who wish to visit campus have two options.  

    If you will be in the area on one of our Open House days, you may register for one of our Open Houses through your Ravenna account. To learn more about Open Houses, visit this page.

    From late August to January 9th, we also offer weekly one-hour tours for international families on most Wednesdays at 1:00 pm.

    To sign up for either the Open House or Weekly Tour, follow these directions:

    1. Create a Ravenna account - click on the blue "Create a Ravenna Account" button at the top right of this page and follow the directions to create a login and password. (Please use your primary email address when creating your account. All communications from us will be with the email address you use to create the account.)
    2. Go to "Explore & Apply to a School"
    3. Select "Regional Schools"
    4. Select "San Francisco Bay Area"
    5. Select "Woodside Priory School" (near the bottom!)
    6. Select "Explore"
    7. Select name in "Student"
    8. Select “Fall 2020” to "Entry into School For"
    9. Select "NO" to "Have you attended school in the United States for a minimum of the past three years"
    10. Select “Continue with the exploration process”
    11. Go to step “International Campus Tour” or "Open House"
    12. Select “Register for an Event” at bottom of step
    13. Select preferred date
    14. Provide information requested to register

  • Applying

    • International Students may apply online through our admissions software, Ravenna, or through the Standard Application Online (SAO).  Applications can be started on September 3, 2019. You can create a Ravenna account at any time before then though by clicking on the blue "Create a Ravenna Account" button on the right-hand side.    
    • The application deadline is January 9, 2020, and the application fee for international students is $125.
    • The application consists of:
      • Parent short-answer questions
      • Student short-answer and essay questions
      • Two teacher recommendations
      • One principal/counselor recommendation
      • Transcript from the current year and previous year
      • Admissions Test (see below)
      • TOEFL (see below)
    • Applicants from Mainland China must also register with Vericant, our affiliate in China, for a preliminary interview.  For more information, click below in the "Interview" section.

  • Testing

    Test of English as a Foreign Language ("TOEFL")
    • If English is not your native language, applicants must take the TOEFL and have the official score report sent to Priory.  The Priory’s testing code is 2055. Successful applicants generally score a 95 or above. 
    • The TOEFL may be taken after the application deadline, but we must receive the score report by January 25, 2020.   
    • You may find information about registering for the TOEFL at their website at www.ets.org/toefl.  Please note that the Priory does not accept the SLEP or the Junior TOEFL in place of the TOEFL.
    SSAT
    • Take the SSAT and have the official score report sent to Priory.  The Priory’s testing code is 8296.  Successful applicants generally score on average around 2100 or above.
    • The SSAT may be taken after the application deadline, but we must receive the score report by January 25, 2020.  
    • You may find information about the SSAT at their website - http://www.SSAT.org.

    Applicants from Mainland China are required to set up an interview with Vericant, our affiliate in China, in order to be considered for admission.  Visit their website to register with them at https://students.vericant.com/. Once an applicant submits the Application Form (the first part of the application containing biographical information) and the Application Fee in Ravenna, Vericant will send his/her video to Priory to watch.

  • Interviews

    • Select applicants will be contacted for interviews with Priory faculty in February.  Interviews will be done online by Skype or Facetime. 
    • Applicants from Mainland China are required to set up an interview with Vericant, our affiliate in China, in order to be considered for admission.  Visit their website to register with them at https://students.vericant.com/.  Once an applicant submits the Application Form (the first part of the application containing biographical information) and the Application Fee in Ravenna, Vericant will send his/her video to Priory to watch. Select applicants may be contacted for additional interviews by Priory faculty in February.  Interviews will be done online by skype or Facetime.

  • Admissions Decisions Timetable

    The Priory admission decisions will be published in Ravenna on March 10, 2020.  Accepted applicants will have until March 27th to decide whether to enroll.  During that time, our Admissions Office can answer any of your questions.  Students who are placed in the Wait Pool may be chosen for admission throughout the spring and summer months.

  • Immigration for non-citizens

    Woodside Priory School is authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to issue I-20 documentation for international students seeking an F1 Student Visa.  The I-20 is issued following acceptance by the Priory and payment of the Enrollment Deposit.

FAQ's

List of 7 items.

  • Can international students apply as day students?

    International students are only eligible to apply as boarding students.

  • How does Priory define international students?

    Priory defines international students as anyone who either needs an I-20 form or whose parents reside overseas. If a family does not need an I-20 and lives here in the U.S., we still consider the applicant international unless you are in at least your third year at a U.S. school when you apply.

  • What grades can international students apply for?

    International students are eligible to apply for grades 9, 10, and 11. Note that we take more students in 9th grade than in 10th or 11th. We do not take 12th grade applicants.

  • Do you offer homestay programs?

    No, we do not offer homestay programs. All international students live in the dorms.

  • Do you have age requirements?

    Students applying for entry into the 9th grade cannot turn 16 before January 1 of their 9th grade year (for 10th grade, 17; and 11th grade, 18).

  • Do you take mid-year applications?

    We do not take mid-year applicants. Students may only apply to begin school in the Fall at the start of the school year.

  • What countries do students apply from?

    In recent years, we have had applicants from Austria, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Important Dates for International Applicants

  • January 9, 2020 - Applications are due
  • January 25, 2020 - TOEFL and SSAT must be taken by this deadline
  • March 10, 2020 - Admissions Decisions are released online through your Ravenna account
  • March 27, 2020 - Last day for international applicants to enroll


"I love the teachers at Priory. They are always willing to stay after school to answer students' individual questions. I see them not only as teachers but also as friends who I can talk to whenever I need help."

- Class of 2018 Alum from Taiwan 

"The Priory dorm is a second home to me. It is a close knit community, where I became friends with people from all over the world and in various grades. We support each other and grow together. Being in the dorms and living with friends and my second family is the one thing I miss most when I graduated."

- Class of 2014 Alum from Hong Kong

"Leaving my country to a country that I have never been before was a little scary for me, but the community that I found myself in at Priory when I arrived in the United States made me feel at home in no time. At Priory I made friends that are now more like family to me. The experiences that I had living in the dorms is something that I will always cherish. Priory really prepared me for college both inside and outside of the classroom and I will always be grateful for the opportunities given to me by Priory."

- Class of 2015 Alum from Nigeria

"From the very beginning of my time at Priory I have always felt welcome both at the Priory dorms and at the school. With the help of the Residential Faculty members, prefects and teachers I adapted to my new school and living environment easily. The students at Priory were kind, open and communicative. After a short time Priory felt like home."

- 2016-17 Student from Germany 

Woodside Priory School