Loomis Chaffee School

SILVER PROGRAM

School Location

Windsor, Connecticut

Establishment Year

1874

Platform

Gateway, SAO

Website

Link

Acceptance Rate

28%

Deadline

Jan 15

Overview

Writing Requirements

Candidate Profile (Common)

Academic, Athletic and Personal Achievements (1,500 characters)
- Please note your interests and activities in areas such as music, drama, art, community service, debate, writing, athletics, employment, or hobbies. We understand that some candidates have more opportunities for organized activities than others, but we are interested in how you spend your time outside of the classroom. Please only submit information from the past two years. Please use the “Add More” button below the first two listings if you would like to enter additional activities. If you still need more space, please use the “Additional Information” section.
- Academic, Athletic and Personal Achievements-List or briefly describe any academic or personal achievements of which you are especially proud. Use this area to note any academic honors you have received. (1,500 characters)
Additional Information/Explanation (6,000 characters)
- If you would like to provide any additional information that was not specifically requested or did not fit in the spaces provided, you may use the space below or upload a PDF (files must be under 1MB). Please only submit relevant information from the past two years. Do not upload grades, official test scores or transcripts in this section.
- If you have a document in a format other than PDF, you can download an official add-in for the latest versions of Microsoft Word that can convert Word documents to PDF. View the Gateway Knowledge Base article at https://www.gatewaytoprepschools.com/articles/6-creating-and-reducing-size-of-pdf-files for more information on creating PDFs. Please do not add pictures or scan printed documents. Doing so will potentially cause your file to be too large to upload.
- Provide Additional Information (6,000 characters)
Multimedia Description 1&2 (1,500 characters)
- Please check with the school to see if they have other ways of accepting multimedia.
- Students who have a very strong interest in a particular area are invited to submit up to two links to multimedia content. Examples of multimedia content that students have provided in the past include YouTube videos, music files, and art portfolios. Be sure to provide a description of the content in the space provided. Many schools no longer accept CDs, DVDs, videotapes or portfolios. Links are the simplest and most commonly accepted way to send multimedia to schools.
- NOTE: If you have more than two links you may add them to the “Additional Information” section above along with a description. Please limit additional link submissions in the “Additional Information” section to no more than three multimedia links.
- If your multimedia will not be available until later, do not delay in submitting your Candidate Profile now. Each school participating in the Gateway system has alternative means of accepting multimedia later in the application process. Consult each school for directions.
- Description (1,500 characters)

Parent Statement – Short Answer

Is there anything concerning the sequence of your child’s schooling that you think we should know? (750 characters) (*)
What has posed the biggest academic and/or extracurricular challenge for your child? (750 characters) (*)
Please share with us any additional personal qualities, strengths, weaknesses or experiences that you think would be helpful as we evaluate your child’s candidacy for Loomis Chaffee. (750 characters) (*)
If applicable, is there an event that you would deem significant in your child’s life thus far? (750 characters) (*)

Candidate Statement – Short Answer

Which of the activities or interests that you selected in Part One are most important to you, and why? (1,000 characters) (*)
Describe a community you are a part of – a family, neighborhood, town, city, team, activity, class, peer group, etc. – and its impact on your development as a person. (750 characters) (*)
Choose one word to describe yourself and explain why it describes you. (1,000 characters) (*)
Tell us something about yourself that we will not learn from other parts of your application.(1,000 characters) (*)

Candidate Essay

Please answer ONE of the following questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. (*)

Prompt 1 – Explain the impact of an event, activity or person that has changed your perspective. What did you learn, and how did you change? (3,000 characters)
Prompt 2 – Ne cede malis – or yield not to adversity – is the Loomis Chaffee School motto. Tell us about a time when you have faced a challenge, how you overcame it, and what you learned from it. (3,000 characters)
Prompt 3 – The LC mission statement promises “to inspire in its students a commitment to the best self and the common good.” Describe how either “best self” or “common good” apply to your interests or experiences. (3,000 characters)

Recommendation

Additional Academic Recommendation
Current Principal/Counselor Recommendation (*)
Current English Teacher Recommendation (*)
Current Mathematics Teacher Recommendation (*)
Personal Recommendation

Optional Materials

Additional Materials

Some candidates wish to share additional information with us regarding areas of special interest or talent. Multimedia links should be provided via your application for admission, either the SAO or Gateway application. We will not review links from Google Drive or social media pages. We prefer Vimeo, Hudl, or YouTube links. Please contact us at admission@loomis.org if you have questions regarding submission of talent-based material.

