Apply

Application Materials & Info

The application process will begin on November 02, 2020. Current 8th grade students will create an online profile through our website. In addition to the questions within the application to be answered, we require the following documents to be uploaded within the online application:

• ACT scores
• Grade reports from 6th and 7th grades
• All quarter or trimester grades available to date from 8th grade
• Three total recommendations as follows:
  • Two teacher recommendations - one from Math or Science and one from Humanities (Language Arts or History)
  • One additional recommendation - this can be from a third teacher or school staff member in another discipline or from a non-family adult who has supervised the student in an on-going capacity and can speak to the student's other personal attributes or characteristics. Examples include but are not limited to: an electives class teacher, a community volunteer group supervisor, a religious or clergy supervisor, or a private instructor.
• Non-refundable $75 deposit (this may be waived upon demonstration of financial need)

Students should begin the application as soon as possible.  There will be a set of questions for you to answer, in addition to the above components.  We highly recommend filling out the questions and selecting the “submit” button.  This does not mean your application is complete, this means that your name will be in our system with an open application.  This will also give you more time to go back and upload ACT Scores, Grade Reports, and the payment.  This also gives your recommending teachers enough time to complete the questions that we will email them.  All portions of the application need to be completed by the deadlines below:

Application Dates

11.2.20  –  Applications Open! Applications for all interested students open online through the Robinson Center website.

2.8.21  – Early Decision Application Due Deadline for all applicants requesting an early decision. We understand that some families may need to know earlier than June about their child’s admittance into the Transition School. If a student wishes to be considered for Early Decision (March 31, 2021) they must complete and submit all application materials by February 8, 2021.  If they are not admitted at that time, they are automatically considered with the rest of the pool of candidates for final decision in June.

3.8.21  –  All Applications Due Complete online applications are due to the Robinson Center by 5pm

3.31.21  – Early Decision Notifications Applicants requesting an early decision will be notified of acceptance or placed in the applicant pool for the final decision date.

6.14.21  – Admission Decision Notifications All Transition School applicants will be notified of final admission decisions.

ACT Test

All Transition School applicants must submit ACT scores.  The ACT test helps us assess readiness for college-level work. We do not expect our applicants to prep extensively for the ACT; at most, read through the practice test and familiarize yourself with the format of the test. If the Transition School is the right educational fit for you, you should be able to take the exam without much preparation.

ACT Reading and Math scores in the 85th percentile or higher show potential readiness for college-level work.  However, we review applications with a holistic lens, so students applying with ACT scores below the 85th percentile are still encouraged to submit all materials.

Test Dates

Based on information obtained from the ACT website updated on 12/3/2020 12pm: The December 12th ACT at Chinook Middle School (Bellevue, WA) has been canceled by ACT. At this time, the Auburn (Dec 12) and Bellevue Hilton (Dec 12 and 13) locations remain open for testing, however, seat availability is not published and can only be determined by attempting to register. The ACT website has not published any information that we are aware of regarding the cancelation of any February test dates at this time.

We recognize the additional challenges introduced by the current COVID-19 situation with regard to fulfilling the ACT testing requirement of the Transition School application. We ask that applicants and their families make every reasonable effort to register and test at the December 2020 and/or February 2021 exam dates as allowed by state and local guidelines. At this time, several additional locations throughout Washington State are also intending to offer the exam on February 6-7, 2021. For a complete list of testing center locations and exam dates, please visit the Test Center Locator on the ACT Website

Transition School will continue to monitor this rapidly changing situation closely. Should access to the ACT exam become entirely prohibitive in the weeks and months ahead prior to the application deadline on March 8, 2021, we will work with families to accept alternatives as needed.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate these challenges with you to maintain the robust application process to determine student preparedness for Transition School and college readiness through the Early Entrance Program.

Code: When asked for a school code for the Transition School, enter either 481174 (if asked for a 6-digit code) or 9899 (if asked for a 4-digit code).

Grade Reports

Academic grade reports from 6th, 7th, and 8th grades are preferred and can be uploaded to the online application portal.  Screen shots of official online report cards may be substituted if necessary.  6th and 7th grade academic reports must include final grades for all courses completed.  8th grade transcripts must include all 1st semester or trimester grades.

