You’ve come to the right place if you want your child to be admitted to Harvard-Westlake School. This independent co-ed day school in Studio City, California is widely considered among the best private schools in the nation (look at their college matriculations for the 2023-24 academic year if you’re not yet convinced!). But getting into this Ivy League feeder school is no walk in the park. In 2023, a mere 24% of applicants were accepted, a rate lower than some highly selective colleges. In the face of this competitiveness, families must come to the admissions process without any illusions about what works and what doesn’t. Let’s review Harvard-Westlake’s application process and share some expert advice to help families steer clear of the wrong approach:

The Harvard-Westlake Application Process: Step-by-Step

Harvard-Westlake Application Steps	Ivy Coach Explainer
1. Admission Inquiry	Complete this brief questionnaire to gain access to Harvard-Westlake’s application portal. Note that HW typically only admits students applying for grades 7 or 9.
2. Application and Financial Aid Forms	Now that you’ve gained access to the HW application, fill out your personal information and pay the application fee. If you’re applying for financial aid, follow separate instructions found at hw.com/financialaid – note that your application fee will be waived if you apply for financial aid.
3. Student Questionnaire	Have your child fill out the Student Questionnaire at least two days before your scheduled interview. Better yet, allow Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers to guide your child through this supplement, as these answers are crucial for driving home your child’s singular hook.
4. Visit Campus	Think Harvard-Westlake doesn’t care about demonstrated interest? Think again! Just like its elite college counterparts, Harvard-Westlake wants to admit highly enthusiastic students who have demonstrated their interest by visiting campus or attending a virtual tour. Parents should further consider registering for information sessions at hw.com/visit
5. Interview	Sit for your interview with a member of the HW staff. Check out Ivy Coach’s tips for acing your college interview to learn more (as our advice remains the same for private high schools!).
6. Standardized Testing	Have your child take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) and select Harvard-Westlake as a score recipient. For admission to the 2025-26 school year, submit score results from a single test taken between August 1, 2024, and January 17, 2025.
7. Recommendations	Enter recommender email addresses in your application portal between November 1st and January 17th. Note that HW requires recommendations from your child’s current English teacher, current Math teacher, and current administrator.
8. Transcripts	Email the Authorization for Release of Applicant’s Record and Transcript form to the registrar or an administrator at your current school.

Getting into a Top High School is Much the Same as Getting into a Top College

It’s worth keeping in mind that much of the same advice that we at Ivy Coach would give to the families of college-bound students remains the same for those intent on getting into Harvard-Westlake. Whether their office looks out over a university quad or a high school football field, admissions officers across the board want to admit likable, enthusiastic students who have distinguished themselves with a compelling singular hook. 

Don’t get us wrong: most middle schoolers haven’t explored enough to have a strong singular hook. But with Ivy Coach’s help, your child cafn signal their intention to explore a specific cause, pursuit, or discipline at Harvard-Westlake by taking advantage of the many extracurricular opportunities and resources this top-notch school has to offer. You’ve already made the strategic move to research Harvard-Westlake admission, so now is the perfect time to enlist our help.

Our team of former elite college admissions officers knows what sets apart successful Harvard-Westlake applicants from the majority who face rejection (an acceptance rate that we forecast will only decrease as the value of a Harvard-Westlake education continues to increase). 

So, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our services.