The admissions office released decisions for next year’s new Upper School students on March 13. This year’s number of applicants across all campuses saw an approximate 30 percent increase from last year.

Applicants to the Upper School numbered close to 250, with about 200 applying for the ninth grade. Typically, openings for ninth grade range from 25 to 40 spots, depending on the year.

“I think that as our reputation for a school grew, the number of applications certainly has increased. That’s impacted by the economy sometimes–if the economy is down, then the applications rate kind of drops. When people are confident in the economy, then applications go up,” said Nan Bassoni, Director of Admission and Financial Aid.

Shreya Dixit (11), who entered Harker as a freshman, recalls her application experience.

“It was my first time ever doing an admissions process, and it was a lot of work because we had to write so many essays, and I think your parents also have to write what they think too,” she said. “I think it was a really good experience because now as an incoming senior, I’m going to be applying for colleges soon, and it was nice to have some sort of preliminary experience that prepares you for the process.”

Applicants are evaluated based on their grades, activities, essays, and teacher recommendations, among other things.

“We want to make sure that the student is going to be comfortable in the academic environment. We want a student who wants to learn, who loves to learn,” Bassoni said. “But there’s a range of test scores that are acceptable. There’s a range of students that are very comfortable here at Harker, [..] and because we have so many applications from students who fit that bill, then we look very hard at how else will the student contribute to the school community.”

In some years, students are given additional consideration based on the school community’s needs.

“We’re often looking for male singers because they’re harder to find. One year, about half of the jazz band was graduating, so Mr. Florio told me when you’re going for the applicant pool, we’re going to be looking for brass instruments,” Bassoni said. “It’s those kinds of things that we really find has an impact.”

While the admissions committee is often on the lookout for potential athletes, the school community had no particular needs for certain students this year.

The admissions process began in the fall with outreach events, such as open houses, to attract and inform applicants. Applications came in from October through January.

“This time of year, between the end of January and early March, I’m reading files; that’s what I’m doing right now. I rate them. And then the committee will meet, and we’ll discuss them,” Bassoni said.

Next year, Bassoni will be overseeing only high school admissions instead of financial aid and admissions across all three campuses as she does now. She will retire the following year.

Contracts for accepted students are due back to the school on March 21.