International Students

No, all applicants must complete either the Standard Application Online (SAO) or Gateway Application.  International applicants have a $200 application fee. All applications are due by January 15.

No, Berkshire does not offer ESL courses.

Yes. Students who do not identify English as their first language are required to submit one of three approved English proficiency tests: TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS. Students who have studied at an English-speaking school for four or more consecutive years may inquire about waiving this requirement. Though Berkshire doesn’t hold a hard benchmark score, the average TOEFL score is over 100.

At the beginning of the 2019-2020 school, prior to the COVID pandemic, Berkshire embarked on a three-year test-optional trial period to collect data about the validity of standardized testing’s ability to predict a student’s potential for success at Berkshire. Based on our research, we are confident that academic performance, character and citizenship, and community contributions are the factors that are most relevant in understanding a student’s fit at Berkshire, and we have remained test-optional.

To begin the process, please first submit an INQUIRY FORM . From there, we encourage you to explore our Guide to Applying page.

Applicants from mainland China are required to interview with a representative from Vericant before scheduling an interview at Berkshire. Please CONTACT VERICANT to make your appointment. Once you've submitted your Vericant interview, you are invited to contact our office to inquire about interview availability. If we are unable to offer an interview with a member of our team, the Vericant submission will satisfy the interview requirement for their application.

Exceptions to the Vericant requirement include those who have been studying in an English-speaking school for four consecutive years or more or have been immersed at a junior boarding school in the US for two consecutive years or more and without placement in ESL classes. We can also waive the Vericant requirement for those who submit a TOEFL test (or equivalent) with a score of 110 or higher.

Yes! One of our favorite parts of the admission process is traveling the globe to identify and connect with future Berkshire Bears. Please feel free to visit our On the Road page to see where we're headed next. 

Our Admission team interviews both international and domestic students.  Throughout the application review process, we look for evidence of Berkshire’s core values of curiosity, integrity, respect, inclusion, perseverance, and resilience. Berkshire is a strong, vibrant, and open-minded community, and we are looking for those applicants who are eager to take advantage of our unique learning environment and embrace all that makes our community even stronger. The committee holistically considers all aspects of a student’s experiences and background when making admission decisions. All decisions are made within committee; however, our Director of International Recruitment oversees all international applications.

Berkshire is proud to offer financial aid assistance for international families. Please submit your financial aid application through Clarity, which is very mobile and user-friendly. Financial aid applications are due by January 15.

Berkshire must first receive your enrollment contract prior to an I-20 being issued. Typically, I-20s are mailed to new students in early June. This should provide enough time for families to get the proper visas and make travel arrangements.

Lissa McGovern, Berkshire’s International Student Program Director, joined the Berkshire community in 1999 and serves as an advocate for all international students. She works to promote understanding and appreciation of the many cultures represented among students through community-wide activities. In addition, she supports students through the legal aspects of studying in the US, as the School's PDSO for the Student Visitor and Exchange Program. In this role, she, along with Mrs. Gibbons, aids students in obtaining and maintaining F-1 status throughout a student's academic career.

Along with many members of the community, Ms. McGovern supports students in their transition from their home countries to Berkshire’s community through a variety of activities beginning over the summer and continuing as students arrive to become acclimated to their new home away from home, and throughout the school year. Current global students also offer support to new students during this time. Ms. McGovern works closely with the Admission Office to ensure students are academically ready for Berkshire's curriculum and engages with families throughout the process of coming to campus.

In addition to her role as International Student Program Director, Ms. McGovern serves as an English teacher, dorm parent, advisor, Afternoon Program leader, and faculty advisor to the Bears Worldwide Community.