How to Get Into Sierra Canyon School: Tips From the Experts

Overview of Sierra Canyon School

Founded in 1978, Sierra Canyon School is an independent, coeducational day and boarding school nestled in the suburban neighborhood of Chatsworth, California. It caters to early kindergarten through twelfth-grade students who are uncommonly creative thinkers, leaders, and learners from different parts of Los Angeles. For many years, SCS has admitted international students in seventh through twelfth grade who excel in a challenging learning environment. In combination with the rigorous curriculum of the Sierra Canyon, students are provided with an array of opportunities in the arts, sports, clubs, and a lot more!

At SCS, students are encouraged to learn and explore in alignment with the school’s trailblazing philosophy of Learning Forward. Sierra Canyon strives to provide students with rich educational experiences that equip them to rethink the familiar and embrace the unknown. At its core, SCS seeks to unlock the maximum potential of each student as their teachers inspire them in a dynamic learning environment.

Is Sierra Canyon Hard to Get Into? 

With many parents wanting to get their kids into the best boarding schools like Sierra Canyon, the competition is much tougher than you expected! There would be a couple of students applying who have more outstanding extracurriculars and scholastic achievements than you do, making your chances of getting in slimmer.  At Cardinal Education, we provide students with the differentiation they need to succeed. We offer boarding school admissions consulting, interview preparation, academic coaching, tutoring, and writing services for essays, parent statements, and personal statements. Our educational consultants know exactly how to get into Sierra Canyon School. Set yourself up for success and join hands with our experts today!

Sierra Canyon Application Process

Sierra Canyon School accepts online applications through the Standard Application Online (SAO) and the SCS admissions portal. The application requirements differ depending on your child’s grade level but here are the steps that you may expect: 

1. Submit an online application
2. Request for recommendation forms
3. Schedule an interview
4. Sign up for a campus visit (for 6th-grade applicants)
5. Complete a 15-minute writing prompt (for 7th-grade to 11th-grade applicants)
6. Take the student assessment (for pre-K to 5th-grade applicants)
7. Submit ISEE or SSAT scores (for 6th-grade to 11th-grade applicants; optional)
8. Submit official transcripts

Sierra Canyon School Admissions Requirements

Recommendation Letters

As a requirement in the Sierra Canyon School application, all applicants must submit recommendation letters. Take this as an opportunity to differentiate yourself from other students applying to SCS. Ideally, recommendation letters should emphasize your strengths and unique skills. Your recommendation letters should include your best qualities and all the reasons why the Admissions Committee should make you a part of the SCS community. However, you should keep in mind that every piece of information must be reinforced by your other credentials, including your extracurriculars, test scores, and GPA.

Do letters of recommendation really matter?

Irrespective of how spectacular your school records and skill set may seem, Sierra Canyon’s Admissions Committee is looking for the best of the best—students who excel not only in academics but in the broader world as well, those who fit perfectly with the culture and values of SCS, and students who are sure to excel in the SCS community. Our experts can help you be the perfect applicant for Sierra Canyon! With 20 years in the educational consulting industry, we have expanded our knowledge and expertise in the field. We know exactly how to get into Sierra Canyon School! Through tried-and-true admissions strategies, we will guide you as you aim for success in the Sierra Canyon School admissions process. Partner up with us today!

Transcript

Showcase your academic prowess through your transcripts! This will be a great indication that you are well-equipped and ready to take on the rigor of Sierra Canyon’s curriculum. But what if your school records are not that remarkable? We highly recommend that you start your preparation early. You can choose to work with our tutors and academic advisors to improve your grades and meet the requirements for getting into SCS. We offer diagnostic tests as well as tutoring and academic coaching for an array of subjects. For your convenience, all can be done in person or online. However, improving your grades will not guarantee your spot in the SCS community. For this reason, we offer a more holistic process that will teach you necessary skills such as organizational skills, time management, study skills, test-taking skills, note-taking skills, and writing and reading strategies to help you overcome challenges that might hinder you from succeeding.

Admissions Interview

Sierra Canyon School wants to know more about you, your family, your interests, your experiences, and your goals in life. There would be a lot of questions, some could be tricky, circling around how determined are you to get into SCS and why Sierra Canyon School. Remember, your answers should always be honest and interesting. Otherwise, the admissions officers might think you are not really interested in their school. Personal anecdotes can also set you apart from others as they can give insight into your aspirations that are not in your application. At Cardinal Education, we offer an interview preparation program to help families practice answering common interview questions. Be more confident and ace the admissions with the help of our experts!

