Field School ~ FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Into what grades does The Field School mainly accept students?

The Field School mostly accepts students in most grades each year, though the majority of students come to Field in the 7th or 9th grades. Spaces for 8th, 10th, and 11th grades are available every year in smaller numbers, depending on individual circumstances. Only occassionally do we take new 12th graders, but it is not unheard of. Please give us a call no matter what grade you are interested in and we will help you out.

What kinds of students are you looking for?

Successful Field students come in many forms. Indeed, the first word of Field's mission statement is "Self-Discovery" -- and our students will tell you that one thing they love most about our school is that "at Field, you can truly be yourself and it's OK!" We look for students are are interested in the world, who will benefit from knowing their teachers well (and vice versa), and who want to be part of a small but expansive community -- a place where everyone is themselves.

Are there students who are likely to be less successful at Field?

Every student is an individual. That said, here are some rough guidelines. Field provides a great degree of individualized academic discipline, but it is a relaxed and encouraging campus for the most part. Therefore, students who require a high degree of disciplinary structure -- students who frequently test the limits of allowed behavior -- are not always well-matched to Field. Some students may find the relatively small size of the school (which is reflected in our various programs) may inhibit their development at the highest levels as athletes, musicians, or "advanced placement" students. At the same time, we can proudly point to many Field students who have competed as Division One college athletes, who have attended superb music schools, and (too numerous to count) who have attended the most competitive colleges in the world.

Is it hard to get students to and from the Field campus on Foxhall Road? You aren't on the Metro system!

Transportation to and from Field is easy. The significant majority of students comes and goes each day on our shuttle buses, which run from the Metro system. In the morning, students can shuttle to school from both the red line (at Friendship Heights, Cleveland Park, and Woodley Park) and the blue/orange line (at Foggy Bottom). The trip from the Metro takes only about ten minutes. Students may also come to school by carpool or, in some cases, by foot.

In the afternoon, shuttles run back to the red line Metro every 30-40 minutes between 3 pm and 6:30 pm, when all sports have concluded.

What is the difference between the morning tours and the monthly open houses?

Field prefers that parents come for the small morning tours and then, if they believe Field may be right for their child, apply and schedule a classroom visit for the student. These small-group tours allow you to see the school up-close and the classes in-action. They also include a question-and-answer session with the Director of Admissions. Though these tours are designed for parents, more mature students are also welcome.

The monthly open houses between October and January are open to students as well as parents, providing a more general view of the school and what it has to offer. We find that students get a much keener picture of Field from the required visit to the school after the formal application has been received. When students visit Field for their day, we realize that they will most likely be seeing the school for the first time. But in our experience, differentiating the visit for students and parents provides for the best opportunity for both to understand what Field is all about.

Why does Field ask parents to sit in on their child's interview? Isn't that intimidating for the child?

When each applicant is interviewed -- by the Director of Admissions Will Layman or the Associate Directors Maureen Miesmer or Michele Wiles -- the questions are directed toward the child. The vast majority of parents tell us that they greatly valued the opportunity to hear first-hand about their child's day at Field, and have often learned more about their child and Field by sitting in on the interview. Our experienced interviewers help ease a child's nerves, and we find the time with the applicant and parents one of the most valuable parts of the application process. Parents (or students) who feel strongly that parents should not be present for the interview may certainly make that choice, but we recommend otherwise.

What if we have trouble getting the online application to work?

The staff at Infosnap is available to talk you through the online application. If you have trouble, please call their customer support center at 301-986-1600. In our experience, they have never failed to help a family! If your problems seem insurmountable even after calling Infosnap, download the application and fill it out by hand, then mail it in (Admissions, The Field School, 2301 Foxhall Road NW, Washington, DC 20007) or call us and we will mail you a paper application. Families without Internet access are certainly welcome to call us for a paper application: 202-295-5839.

How do I file for financial aid, and why is the deadline so early?

Families apply for financial aid by submitting the SSS form online (through www.nais.org) and sending a copy of their W-2s and 1040 form to Field. The SSS form allows a company in New Jersey to analyze each family's financial situation and send a report to Field. The financial aid committee at Field considers both the SSS report and the other family submissions in determining the financial aid award. Financial aid letters are mailed with decision letters in early March. To determine financial aid in time for that mailing date, Field must have all family financial information in place by February 1. We understand that may require some families to estimate their taxes in order to submit their information to SSS by January 15 to allow for processing time. In that case, families should send their 1040 and W-2s directly to Field as soon as they are available. Financial aid awards are subject to change if a family's financial information is substantially different on the 1040 form.

We also strongly encourage families to investigate other financial aid resources, including the The Washington Scholarship Fund (Signature Scholars Program), the Black Student Fund, the Latino Student Fund and Capital Partners for Education.

Want to Get Started Inquiring About The Field School for 2011-2012?

To get to know The Field School better, we recommend that you come on a morning tour or take in one of our open houses.

Small Group Tours: Starting on October 1st, we will be leading small-group tours (for parents or older students) every morning beginning at 8:30am. This is the best way to first encounter our school—to see classes in action and meet the admissions team. You must sign up in advance to reserve a place on a tour: Call Michele Wiles at 202.295-5838 or send her an email at MicheleW@fieldschool.org.

Open Houses: We will be hosting open houses on the following dates this fall—September 23rd, October 16th, NOvember 18th, and December 4th.

Ready to Apply? If you already know Field and are ready to apply, then CLiCK HERE. Once we receive your electronic application, we will call you and invite your student to spend a "shadow day" at our school, following by a conversation with a member of the admissions team.