FAQs

We enroll 24 students in each cohort.

The SEGL application includes basic contact information, writing samples, two teacher ecommendations, a parent/guardian statement, a graded paper, and a transcript.

We are interested in students with a clear commitment to fulfilling the mission of our school. Your academic record must show that you have taken full advantage of your school’s resources: successful applicants demonstrate that they are capable of and motivated for advanced, college-preparatory academic work. And you must be excited to add your background and values to a diverse and welcoming community. Finally, your record must also show a willingness to live by SEGL’s social contract. You will be given significant trust and responsibility here, and so you must not have a significant history of dishonest and/or irresponsible behavior. In particular, you must be willing to spend your time at the school drug and alcohol free (please do not apply if you might be tempted to break this rule!).

Yes, SEGL has enrolled many international students who can communicate fluently in English. We have the capacity to issue F-1 student visas to our Washington, DC program only. Please contact the admissions office to learn more about this process and additional requirements prior to submitting an application.

SEGL strives to have a need-blind admissions policy (meaning we do not factor family circumstances into admissions decisions), and we meet the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students. Families who seek financial aid should file Parent Financial Statements with the School and Student Service for Financial Aid (SSS), a program of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), by February 15. Financial aid grants are provided with admissions decisions in mid-March. SEGL will also work with families to address circumstances that the SSS does not highlight, as well as “hidden” expenses like transit to/from campus and business attire. For more information, please visit our Tuition and Financial Assistance page.

Though political leaders from across the spectrum will meet with SEGL students throughout the semester, the School is not aligned with any political group and does not seek to promote a political agenda. Our firm belief is that ethical challenges are not solved with sound bites, but with honest reflection and dialogue that includes as many differing perspectives as possible. We challenge students to think deeply and critically, but we do not attempt to prescribe the outcome of students’ thinking. With this in mind, we strive to provide a balanced spectrum of political ideas to our students.

Students need a valid passport for both our Johannesburg and London programs. The passport expiration date must be at least 6 months after the program concludes.

The most frequently-attended colleges and universities for last year's graduates are (in order of attendance):

Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Brown University, University of Chicago, Carleton College, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Georgetown University, New York University, Rice University, Tufts University, University of Richmond, UCLA, Wesleyan University