How to Get Into San Francisco University High School

Overview

San Francisco University High School is a top private high school located in San Francisco, California. It has a total student population of 480 students from grades 9 to 12. With 69 faculty members, it has a student-teacher ratio of 7:1 with an average class size of 13. The small class size and student-teacher ratio ensure that each and every student is receiving the support that they need to thrive at UHS. Founded in 1973 by a youthful board of trustees and community activists, San Francisco University High School started due to a deep need for an innovative, coeducational, independent secondary school. For 50 years now, UHS has been providing the Bay Area community with a leading educational experience that sets standards across the country for professional growth, self-reflection, and innovation in a school.    

How hard is it to get into San Francisco University High School? 

Because of its reputation as a top-tier college preparatory school in the United States, San Francisco University High School is highly sought after by ambitious students and families. This makes admissions incredibly difficult and competitive. With 9th grade as the main entry point for UHS, they receive about 700 freshmen applications per year. As they generally only admit 120 students, this makes the acceptance rate quite low at around 17%. Transfer students into grades 10, 11, and 12 are only considered based on availability and there are only a very limited number of slots open.   

To increase your child’s chances of getting accepted into University High School, we suggest seeking the help of private school admissions consultants. Their complete understanding of the admissions process means that they can help build a plan of action on how to make your child stand out from the rest. 

San Francisco University High School Application 

The University High School application process begins by creating your account at Ravenna where you can sign up for events, fill out and submit application requirements, and monitor your application status. Here are the steps you should follow:

1. Submit the application.
2. Complete the Activity Form
3. Delegate teacher recommendations.
4. Complete the Student Personal Essay. 
5. Sign up for an admissions interview.
6. Request a transcript. 

San Francisco University High School Admissions 

Teacher Recommendations/Recommendation Letters

Found on Ravenna are the forms for letters of recommendation which the recommenders will submit online directly to the admissions committee. These letters are required from an applicant’s current teachers in English and math, as well as from their principal or counselor.  

Admissions officers will look at these letters with keen eyes as teachers can give a more thorough evaluation of your child’s character, personality, and academic aptitude. Teachers see your child on a near-daily basis and their professional and unbiased opinions can confirm your child’s potential for academic success. Our admissions consultants strongly recommend building strong positive relationships with your child’s teachers to receive strong recommendation letters.    

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement or Student Personal Essay is found on Ravenna. The applicant is required to answer the questions within a limited character or word count. These questions will help admissions officers get first-hand insight into your child’s personality, skills, and interests, as well as their expectations of studying at UHS. While the questions may seem simple, admissions officers are looking for specific characteristics and values that tell them your child is the perfect fit for the environment at UHS.   

Our years of working with families through the private school admissions process have allowed us to understand what exactly admissions officers are looking for. We can guide your child through their personal statement to highlight the most interesting traits and characteristics in order to stand out in admissions. Here are some useful tips on how to write a compelling personal statement. 

Admissions Interview

After submitting the preliminary application, students can schedule the required admissions interview. Registration typically begins on the first of December with the interviews themselves happening throughout January and early February.  

During these interviews, admissions officers will assess and evaluate your child based on how they carry themselves to determine if they will be a good fit for the University High School community. As experts with nearly 20 years of experience, we understand what these admissions officers are looking for. We also know that an interview is a nerve-wracking experience which is why we recommend informed interview preparation which builds up your child’s confidence by introducing them to common interview questions.  

Transcript

Applicants must submit a transcript of records from their current school of the previous school year as well as from the first semester of the current school year. The release and confidentiality forms may be downloaded from Ravenna and submitted to your child’s current school. 

Admissions officers will look at your child’s transcript in order to determine your child’s readiness to handle the rigorous academic environment of San Francisco University High School. If your child is still young, we suggest starting private school admissions consulting to consistently boost their GPA. Through online or in-person tutoring and academic coaching, our team of tutors and academic coaches work with your child to improve their grades all while developing executive function skills as part of a holistic strategy to prepare your child for life after the academe. 

San Francisco University High School Alumni

1. Eileen Gu – a Chinese-American Olympian known for being the youngest Olympic champion in freestyle skiing.  
2. Vendela Vida – an American writer of multiple novels and founder and editor of The Believer Magazine. 
3. Ali Wong – an award-winning American stand-up comedian and actress known for her Netflix comedy specials and for starring in her self-produced and written film Always Be My Maybe.  
4. Basil Twist – an American New York-based puppeteer known for his show Symphonie Fantastique. Twist is internationally recognized for his puppeteering and has been awarded numerous fellowships for his talent.   
5. Ari Gold – an American filmmaker and actor. 
6. George Watsky – an American rapper, singer, and songwriter known for his viral video “Pale kid raps fast.” He is also the former Guinness world record holder for the longest individual rap marathon. 
7. John Morris – an American voice actor known for his work in the Toy Story films as the voice of Andy Davis.
8. Olivia Somerlyn – an American singer-songwriter known professionally as Livvia for her singles Parachute, Catch a Body ft. Quavo, Damn, and Dizzy. 
9. Adam Pritzker – an American entrepreneur and member of the Pritzker family, one of the wealthiest families in the United States. He is also the co-founder of General Assembly and CEO of Assembled Brands.   
10. Robert Reffkin – an American entrepreneur who is the CEO and co-founder of Compass, Inc., a real estate brokerage.  

Student Life at San Francisco University High School

UHS is proud to offer its students a variety of opportunities that inspire curiosity and exploration. Students are encouraged to follow their interests and passions not just through academics but through a variety of extracurriculars such as athletics, student-run organizations, and more. Students who hope to see the world can do so with the School Year Abroad (SYA) program which allows them to live with families in Europe or Asia for a whole year while also earning the appropriate credits. Through the program, students can achieve fluency in another language, gain a deep understanding of life around the globe, and grow as tolerant and self-reliant members of society. 

San Francisco University High School Academics

The academic program at UHS provides students with a background in liberal arts and sciences through a rigorous curriculum. Students engage with our constantly changing world while also staying true to the University High School’s core values of inquiry, care, integrity, and interconnection. Students take an active role in developing and tailoring their own personal academic programs to fit their needs and wants. They’re encouraged to look at their own needs and wants as students in order to choose courses that will allow them to explore the unknown, evaluate other perspectives, and create solutions.     

San Francisco University High School Athletics

UHS offers a variety of sports across three different seasons. The school’s mission is to help athletes grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially through an enriching athletic experience. San Francisco University High School offers cross country, flag football, field hockey, tennis, club sailing, volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton, baseball, fencing golf, lacrosse, softball, swimming, tennis, and track & field 

San Francisco University High School Arts

The Arts Department at UHS is designed to teach students to embrace their creative freedom while understanding the theories and skills needed to create art. The department covers four different disciplines: Music, Theater, Visual Arts, and Arts Interdisciplinary. With over 35 art classes for students to pick from, a majority of UHS students take more than the minimum graduation requirement for the arts.  

Activities at San Francisco University High School

Students at UHS have a wide array of extracurricular activities available to them. The goal of all these offerings is to cultivate new interests and bring together students of the same interest. There are clubs, sports teams, affinity groups, student leadership opportunities, and performances for them to look forward to. University High School also cares deeply about its local San Francisco University and teaches its students to engage thoughtfully in order to create lasting connections. Students can participate in events such as local festivals, fun runs for charity, and collaborations with local community centers to preserve and invigorate the community.