How to Apply Start Your Journey

It Begins Here

The path to becoming a part of our community begins with a few steps. This page outlines our straightforward application process to make your experience as smooth as possible.

List of 2 items.

  • Middle School Application Path

    Step 1: Create Your Ravenna Account
    • Visit Ravenna and create your account. This platform is your starting point for the application process.
    • Search for Crystal Springs Uplands School and click ‘Explore’ to access our events and application materials.

    Step 2: Engage with Our School
    • Participate in ‘Why Crystal’ events to gain insights into our community and curriculum.
    • Attend ‘Connect with Crystal’ events, in-person/virtually, to connect directly with our staff and students.

    Due to space limitations, in-person events and family tours are exclusively for sixth-grade applicants.


    Step 3: Complete the Preliminary Application
    • Submit your child’s preliminary application through Ravenna, marking the official start of their application.

    Step 4: Student Statement and Activity Form
    • Your child must complete a student statement, including a common essay and Crystal-specific short-answer questions.
    • The Student Activity and Interest Form is also required, highlighting your child’s extracurricular interests.

    Step 5: Teacher Recommendations and Transcripts
    • Recommendations from the fourth and fifth-grade teachers or the current Math and English teachers are required. If the fourth and fifth-grade teacher is the same, request a recommendation from the third-grade teacher.
    • Request the principal or counselor to submit a recommendation.
    • Obtain and submit transcripts from the last academic year and the first semester/trimester of the current school year.

    Step 6: Proctored Writing Sample
    • Register for a proctored writing sample through a third-party platform. This is a shared requirement with other Bay Area schools.

    Step 7: Schedule Student Interviews
    • An in-person group interview is required.

    Step 8: Parent/Guardian Interview
    • Conduct your interview using the Kira platform at your convenience. This interview is an opportunity for you to share more about your child.

    Step 9: Review Optional Submissions
    • Supplemental information can be submitted through Ravenna. This includes additional recommendations, links to portfolios, or a free response text box.



    Key Dates:

        • Application Deadline: January 9th
        • Notification Date: March 15th
        • Decision Date: March 22nd
     
  • Upper School Application Path

    Step 1: Create Your Ravenna Account
    • Visit Ravenna and create your account. This platform is your starting point for the application process.
    • Search for Crystal Springs Uplands School and click ‘Explore’ to access our events and application materials.

    Step 2: Engage with Our School
    • Participate in ‘Why Crystal’ events to gain insights into our community and curriculum.
    • Attend ‘Connect with Crystal’ events, in-person/virtually, to connect directly with our staff and students.

    Step 3: Complete the Preliminary Application
    • Submit your child’s preliminary application through Ravenna, marking the official start of their application.

    Step 4: Create Your Ravenna Account
    • Your child must complete a student statement, including a common essay and Crystal-specific short-answer questions.
    • The Student Activity and Interest Form is also required, highlighting your child’s extracurricular interests.

    Step 5: Teacher Recommendations and Transcripts
    • Need recommendations from the current Math and English teachers.
    • Request the principal or counselor to submit a recommendation.
    • Obtain and submit transcripts from the last academic year and the first semester/trimester of the current school year.

    Step 6: Proctored Writing Sample
    • Register for a proctored writing sample through a third-party platform. This is a shared requirement with other Bay Area schools.

    Step 7: Schedule Student Interviews
    • Virtual group discussion interviews are conducted.

    Step 8: Parent/Guardian Interview
    • Conduct your interview using the Kira platform at your convenience. This interview is an opportunity for you to share more about your child.

    Step 9: Review Optional Submissions
    • Supplemental information can be submitted through Ravenna. This includes additional recommendations, links to portfolios, or a free response text box.



    Key Dates:

        • Application Deadline: January 9th
        • Notification Date: March 15th
        • Decision Date: March 22nd
     
We’re here to support you every step of the way. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to our admissions team at admission@crystal.org. We’re excited to potentially welcome your child to the Crystal Springs Uplands School community and be a part of their educational journey.

Applying to Crystal: Application 101

This is the start of Your Journey

Contact

Admission Questions:  admission@crystal.org

Middle School

10 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94002
650-645-1000

Upper School

400 Uplands Drive, Hillsborough, CA 94010
650-342-4175
Nondiscriminatory Policy: Crystal Springs Uplands School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Website Accessibility Statement: Crystal Springs Uplands School is committed to making this website accessible to visitors with disabilities and is continually working to increase its accessibility and usability. We are on a regular basis seeking opportunities to bring all areas of the site up to the same level of overall web accessibility. If for any reason, you cannot access any of the material on our website, please email webadmin@csus.org and we will work to resolve the problem as soon as possible.