Teacher Recommendations

Applicants will select two educators who can speak to the student’s academic performance and behavior in the classroom. One recommendation should come from a Math or Science teacher and the second from a Humanities (Language Arts or History) teacher.

In addition, applicants will select a third person who can speak to the student's other personal attributes and characteristics that may extend beyond the classroom. This recommendation must be from a non-family adult who has supervised the student in an on-going capacity and may include a third teacher or school staff member, a community group or volunteer supervisor, a religious or clergy supervisor, or a private instructor.

Those individuals selected by the applicant to provide a recommendation will not need to write a letter.  Applicants should communicate their intentions to apply to Transition School and request permission to include the person’s email address in the Robinson Center online portal as part of the Transition School application.  Transition School will send each person additional information and a questionnaire about the applicant to submit directly to TS.

Application Review

Once all the application materials are complete, and the application fee is paid, applications are reviewed by our Admissions Committee. This committee determines whether the applicant will move on to the next stage of the admissions process with an interview. Families of applicants will receive emails through each stage of the process to communicate progression.

Interview

The next stage of the application process is the interview. Should the candidate be invited for an interview by the admissions committee, they will participate in an all day family visit to Robinson Center.  Applicants will have the opportunity to engage with current Transition School students and participate in classes while their parent(s)/guardian(s) observe the classes.  At the end of the day, both the applicant and parent(s)/guardian(s) interview with the Admissions Committee.

Admission Decisions

Some applicants and their families request an Early Decision to assist in both educational and financial planning for the following year. If the application meets the criteria both for Early Decision and for admissions qualifications, an interview will be scheduled. Without a complete applicant pool against which to assess a student, the admissions committee must be confident and unanimous as to the applicants readiness. In some cases, the TS Admissions Committee may decide against Early Decision for an applicant; however, the applicant will be retained in the regular pool of candidates considered for an admissions decision in June.

Families will be notified of admission decisions according to the dates listed below:

Early Decision- March 31, 2021

(Final) Admission Decisions- June 14, 2021

All applicants are allotted one opportunity to appeal the decision of the application committee. Any denied applicant may appeal. Applicants that are waitlisted have not been formally denied and cannot appeal their position on the waitlist. They are eligible to appeal if they are denied after the waitlist period has expired. Generally, applicants petition if they believe their academic or personal circumstances could not be considered adequately through the standard admission review process or that an error occurred in the application review. All appeals must be received within two weeks of the Transition School’s admission decision.

How do I appeal?

All students can view the current status of their application to the Transition School by logging into their account on the RC website and clicking “View Applications” on the left column menu. When an application is officially denied, the application status will reflect this change and offer applicants a new link which they can follow to appeal the decision. Clicking on the “appeal” link will bring up a page where applicants can describe their appeal and upload up to three documents that contribute to the case they are presenting to the admission committee. We recommend preparing these materials prior to clicking the link.

What do I need to include in my appeal?

All appeals must include a formal appeal letter (no more than 3 typed pages), composed by the student applicant, which presents a clear and concise explanation of the applicant’s reasons for seeking reconsideration. Applicants should keep in mind that the application committee has already reviewed the original application. Typically, appeals present new information about the applicant or seek to provide additional explanation about aspects of the academic record that are not as strong, including information about circumstances and hardships, such as personal or family illness, factors related to a disability, or familial or cultural barriers that may have affected the applicant’s academic performance and record. Appeal letters should clearly explain why the applicant thinks they are a good candidate for the Transition School and why they are in need of the highly accelerated education offered by the Robinson Center.

Additionally, appeals may include (but do not require) supporting materials like updated transcripts, additional letters of support, or other documentation of the student’s experience.

What is the process for considering appeals?

All appeals are considered by the Robinson Center admission committee, which will reconsider each case and make initial decisions based on the information provided. If the RC admission committee decides not to support the appeal, it will be taken to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs, where it will be considered again from a different angle. Final decisions will come from Dean’s Office, approximately two weeks after the appeal was received.