fbpx

The Brearley School

Location: New York, New York

Coed: Girls Only

Population: 706

Type: Independent

Tuition: $61,500

Religious Affiliation: Secular

Mascot: Beaver

Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1

Schedule: Semesters

Setting: Urban

About The Brearley School

Located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Brearley serves girls in grades K-12. It shares after school programs and some classes with the nearby all-girls Chapin school. The school focuses on preparing students for college, and has a strong liberal arts curriculum. It is regularly ranked as one of the best private schools in New York.

Admissions Information

Application Open: August

Interview Due: December

Applications Due: December 15

All Materials Due: January 12

Required Materials

Online Application Portal: You must apply online. Brearley uses Ravenna to handle their applications.

Standardized Tests: Either the ISEE or SSAT is required.

Interview: Interviews are required, and must be done in person. These are done as part of a campus visit. These may be scheduled after you submit the online application.

Parent Interview: Also done in person, as part of the campus visit.

Recommendations: Recommendations from your math and ENglish teachers are required.

Transcripts: These are required from your current year and the past year.

Other materials: All students must take Brearley’s own math and English assessments. These are done during the school visit and interview. You must also submit a graded essay with teacher comments from an English or history class.

Need assistance with the admissions process?

Academic Information

Curriculum Information: Brearley’s curriculum is a mix of required courses and electives.

Graduation Requirements: 

  • 4 years of English
  • 3 years of math
  • 3 years of science, one of which must be biology
  • 4 credit sequence in one foreign language, or three credits in one and two in another
  • 20th century world history, US history, and 1 year of history electives
  • Studio art, drama, or music in grades 9 and 10
  • 4 years of PE, including health in grade 11
  • Community service in grades 9-11, and junior and senior seminars

 

Note that these are the minimum graduation requirements. We recommend, and colleges prefer to see, that students have taken four years in each of the core academic subjects: Math, English, Science, Social Studies, and a foreign language.

Language Options: 

  • French
  • Greek
  • Latin
  • Mandarin
  • Spanish

 

Research Options: 

  • Advanced science research seminar is a three year sequence where students read research papers and discuss topics with scientists from local universities.

 

Advanced Study Options: 

  • Math options include game theory, number theory, and linear algebra.
  • There are introductory and advanced computer science options available.


Educational Philosophy: The Brearley School challenges girls of adventurous intellect and diverse backgrounds to think critically and creatively, and to act with courage and integrity. The School fosters a love of learning, excellence in the liberal arts, and engagement in a lively and inclusive community. Guided by dedicated faculty and staff, students learn to uplift one another as they grapple with complex ideas and develop a strong sense of self. We value empathy, originality, and depth of thought and character. The Brearley community cultivates the joy of lasting friendships, the confidence to pursue one’s ambitions, and a commitment to the greater good.

Happy female student taking notes while using laptop with her classmate during a class at high school.

Extracurricular Options

Campus Information: Brearley occupies a number of buildings. The lower schools are all in single buildings, while upper school students sometimes cross between buildings.

Arts Programs: Students can investigate the arts through both coursework and extracurriculars at Brearley.

  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Visual Arts

 

Athletics: Brearley’s athletics department offers numerous teams to students.

  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Field Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Track
  • Volleyball


Clubs: A collection of clubs at Brearley can be found here.

5/5
Wendy Y.
Parent
Below is my son's review. He was accepted to his dream Ivy League school!

From an admitted student's perspective, I am incredibly grateful to have met Sasha - he has been instrumental in helping me achieve my educational dreams (Ivy League), all while being an absolute joy (he's a walking encyclopedia, only funnier!) to work with.

Many people are dissuaded from seeking a college counselor because they think they can get into their desired college(s) either way. Honestly, going that route is a bit short-sighted and can jeopardize your odds of acceptances after years of hard work. The sad truth is, the American education system (even if you attend a fancy private school and ESPECIALLY if you go to a public school) doesn't really tell students how to write a compelling and authentic application. Going into the admissions process alone, without speaking with an advisor, is like going to court without a lawyer - you put yourself at a significant disadvantage because you don't have all the facts in front of you, or the help you need to negotiate the system.

