Graduate Admissions Policies

If your cumulative grade point average is below the 3.0 general admission requirement, you may apply for Provisional Admission by completing the application process for Graduate Admission and a graduate entrance exam. We understand that a test score cannot evaluate an individual’s character, emotional awareness, or depth of spirit, but consider them, alongside your other application materials, as a tool for assessing readiness for graduate level study.
The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) measures the test taker’s verbal comprehension, analytical thinking, and the ability to connect ideas through a series of analogies. The median score for the MAT is 400, with a standard deviation of 25. We are looking for MAT scores falling between 375 and 425. Scores must be less than 2 years old. You must request that The Psychological Corporation send your original test scores to The Seattle School at admissions@theseattleschool.edu. The Seattle School’s reporting code for the MAT is 2499. For a testing center in your area, visit MAT online or call 1-800-622-3231.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. The GRE verbal and quantitative sections are each scored on a range from 130 to 170, for a maximum total of 340. The essays are scored on a scale of 0–6. We are looking for verbal and quantitative scores ranging from 150-160 and essays scoring 4 or higher. Scores must be less than 2 years old. You must request that The Educational Testing Service send your original test scores to The Seattle School at admissions@theseattleschool.edu. The Seattle School’s reporting code for the GRE is 4895. For a testing center in your area, visit GRE online or call 1-800-GRE-CALL.

If you are granted acceptance, you will be admitted under academic probation, which requires a minimum of a 3.0 GPA after the completion of the first trimester of study at The Seattle School.

Note: Entrance exams are only required for applicants with a GPA below 3.0 and for those who have not earned an undergraduate degree.

We highly value the whole of the life experience of each of our applicants. Each year, we are able to admit a limited number of students to our graduate programs who have not completed a traditional undergraduate degree, but whose life experience merits the ability to apply. Admission based on life experience is solely intended for those who have been prevented from accessing higher education due to extenuating circumstances or systemic barriers.

Our life experience criteria for applying include:

• Being over 30 years of age
• Having at least 10 years of work experience
• Having at least 3 years of work and/or volunteer experience that is relevant to their desired graduate degree
• Having experienced historic or systemic extenuating circumstances or barriers that have prevented access to higher education

If you meet these criteria, then please submit a curriculum vitae in support. A curriculum vitae (CV) is similar to a résumé, but with more detail about your background and skills. If you need help getting started, you can download a CV template here. Please save it in .pdf format with the title “Your Name – CV”. Submit it by email to admissions@theseattleschool.edu with the subject line “Life Experience: CV Submission”.

After you have submitted your CV, our Director of Enrollment will review and determine whether you meet our life experience criteria. At that time, one of our admissions counselors will be in contact with you to answer any questions you may have.

If you are approved to continue with the Life Experience application, we will send you an email with the next steps in your application process. This will include submitting a Life Experience Portfolio, which is composed of your CV, transcripts for any postsecondary courses that you have completed, and an academic writing sample.

To honor the time, commitment, and care necessitated by the Life Experience application process, all Life Experience Portfolio materials must be submitted no later than January 1, 2024 in order to be considered for the upcoming Fall 2024 cohort.

Applying from Non-Accredited Institutions

If you have a degree from a non-accredited institution, you may be granted provisional acceptance with full admission based on satisfactory work in residence. A copy of the institution’s catalog, providing context about the program of instruction, faculty credentials, and learning resources must be submitted at the time of the application. Additional information and/or prerequisite coursework or may be required at the discretion of the Admissions Review Committee to establish degree equivalency.

If you are a student outside the United States drawn to study with us at The Seattle School, we welcome you! International students are responsible for pursuing, securing, and maintaining appropriate student visa status through the United States government. Our Office of Enrollment is committed to coming alongside you as you pursue this course of study. To best support you, we encourage you to apply at least six months prior to enrollment.

In addition to completing the process for your graduate application, please provide the additional materials below:

• Proof of English Proficiency – English proficiency may be exhibited through satisfactory completion of the Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Miller Analogy Test (MAT), or Graduate Record Examination (GRE). This requirement may be waived if you received your education in an English-speaking institution.
• Transcript Translation – Transcript translation and/or grade conversion may be required to assist our Admissions Review Committee.
• Evidence of Financial Support – Complete the Evidence of Financial Support form and all required financial documents. This is a federal immigration requirement and the information provided here allows our Academics Office to support your student visa process. When you complete the form, please note the different costs of attendance between those who intend to relocate to the United States and those who will continue to reside in their country of origin. You will need to show evidence of financial support that is in keeping with your intended country of residence.

The Seattle School accepts up to 15 semester hour transfer credits from other graduate-level programs.

• Transfer credits must have been completed at an accredited, graduate-level institution.
• Official transcript must indicate a grade of B (3.0 or higher) for coursework to count for graduate level transfer credit.
• Course content must be an 80% match for the parallel course at The Seattle School.
• Course work must be completed within five years of the application for the credits to transfer.
• Any previously earned graduate-level coursework must be submitted to the Registrar within your first two trimesters of study at The Seattle School to be considered for transfer credit.

To begin the process of transferring credits, submit your official transcript(s) for any relevant graduate-level coursework to the Admissions Team for initial assessment. The Registrar makes final decisions regarding transfer credit, with input from appropriate faculty as needed. There are some exceptions to the requirements outlined above.

Seattle School students who are in a withdrawn status or have been on a leave of absence for more than three semesters; accepted applicants whose yearlong deferment has expired; or applicants who withdrew their application post-acceptance less than 2 years ago are all eligible to reapply for admission. Please reach out to admissions@theseattleschool.edu to determine the process for your reapplication.