Apply to Taft

Taft is all about building relationships, and ours begins when you reach out and let us know that you’d like to get to know us better. Completing our Inquiry form does that. All prospective students must complete one. It puts you on our radar, and allows us to communicate with you. It also establishes your Taft Admissions Account, which you will use throughout the application process.

Complete our Inquiry form to set up a Taft Admissions Portal*

Access your Taft Admissions Portal to track your application status

*By submitting this inquiry form, you certify that you are age 13 or over. If you are under the age of 13, please have a parent or guardian complete this form and submit it on your behalf.

You need to create an account with The Enrollment Management Association; this is independent of your Taft Admissions Account, set up in Step 1, though you can access both through the Portal Access page. Make a note of your username and password and bookmark the log-in page—you are sure to visit often, here’s why:

The Enrollment Management Association plays a big role in our application process. Not only do they manage the Standard Application Online (SAO)— the only way you can apply to Taft—but they also administer the SSAT, a standardized aptitude test that Taft (and most independent schools) requires all applicants to sit for. The Enrollment Management Association website is also a good resource for information about applying to independent schools.

You should plan to take the SSAT in October, November, December, or January. Last year, the median score for admitted students was the 83^rd percentile.

SSAT code: 7600

• Create an account
• Access your account
• Sign up to take the SSAT

Make a Note:

If you’re applying as a postgraduate candidate, you must take the PSAT or SAT.

If English is not your first language, we strongly encourage you take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

TOEFL code: 3834

Application Deadline: January 15

SSAT Dates

October 13, 2018
November 10, 2018
December 8, 2018
January 5, 2019

Recommended: The Character Skills Snapshot

Character and personal growth are an integral part of a Taft education. Grades and test scores just don’t tell us the whole story of your child. The Character Skills Snapshot gives us richer holistic information and illuminates areas where Taft can help your child grow and thrive. We recommend (but do not require) that Taft applicants take The Character Skills Snapshot. For students who take the SSAT, there is no charge to take The Snapshot. Once you register for an SSAT, you will have access to The Snapshot. More information is available on the Enrollment Management Association website at https://ssat.org/snapshot

 

You can learn a lot about our school by exploring our website. You can learn even more by coming to visit. You’ll see what it feels like to be on campus, interacting with students and faculty. You will experience the warmth of our community, and be amazed by the beauty of our campus.

We also really want to get to know you, so we require every applicant to come for an interview. We encourage you to visit after school starts in September, but before the application deadline in January. If distance or finances makes it difficult for you to come to Watertown, we will try to arrange a Skype interview, or an interview with a parent or Alumni Representative in your area.

You should schedule your visit only after you have completed our Inquiry form. Call us at 860-945-7700, or email admissions@taftschool.org to plan your visit.

Learn more about visiting Taft.

We are very proud to support 35% of our students though our $9 million financial aid budget, and are committed to working very hard with every family to try to make a Taft education possible. All awards are based on demonstrated need and the availability of funds in our current-year budget; awards at Taft are not based on merit.

Full instructions and information on applying for financial aid.

Make a Note:

Application Deadline: January 15
Financial Aid Application Deadline: February 1
Last day to Submit Tax Returns: March 1

Taft requires that all students apply using the Standard Application Online (SAO), managed by the Enrollment Management Association (EMA). The application incorporates biographical data, essay questions, and a parent statement. The EMA website contains detailed instructions for completing the application, as well as schedules and tutorials.

Learn more about the Standard Application Online

Note to applicants: The application link above will bring you to our application for the 2018-19 school year. If you are interested in applying to Taft for the 2019-20 school year, please check back in August. The application deadline is January 15.

 

After November 15, use the SAO to give your principal or guidance counselor and your English and math teachers online access to your recommendation forms. Your teachers should submit their recommendations to Taft by January 15.

We are happy to review art or other portfolios should you choose to submit them. Portfolio submissions are optional. In the Standard Application Online, there is a handy place to include links to YouTube, Vimeo, or other web-based presentations of your work or talents.

Track your progress using your Admissions Portal to ensure that Taft has received all of your application materials and fees by the January 15 deadline.

Access your Taft Admissions Account to track your application status.

Taft mails and emails admissions decisions on March 10. The enrollment deadline is April 10.