That said, you need a good lawyer just like you need a good college counselor. And that's where Sasha distinguishes himself from the crowd of people claiming they'll get you into Harvard. I came to Sasha worried about and frankly dumbfounded by the college admissions process. I was unsure what to write about and how to go about drafting the essay that perfectly captured my passion, interests, and self. And I was highly skeptical that anyone could really help me. But, damn, did Sasha prove me wrong. From the beginning, Sasha amazed me with his understanding of the process, and ability to lend clarity and direction to me when I desperate needed it. After interviewing me about my background, experiences, activities, outlook, and vision, he helped me see qualities about myself I had not previously considered 'unique' or 'stand-out.' This process of understanding myself was so incredibly important in laying the groundwork for the essays I eventually wrote, and I'm certain I would've drafted boring, inauthentic essays without it.

Looking back, Sasha's talent is that he can see where your strengths lie, even when you don't see them. The truth is, although we don't always realize it, everyone has a unique story to tell. Sasha helped me see mine, and with his big-picture insight I was able to write the application that truly encapsulated my life and vision. He inspired me to dig deeper and write better, challenging me to revise and revise until my essays were the most passionate and authentic work I had ever written. As clichéd as that sounds, that's really what universities are looking for. In retrospect, it makes sense - in the real world passionate (not simply intelligent) individuals are the ones who make a difference in the world, and those are the individuals colleges would like to have associated with their brand.

In the end, I was accepted to the college of my dreams, a feat I could not have achieved without the direction Sasha lent to me. Essays (and the personal narrative you develop through your application) matter so much, and can literally make or break your application. I have seen so many of my 'qualified' friends receive rejections because they wrote contrived essays that didn't truly represent who they were; conversely, I have also seen so many friends with shorter resumes accepted because they were able to articulate their story in a genuinely passionate and authentic way - I fall into the latter category.

As a former admissions officer at Johns Hopkins, Sasha knows what types of essays jibe well with universities, an invaluable asset to have in the admissions process. He is responsive, flexible, creative, positive, and witty. For anyone who is serious about going into the college admissions process informed and prepared, I highly recommend Sasha.
5/5
Arda E.
Student
I used Ivy Scholars to mainly help me with college applications. Within weeks of using this service, Sasha was able to simplify the already complex process. When it came to writing the Common App essay, Sasha didn’t just help with grammar and syntax, he brought my essays to life. Sasha also worked tirelessly to help solidify my extracurricular activities, including research and internship opportunities. Without his help, I would have never had an impressive resume.

Sasha is not only an extremely knowledgeable tutor, but also a genuine brother figure. His guidance, throughout my last two years of high school, was everything I needed to get me an acceptance letter from my dream schools (UC Berkeley, Tufts, Emory).

When it came to testing, Ivy Scholars worked like a charm. Sasha offered a very comprehensive plan when it came to completely acing my standardized tests. Without his test taking strategies I would have never gotten straight 5s on my AP tests and a 35 on the ACT.

Working with Sasha, I didn’t just become a good student, I became a genuine scholar.
5/5
Samson S.
Parent
We worked with Ivy Scholars during my son's senior year. I was concerned that we may be too late to take advantage of college advising but the Ivy Scholars team quickly and confidently directed us through the steps to ensure no deadlines were missed. Sasha's knowledge about schools, what they looked for in candidates, and how to maneuver the application process was invaluable. Mateo and Ryan worked with my son to help him create an essay that would get noticed and I am so appreciative he had their guidance.

Prior to securing Ivy Scholars, we tried using a less-expensive online service which was a terrible experience. As a parent, Ivy Scholars brought peace of mind to an area that was frankly overwhelming. This service was invaluable in the knowledge that we gained throughout the process. He has also met with my freshman daughter to provide guidance for her high school courses, career paths, extracurricular activities, and more.

Prior to signing with Ivy Scholars, I tried a less expensive online service and was very disappointed.

As a result of our work with Ivy Scholars, I am pleased to say that my son will be attending Stern Business School at New York University this fall! I highly recommend Ivy Scholars. Highly recommend!