Learn More & Apply

The Inquiry Form will help us learn more about your family. Once the form is submitted, you will soon receive our viewbook and other informational pieces from the School, along with an email outlining next steps and helpful tips for the application process. 

Complete Inquiry Form

There are numerous way to learn more about Dexter Southfield. During the summer, the Admissions Office offers tours and informal chats with members of the Admissions Team. For more information regarding arranging a visit, please click here. For updates and a glimpse into daily life at Dexter Southfield, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 

A visit to Dexter Southfield is an essential part of the application process, and there is no better way to get to know our community than a personal campus tour. We know that a tour and interview are critical moments in time for your family as you get to know Dexter Southfield. Please note, an interview is a required step for the application process. 

To schedule your tour, please create a Ravenna account and use our online booking calendar, you will find this under the Campus Visit/Student Interview application step.  

Middle School & Upper School Candidates 

In-Person Student and Parent/Guardian tour and interview: 

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 1:45 p.m. 
• Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Virtual Student and Parent/Guardian tour and interview: 

Applicants to Classes 6-12 are required to take the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) or the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) during the fall or winter preceding their anticipated enrollment date. 

Applicants to Classes 6-8: Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE)

Applicants to Classes 9-12: Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) or PSAT/SAT/ACT

The TOEFL is required when English is not the applicant's first language.  

Middle and Upper School applicants will find the following short-essay questions on their application. We encourage applicants to review these topics in advance and be thoughtful in their responses. 

1. Describe EITHER an academic or extracurricular event/activity that has influenced your way of thinking about yourself and/or the world around you. What did you learn from that experience?
    
2. Each person has unique characteristics that define who they are. Choose three words that best describe you as a person, and explain how they represent you.
    

3. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? From whom did you receive the advice and how did you apply it?
    

4. Learning to step outside their comfort zone, students at Dexter Southfield learn by doing and develop a willingness to take measured risks. Tell us about a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. How did it affect you? What did you learn from the experience?

Using the student profile in Ravenna, candidates for admission to Dexter Southfield can manage their application, submit required documents, and view admissions decisions (March 10). Dexter Southfield uses the Boston area common forms for its admissions process, which can be accessed and submitted through the Ravenna Admissions portal. 

Students applying using the SAO must also create a Ravenna profile. Our team will pull all supporting documents over into the Ravenna account. The choice of platform has no bearing on admission decisions. The completed application is due by January 17 to ensure a March 10 decision and is comprised of the following: 

• Biographical Information 
• Application Fee: $65 Domestic, $65 International
• Student Interview 
• Standardized Tests (See Step 4 above for more information) 
• Student Essays/Candidate Statement (see step 5 above for more information) 
• Parent Statement 
• Recommendations – submitted online by current teachers (Required: School Administrator, English Teacher, and Math Teacher; Optional: Personal and Special Interest.) 
• Transcript – documents must include current and prior year grades 

The Inquiry Form will help us learn more about your family. Once the form is submitted, you will soon receive our viewbook and other informational pieces from the School, along with an email outlining next steps and helpful tips for the application process. 

Complete Inquiry Form

There are numerous ways to learn more about Dexter Southfield! During the summer, the admissions office offers tours and informal chats with members of the admissions team. For more information regarding arranging a visit, please click here. For updates and a glimpse into daily life at Dexter Southfield, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. 

A visit to Dexter Southfield is an essential part of the application process, and there is no better way to get to know our community than a personal campus tour. We know that a tour and interview are critical moments in time for your family as you get to know Dexter Southfield. Please note, an interview is a required step for the application process. 

To schedule your tour, please create a Ravenna account and use our online booking calendar, you will find this under the Campus Visit/Student Interview application step.  

Lower School Parent/Guardian Tour 

In-Person Parent/Guardian tour and interview: 

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 1:45 p.m. 
• Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. 

Virtual Parent/Guardian tour and interview: 

Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 1:45 p.m. 

Student visits are the second step toward completing the visit portion of the process. We will email you a link to our online calendar following a completed parent/guardian tour and interview.  

• Student visits for candidates applying to PreK and Kindergarten will be held on select Saturdays during the fall and winter.  
• Student visits for candidates applying to Classes 1-5 will take place virtually on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings at 9:00, 10:00, 11:15 a.m., and 12:15 p.m.

Please reach out to Admissions by email or phone (617-751-3600) with any questions or concerns. 

Using the student profile in Ravenna, parents/guardians of the candidate can manage the application, submit required documents, and view admissions decisions (March 10). Dexter Southfield uses the Boston area common forms for its admissions process, which can be accessed and submitted through the Ravenna Admissions portal. 

The completed application is due by January 17 to ensure a March 10 decision and is comprised of the following: 

• Biographical Information 
• Application Fee: $65 Domestic, $65 International
• Student Observation 
• Parent Statement 
• Recommendations – submitted online by current teachers (Required: School Administrator, current classroom teacher. Optional: Personal and Special Interest.)
• Transcript (Classes 1-5 applicants only) – documents must include current and prior year grades.