Admission

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Applying to GPS

Steps in the Process

The GPS admission process is designed to introduce you to our mission, values, and vision and to help you envision your daughter as a student here. We also want to get to know her! Click on the drop-downs below for detailed information on each step of the admission process. We are here to help you at any point in the process. Email or call us at 423.634.7644.

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  • + Tour GPS

    The best way to get a feel for GPS is to see it in action! Engage in a guided and personalized tour of campus where you can see the environment for yourself and ask questions. Click here to schedule your tour today! Your daughter is welcome to join.

    This step is optional.

  • + Schedule a Parent Conversation

    Meet your admission counselor and discuss our curriculum, activities, and school community. During this one-on-one conversation, we will also spend time getting to know your family better. This can be scheduled at the same time as a campus tour, if desired, or completed via Zoom. Schedule your Parent Conversation here.

    *A completed admission application is strongly recommended to schedule a Parent Conversation. 

    This step is required.

  • + Register for a Student Visit Day

    Bring your girl to campus so she can experience a day in the life of a GPS student! She will meet new friends and get to know our teachers while enjoying fun activities. 

    View dates and register here!

    This step is required.

  • + Attend an Admission Event

    We offer a comprehensive event schedule that features both on-campus and off-campus events to help you gain a better understanding of GPS and the unique way the curriculum is designed to help girls thrive. Visit our events page to view and register for upcoming events that are of interest to your daughter and family.

    This step is optional.

  • + Complete the Admission Application

    The GPS Admission Application for the 2025-26 school year is available on our parent portal, MyGPS.
    • If you are new to the GPS admission process, click here to create your MyGPS account and begin the admission application. After two business days, you will also have access to the Admission Checklist in your MyGPS portal—a tool that will help you keep up with the different steps of the application process and their deadlines.
    • If you are a current GPS family, faculty member, or past applicant, you do not need to create a new account. Simply log in with your email and password and click on your applicant's name in the upper left corner to get started. To complete the Admission Application, click on “Fill out” next to the application step on the Admission Checklist, to begin.

    This step is required.

  • + Submit Supporting Admission Documents

    Candidates are required to submit the following supporting documents. This process is handled electronically through your MyGPS account.
     
    • English and Math Recommendation
      • Candidates are required to submit teacher recommendations from their current math and English teachers. This process is handled electronically through your MyGPS account.
    • School Records + Transcript
      • Candidates are required to submit school records from their current school. School records include: official transcript including current and previous grades, records of standardized testing, records of attendance, and any disciplinary records, if applicable. This process is handled electronically through your MyGPS account. The request form will be available in MyGPS November 1.

    • Previous Standardized Test Scores
      • All applicants must submit standardized test scores. Scores such as the CTP4/ERB, T-Caps, GA Milestones, Iowa Testing, ISEE, PreACT, PSAT, or other standardized tests are accepted. If your daughter does not have standardized test scores, she should take the SSAT. Visit SSAT.org for registration information.
        • When registering, please indicate that you would like to share your daughter’s scores with GPS—our school code is 3425.
    This step is required.

  • + Admission Assessment

    With a wide range of applicants from a variety of academic learning environments, GPS will host an Admission Assessment to see where your daughter is academically.

    For more details, click here.

    This step is required.

  • + Complete the Tuition Assistance Application*

    *if applicable
    The tuition assistance application opens on September 1 and is due on January 15 for new families. We encourage families to begin this process as early as possible, in case questions should arise. Visit GPS.edu/TuitionAssistance for detailed information on the application process and required components.

Admission Timeline for 2025-26

August 15, 2024
Admission Application open

September 1, 2024
Tuition Assistance Application open

December 15, 2024
Early Decision Application due
Tuition Assistance Application due for all families

January 15, 2025
Regular Admission Application due

January 18, 2025
Early Decision admission decisions announced

March 1, 2025
Regular Admission decisions announced

April 2024-July 2024
Rolling admissions where space is available

If you are interested in applying to GPS for the current school year, please contact the Admission Office at Admission@GPS.edu or 423.634.7644 to inquire about availability.

Early Decision at GPS

If you know GPS is the school for you (and we hope you do!), we have an early decision option for those applying for admission for the 2025-26 school year. 

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  • + What is early decision?

    You may have heard the term “early decision” in the past in reference to college admissions. It refers to a process in which a student completes her application for admission early so that an acceptance decision will be announced sooner. Early decision acceptances are binding, which means a student who is accepted agrees to attend that school and remove themselves from the admission process at any other schools.

  • + Why is GPS adding an early decision option?

    We recognize that the admission process for independent schools is involved and time consuming, and we know you have other experiences and obligations that require your attention. For families who know GPS is their top choice for continued education, applying early decision will expedite the process and give you peace of mind for your next steps. Additionally, early decision applicants can:
    • be present and focus on the experience of their current school
    • have peace of mind
    • plan and coordinate schedules for the year ahead
    • make informed financial decisions in regards to their next educational journey
    • reduce distraction in the classroom
    • request school transcripts and teacher referrals sooner
    • compete with a smaller applicant pool 
    • celebrate acceptances early and become enmeshed in their new school community 
    • have a second chance for acceptance during the traditional timeline if their early decision admission is deferred

  • + Will I receive my tuition assistance award with my early decision announcement?

    While our tuition assistance budget is limited, GPS will be able to offer some need-based tuition assistance awards for early decision applicants. However, most tuition assistance decisions will be made following the traditional timeline with announcements made on March 1. To receive a tuition assistance decision on January 18, families must complete all the tuition assistance requirements in their Clarity profile by December 15.

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  • + When is the early decision period?

    With the GPS early decision process, all steps are completed before the new year, and families will be notified of their admission decisions in January.
    • Application Opens: August 15
    • Application Due: December 15
    • Tuition Assistance Application Due: December 15 *if applicable
    • File Complete: January 10
    • Decision Announced: January 18
    • Decision + Deposit Due Back: January 24

  • + Who is eligible for early decision?

    Early decision at GPS is for families who know GPS is their top choice for continued education. Anyone can apply for early decision at GPS, but they should understand the decision is binding. All students who apply for early decision will be notified of their admittance status on January 18. Accepted students must sign their enrollment contract and submit their enrollment deposit by January 24.

  • + If my family does not receive tuition assistance in the early decision process, will we be considered for assistance in the traditional timeline announcement?

    Yes. Although our tuition assistance will be limited in the early decision process, we will continue to review admission and tuition assistance files and offer additional tuition assistance awards during the regular decision process on March 1. Each year, our tuition assistance requests far exceed our ability to meet them; however, we will continue to make every effort to review each file and distribute need-based assistance to the best of our ability.


Admission Criteria

Through the admission process, we want to consider all aspects of what makes a girl special and unique. When reviewing submitted applications, our Admission Committee evaluates all components of each girl’s career as a student and her interests outside of school. We review current school transcripts, teacher recommendations, in addition to considering her extracurricular activities, accomplishments, interests, and what we have learned about her through her admission application and our interactions with her during admission events. 

In making admission decisions, our goal is to form a class of girls with a broad range of talents, interests, personalities, and backgrounds. Space is limited and we may not be able to accept all applicants. Some students may be added to our waitlist. In other situations, students may be denied admission at that time but encouraged to apply again the following year. Each applicant is carefully considered.

Early Admission decisions will be announced on January 18, 2025; Regular Admission decisions will be announced on March 1, 2025.

If you need assistance at any step in this process, please contact us by emailing Admission@GPS.edu or by calling 423.634.7644.


Girls Preparatory School

PHONE (423) 634-7600    HOURS M-F 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.