Standardized Testing & English Testing

Standardized testing

Loomis Chaffee does not require standardized testing except for those students whose first language is not English and who have had fewer than two years in an English-instruction school.
If you are not submitting test results, we strongly encourage the submission of a third academic recommendation. Whether submitting testing or not, it is vitally important that your student submit the Test Optional Form on their Loomis Chaffee admissions portal to indicate whether they are planning on submitting standardized testing for us to review. An application will not be considered complete and ready for review until this form has been submitted.
If you wish to submit testing in support of your application, we prefer the SSAT or ISEE for applicants entering grades 9 and 10.
We prefer the PSAT, SAT, or ACT for those students applying for grades 11–postgraduate.
Please note all testing must be sent by the official testing agency and received by February 1.

English testing

All international residents must demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English.
The TOEFL or IELTS is required for those with fewer than 2 years in an English speaking school and whose first language is not English.
We also accept as a third option the DuoLingo English test if the TOEFL or IELTS exams are not available in your area.
Please note that all international residents must demonstrate English proficiency prior to scheduling an interview with a member of the admission staff.
Typically, a TOEFL score will be 100 or higher, and an IELTS score will be 7 or higher.

Interview

How to Request an Admission Interview

Complete Loomis Chaffee Inquiry Form

School Instructions:

Completing this form will enable us to provide you with the link to schedule your interview.

About Loomis Chaffee School

About Loomis Chaffee School

Loomis Chaffee is an independent college-preparatory boarding and day school for grades 9–12 and postgraduates, located in Windsor, Connecticut. It was chartered in 1874 and opened in 1914.
The school’s mission is “to inspire in students a commitment to the best self and the common good.” This phrase serves as the foundation of its educational philosophy and community life.
Loomis enrolls approximately 748 students, with about 70% boarding students and 30% day students.
Students come from 32 U.S. states and 46 countries. The school offers a challenging liberal arts curriculum supported by athletics, arts, innovation programs, global studies, leadership development, and civic engagement opportunities.
Loomis describes itself as a place where students are empowered not only to prepare for the future, but also to solve real-world problems starting today.
The school’s motto is “Ne cede malis” (“Yield not to adversity”). Students are encouraged to face challenges boldly and act with purpose.

School Is Known For

The guiding principle of “The Best Self and the Common Good,” which connects personal growth with service and responsibility to others.
A rigorous liberal arts education designed to nurture intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
Signature interdisciplinary centers that connect classroom learning with real-world impact:
- Alvord Center for Global & Environmental Studies
- Norton Family Center for the Common Good
- Pearse Hub for Innovation
- Center for Inclusive Excellence & Belonging
- Kravis Center for Excellence in Teaching
Strong emphasis on experiential learning, project-based learning, innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking, research, and civic engagement.
Encouraging students to apply learning to meaningful challenges and create lasting positive change in their communities.
A broad educational experience where academics, athletics, arts, leadership, and service are considered equally important parts of student development.
Strong writing instruction through school-wide Writing Initiatives and Writing Workshop programs.
Development of globally engaged and environmentally conscious leaders through dedicated programs and international experiences.
Small classes (average size 11 students) and a 4:1 student-faculty ratio that support close faculty mentorship.

Culture

Loomis repeatedly emphasizes a culture built around belonging, individuality, and community.
Students are encouraged to:
- Welcome the challenge
- Lead with confidence
- Embrace their individuality
- Work toward positive change
The school promotes the idea that students should become their best selves while contributing to something larger than themselves.
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are woven into the school’s educational philosophy through the Center for Inclusive Excellence & Belonging.
Loomis states that every member of the community should feel seen, connected, valued, supported, and able to bring their full selves into the learning environment.
Human connection, care, and inclusion are described as everyday practices rather than separate initiatives.
Students are encouraged to understand different perspectives, engage in civic life, and become active participants in a diverse democracy and global society.
The community values collaboration, friendship, support, and mutual respect alongside academic achievement.
The school’s founders established the institution on the belief that educational opportunities should not be limited by religion, gender, national origin, political beliefs, or financial resources. This commitment remains part of the school’s identity today.
Loomis describes itself as a welcoming community that celebrates students for who they are and who they want to become

SILVER PROGRAM