Gill St. Bernard's School admissions in Gladstone, New Jersey ask Middle School and Upper School applicants for the SSAT or the ISEE and a graded writing assignment from the current school, with the regular application due January 8, 2027. Decisions are announced February 19. I've seen families gather the test score and the transcripts and forget that the writing assignment has to be pulled from a real class.
Gill St. Bernard's Admissions at a Glance
- Regular application due January 8, 2027. Application fee: $90.
- Supplementary checklist materials due January 29. Financial aid (CLARITY) application due February 1.
- Admission decisions: February 19, 2027. Enrollment contracts due March 5, 2027.
- Admission testing: the SSAT or the ISEE.
- A graded writing assignment from the applicant's current grade and school.
- Grade 9 Early Action: application due December 1, 2026; decisions December 15.
Middle and Upper School Checklist
The checklist is the same shape for grades 5 to 8 and grades 9 to 12.
- The application with the $90 fee, through the school's form or the Standard Application Online.
- A student visit and parent or guardian interview, arranged after the application arrives.
- Transcripts for the two most recent completed years and the current year, plus all standardized testing, sent after the first marking period.
- Two current teacher recommendations: one math, one English or language arts.
- A graded writing assignment from the current grade and school.
- Admission testing: the SSAT or the ISEE.
The Graded Writing Assignment
The school asks for one graded piece from the current grade. The page does not print a length or a topic.
The strongest choice is usually the piece the teacher marked with comments, because it shows how the student responds to feedback. I've seen a student pick a perfect-score worksheet over an essay with a teacher's notes, and the notes would have helped more.
Written work and a timed test are both hard to judge on your own, because a familiar reader hides the gaps and an untimed attempt hides the pace. Start the combo plan for timed STEM Critical Thinking test simulations and detailed Essay Writing feedback.
SSAT and ISEE Dates
The page lists the SSAT at Gill St. Bernard's on December 12, 2026, after earlier fall dates, and also allows the ISEE. Both tests include quantitative reasoning and math sections.
The page does not print a last test date. The January 8 application deadline and the January 29 supplementary materials date are the ones to plan around.
Dates, Early Action and Rolling Admission
The regular timeline is the January 8 application, the January 29 supplementary materials, the February 1 aid application, February 19 decisions and March 5 contracts.
Grade 9 applicants have an Early Action option: application due December 1, decisions December 15 and contracts December 30. After January 8, the school accepts applications on a rolling basis. In my experience, families who aim for the January 8 date keep the most options open.
Gill St. Bernard's Admissions FAQ
Q: Does Gill St. Bernard's require the SSAT or ISEE?
A: Middle and Upper School applicants complete admission testing: the SSAT or the ISEE.
Q: What is the regular application deadline?
A: January 8, 2027. The application fee is $90.
Q: Is a writing assignment required?
A: Yes. Applicants submit a graded writing assignment from their current grade and school.
Q: When are decisions announced?
A: February 19, 2027 for the regular round. New student enrollment contracts are due March 5, 2027.
Q: Is there an Early Action round?
A: Yes, for grade 9 only. The application is due December 1, 2026, decisions are announced December 15 and contracts are due December 30.
Q: Which recommendations are required?
A: Two current teachers, one in math and one in English or language arts.
Q: What happens after January 8?
A: The school accepts applications on a rolling basis, reviewed as they are received.
Scored Practice for Gill St. Bernard's
Gill St. Bernard's asks for the SSAT or ISEE and a graded writing assignment. Use STEM Critical Thinking Practice Tests for timed test simulations with progress tracking and Essay Writing Practice Tests for practice essay prompts with detailed grading and feedback. The combo plan covers both, or compare all plans and pricing first.
