New Students, New Applications: A Look at How the Class of 2029 Got Into Walls

Buried under interviews, forms and essays, applying to high school can feel like stepping into the unknown. Nerves and stress are common as 8th graders complete the process, all the while wondering if they will walk through the halls of SWW next school year.

As the first months of school come to an end and students are settled back into their classrooms, many high schoolers look back on the admissions process that brought them here. From essays, to interviews, to recommendations, the School Without Walls application process seems to change every year. 

The class of 2026 had a very simple application process. Applicants were required to report their 7th grade GPA and complete a short, 5-15 minute interview. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, these interviews were conducted online. Sophie Fetsch (‘26) said that she “did an online interview for 15 minutes,” and was asked two to three questions, while her parents were only asked one. In general, the current seniors agree that the process was very relaxed and stress-free. 

The class of 2027 had a similarly simple and quick experience, however they had less of a positive reaction compared to the previous class. While some recall being comforted after submitting their applications so quickly, others feel as if their skillsets and personalities couldn’t shine through in such a short time. Addis Getachew (‘27) said, “It felt like my whole application was relying on a five minute chat rather than teachers who know me.” She was disappointed not only by the limited aspects of the application, but she felt like she couldn’t do her best because of the timeframe of the interview.

After strict COVID restrictions were lifted, SWW developed a completely different process for the class of 2028. First, applicants submitted their transcripts and letters of recommendations through My School DC. Then those who were accepted were given an interview date. Finally, after conducting a five-minute interview, applicants wrote a 30 minute essay. Each group of applicants received a different prompt.

When asked about the writing portion, Genevieve Pezalla-Werth (‘28) commented, “It was less like an essay and more like a little paragraph.” Sydney Klarfeld (‘28) agreed, saying, “We were given a single piece of paper and told we were only allowed to write inside the box on the front page.” By confining students to a succinct word limit, they were forced to consider what was truly important. Pezalla-Werth said that it “made my essay more concise and thoughtful.”

Surprisingly, this new format only lasted for one year. The Class of 2029 completed an admissions process more closely resembling that of the juniors and seniors. The only difference being in-person interviews, rather than online ones. SWW decided to remove the essay portion and the mandatory recommendation letters, only requiring the students to submit their middle school transcripts and attend an interview. Similar to previous years, Gisele Leonard (‘29) mentioned that the interview “was quick and easy,” and recalled that they only asked her three questions. 

Despite the constantly changing application process, students across all grades reflect on their personal experience with positive memories and less stress than they anticipated.