Our work at the Pingry Office of Enrollment Management is both bound and inspired by Pingry’s longstanding commitment to academic and personal excellence, a theory we put into practice with our admissions process and tuition assistance program.

The Pingry Office of Enrollment Management is dedicated to recruiting, admitting, and encouraging applicants who love school, are committed to academically excellent, thrive in extracurricular activities, and represent diverse backgrounds. The students we enroll contribute to Pingry’s dynamic community and are poised to become future leaders in our global society, grounded in an ethical framework that values honor and respect.

How does it work?

  1. A completed application will be read in its entirety by at least three different members of the admissions committee.

  2. Each candidate’s application will be introduced to the full admissions committee by the members who reviewed it.

  3. The admissions committee will engage in a comprehensive discussion about the candidate’s application in the context of the current makeup of            the grade level to which the applicant is applying.

In total, at least a dozen individuals will thoroughly review a candidate’s application during the full admissions process.

Our goal is to ensure open communication from the Enrollment Management Office to every prospective family, to the extent that it is appropriate, in our admissions process.

Individual-centered process for every applicant.

Every admissions decision is made by considering the entire applicant pool and ensures that no personal biases, preferences, or connections impact the outcomes. All applicants follow the same application process and are held to the same standards for admission.

At Pingry, we admit individuals, not just numbers. We do not operate within quotas based on school, state, region, race, ethnicity, religion, gender,  socioeconomic background or any other protected class.

We also recognize that defining "the best" students is complex. Our goal is to assess each student's achievements and potential, and to allocate our limited seats in order to craft classes of students that reflect a diverse mix of interests and passions.

Accessibility

At Pingry, accessibility means that everyone interested in applying to Pingry should understand how to apply, be able to complete the application process, and, if admitted, be able to afford to attend. We recognize that a Pingry education is a significant investment by parents/guardians and do our best to minimize  tuition being a barrier for entry. We believe that socioeconomic diversity enriches our community and is critical to our mission.

At Pingry, we employ a holistic approach to admissions. We evaluate each component of your application as part of a unified and thorough review process. Your background and life experiences are conveyed through one section, while another section details your academic accomplishments and school experience. Your teacher recommendations offer us a glimpse into your character and intellectual contributions, and your essays shed light on your ideas and interests, and what matters to you.

What unites all students who are admitted to Pingry is our belief that they will excel here. 

Every year, we receive applications from many more qualified students than we can accept. While we're on the lookout for students who embody qualities that align with Pingry's values—students who are multifaceted and eager to contribute to our community's growth through their dedication to personal and academic excellence—there isn't a single "perfect" student profile we're seeking. The students we admit come with diverse interests, activities, backgrounds, and experiences, and we truly value this diversity.

Character

Our Honor Code is the soul of Pingry. We seek individuals who will support and uplift one another as leaders in their communities. We are interested in admitting those who feel a strong sense of responsibility toward their communities, prioritizing the collective well-being over individual gain. 

Academic Excellence

At Pingry, our main focus for admission is outstanding academic achievement. We evaluate your readiness and potential to excel, expecting you to engage deeply with your studies and sustain a robust academic record throughout your education. 

We do not admit students who we anticipate will not thrive here. It does not benefit the school, and more importantly does not benefit the individual student, to grant admission when it is not a mutual match. Our limited spots for admission are reserved for those who possess the necessary qualifications, preparation, and intellectual curiosity to make the most of their opportunity at Pingry.

Intellectual Curiosity

We are eager to witness your enthusiasm, dedication, and genuine passion for broadening your intellectual landscape, as reflected in both your self-written statements and the feedback we receive from others. We are looking for individuals who excel in critical thinking and teamwork, communicate effectively, listen empathetically, adapt to evolving information, and prioritize their well-being along with that of their communities. 

Multidimensional Individuals

Understanding your extracurricular activities and personal interests provides insight into how you might enrich the Pingry community. At Pingry, we believe that excellence encompasses a wide range of attributes. We seek students who contribute their diverse talents and perspectives to our academic programs, extracurricular activities, and community life.

Institutional Needs

Enrollment decisions can be frustratingly perplexing to applicants, as independent schools are trying to balance many institutional needs at once, supporting existing programs and goals alongside newly established ones.  Weighing these internal priorities, such as recruiting for specific academic, artistic and athletic talents, enhancing all dimensions of diversity, or accommodating community applicants — defined as current siblings, legacy applicants, and children of faculty and staff — is an important factor influencing enrollment decisions. 

At Pingry, each grade level has unique and ever-changing institutional needs and admissions officers do not disclose these criteria to the public. Although this may be frustrating, it's simply the reality of the admissions process at independent schools like Pingry. Accepting both the complexity around institutional needs and the ambiguity of acceptances or denials can help mitigate frustration, as decisions reflect myriad internal considerations.