We publish 9 in-depth prep guides covering 6 selective enrollment and competitive admission schools in Washington, including BASIS Independent Bellevue, BASIS Independent Bothell, Eastside Catholic School, Lakeside School, Seattle Preparatory School and The Overlake School — covering essays, exam strategy, and application timelines.
BASIS Independent Bellevue's admissions team personally scores the ISEE writing sample on six specific criteria — and families never see those results. This post reveals exactly what the team looks for and how targeted essay practice gives Bellevue applicants a real edge before December 2026 testing begins.
BASIS Independent Bothell reads every ISEE essay — even though ERB doesn't score it. This guide shows Seattle-area families exactly what admissions looks for in the writing sample, why your child's first test attempt is the only one that counts, and how to build the timed writing habits that make a real difference.
BASIS Independent Bothell now requires the ISEE starting with 2026–2027 admissions — and the school only accepts your child's first score submission. This guide covers ISEE levels, on-campus test dates, stanine targets, and what BASIS admissions actually looks for beyond the numbers.
Eastside Catholic accepts three entrance exams for 2027 — and picking the wrong one costs prep time. This guide compares the HSPT, ISEE, and SSAT with EC-specific score targets, retake rules, and scholarship thresholds so your family can choose and prepare with confidence.
Eastside Catholic requires student essay questions for every applicant — and ISEE or SSAT takers submit a writing sample on top of that. This post breaks down exactly what EC admissions readers look for, how to approach the most common prompt structures, and how timed Essay Writing Practice Tests help 8th graders build the authentic voice EC values.
Writing a 100–250 word admissions essay for Lakeside School is harder than it sounds — especially for students in grades 5–9 who've never had to compress their ideas that tightly. This guide gives you a concrete framework, sample prompt analysis, a before/after revision, and timed Essay Writing Practice Tests to build the skill before application season opens.
Most Seattle Prep applicants focus on GPA and grades — and completely underestimate the HSPT Quantitative Skills section. This post breaks down exactly what the 52-question STEM reasoning subtest tests, why it matters beyond just getting in, and how targeted practice gives your child a measurable edge before the December testing window.
Seattle Prep is Washington's top-ranked Catholic high school, and every applicant must take the HSPT by early January. This guide covers the December test window, competitive score targets, and the class placement stakes that most prep resources completely miss.
The Overlake School admissions essay is just 200 words — and every single one counts. This guide gives 9th–11th grade applicants a concrete writing framework for the Ravenna personal statement, explains how the SSAT writing sample is different, and decodes Overlake's holistic values so your essay feels authentic, not performative.