Upper School Admissions Process

Whether you are considering Nichols or have already begun the application, please contact a member of the admissions team with any questions you may have! Call the admissions office at 716-332-6325 or email the team at admissions@nicholsschool.org.

A complete Nichols application includes the following:

Online Application. Please create an account or log in at www.nicholsschool.schooladminonline.com. We require that student and parent sections of the application be completed and submitted prior to your child’s interview.
Admission Test. All Upper School applicants must take our admission test. You will be able to schedule your test date once your application is started. There will be a number of testing days throughout the fall. You must register in advance for a test date. A completed application is required in advance of sitting for the test.
Writing Sample. All applicants are required to provide a writing sample. You can find this writing prompt on the checklist in your child’s online account.
Student Interview. We require all applicants schedule an interview either at the end of a campus visit or through Zoom. This is an opportunity for us to get to know your child’s interests and strengths. At times, students will be take part in group interviews which allow us to connect students with prospective classmates. We also welcome the chance to answer questions about Nichols School. To schedule your interview, please contact our office at 716-332-6325 or admissions@nicholsschool.org to schedule your interview.
Recommendations and Transcript Release Forms. There are three recommendation forms that are required to be completed by your child’s current teachers and returned to the Admissions Office electronically. All Upper School applicants are required to submit a recommendation for Math and English. There are two optional recommendation forms for artists and athletes that may be filled out at the discretion of the applicant. A transcript release form must also be sent to your child’s current school. The recommendations and the transcript release forms can be found in your child’s checklist once you’ve created an online account.
Student Campus Visit. We require all students to visit Nichols School at one of our Admissions events. This is perhaps the best way for students to learn about Nichols and for us to learn about your student. Any of the following meet the requirement for a student campus visit:
- Open Houses are large scale events that allow students and families to tour campus and learn about the robust programs we offer. Registration links for Open Houses can be found here.
- Viking Visits are events take place during the school day during which students can attend Nichols classes from 8:00 - 12:15am. During these events, we hope students enjoy getting to know our students and teachers and learn more about the culture at Nichols. While we do not pair students with a host, there are many Nichols ambassadors in the classes they will attend. A complete application is required for students to register for a Viking Visit, and students can register through the application checklist.
- Small Group Tours will be scheduled, when possible, for students or families that cannot attend a Viking Visit or an Open House. Contact the Admissions Office directly to schedule a tour.
Financial Aid Application. Please note that if you are applying for financial aid or a scholarship, you will be required to submit a separate application through the online system Clarity. Financial aid is need-based and more information about the application and to see if you qualify can be found on the Tuition and Value page of our website.

We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about your child through the application process. Call us at 716-332-6325 or email admissions@nicholsschool.org.