Writing Sample

While Sierra Canyon does not require students to submit standardized scores, all applicants must complete a writing sample. To get into SCS, students are required to write an essay about a specific prompt or topic in a short span of 15 minutes. Because of the limited time given to students, many find it difficult to craft well-written essays, which is why we, at Cardinal Education, provide students with a Proctored Writing Sample (PWS) preparation to get them accustomed to writing under time pressure. Contact us to find out more!

Standardized Testing

Sierra Canyon School thoroughly evaluates a candidate’s admission profile. SCS has adopted a test-optional policy, given that these traditional standardized tests are only a fraction of what makes an applicant attractive. Although students may or may not submit, those who will choose not to, will not have any disadvantage in the admissions process. As your trusted advisors, we recommend that you submit SSAT or ISEE test scores as they will allow you to differentiate yourself even further, which increases your chances of being a part of the Sierra Canyon School experience.

Who are Sierra Canyon School’s notable alumni?

Many Sierra Canyon alumni have pursued different career paths and achieved success in their respective fields. Some of Sierra Canyon School’s notable alumni include:

1. Jason Collins – a former professional basketball player for the NBA and the first openly gay athlete in the four major North American sports. 
2. Michael Kuluva – a professional Figure Skater and the Fashion Designer of Tumbler and Tipsy.
3. Corinne Foxx – an actress and daughter of Jamie Foxx.
4. Ireland Baldwin – a model and daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.
5. Kylie Jenner – an American socialite, founder and CEO of Kylie Cosmetics, and reality television star.
6. Kendall Jenner – an American socialite, reality television star, and model.
7. Scotty Pippen Jr. – a basketball player for the NBA. Formerly playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, he currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. He is the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and Larsa Pippen. 
8. Willow Smith – a singer, actress, and daughter of actors Jada and Will Smith.
9. G Hannelius – an actress and YouTube personality known for her role on Dog with a Blog.
10. Kenyon Martin Jr. – a basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA and the son of former NBA All-Star Kenyon Martin.

Student Life at Sierra Canyon

At Sierra Canyon, students are empowered to bring out their most ethical, creative, physical, and intellectual promise through a diverse student-teacher culture, small class sizes, and a family-like environment. At present, SCS’s park-like campuses serve more than a thousand students in pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade. The school strives to reflect the diverse multicultural population of the Los Angeles community. Sierra Canyon fosters an inclusive and welcoming community that celebrates all cultures by diversifying its student body, faculty, and staff.

Sierra Canyon Academics

Sierra Canyon School fosters a conducive learning environment where enterprising students, ingenious teachers, and forward-thinking leaders work collaboratively to frame an education on the adventurous edge. The SCS faculty and staff create hands-on learning experiences in various avenues—in the classroom, on the stage, on the field and court, and in transformative journeys. At Sierra Canyon, are armed to thrive in the best colleges and universities, establish meaningful careers, and utilize their unwavering optimism to better the broader world.

Sierra Canyon Activities

At SCS, active participation in extracurricular activities is a vital part of the learning experience as it promotes shared learning, reinforces educational growth, and develops a passion outside the traditional boundaries of a classroom. Students have the opportunity to participate in a wide array of clubs and organizations of their choice. Sierra Canyon School offers 34 active clubs, including the Astrophysics Club, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), International Club, Women’s Rights Advocacy Club, Muslim Student Association, Music Appreciation Club, and Linguistics Team, among many others. Students who have other areas of interest are encouraged to start a new club or organization by submitting a club registration form in the Upper School Office and selecting a faculty advisor.

Sierra Canyon Athletics

Sierra Canyon takes pride in being one of the top athletic programs in California. Its sports teams have won 12 State Championships, 2 of which are in football, 1 in girls’ volleyball, 4 in girls’ basketball, 2 in girls’ soccer, and the remaining 3 are in boys’ basketball. SCS has won 19 CIF Championships, 64 League Championships, and 13 California State Championships. The school provides its student-athletes with state-of-the-art facilities, including the MJ Siegel Stadium, multi-use football/soccer/lacrosse stadium, and the Athletics Center. It has a wide variety of sports offerings, such as football, girls’ volleyball, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, girls’ soccer, track and field, softball, baseball, girls’ tennis, swimming, golf, boys’ soccer, girls’ cross-country, and lacrosse, girls’ beach volleyball. 

Sierra Canyon Arts

Sierra Canyon Arts cultivate insightful artistry to stimulate students’ untapped potential. Through rich course offerings in the visual and performing arts, the SCS arts program empowers students to challenge themselves and delve deeper into the field of arts. It provides students with an avenue to express their artistry as they establish confidence, develop tools for creative innovation, and present artworks through formal and informal kinds of performances and exhibitions. Sierra Canyon allows its students to experience and develop enjoyment, interest, and curiosity in their own creativity and that of others.