International Admissions
Launch your global education at San Domenico.
Welcome
Begin your journey today!
Founded in 1850 as the first independent school in California, San Domenico’s K-12 campus is located in Marin County, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. At SD, you’ll join a long legacy of students inspired by innovative programming and an unwavering commitment to academic excellence with purpose. Our international community creates a dynamic environment that enriches classroom discussions with global perspectives, preparing you for leadership in an interconnected world.
Here on our 515-acre campus—surrounded by rolling golden hills, peaceful creekside retreats, and miles of trails to explore in your own backyard—you will find your community and forge lifelong friendships with students from around the world. All while soaking up everything that California has to offer!
International Admissions Checklist
The following are required of all international applicants. If you have any questions, please email us at admissions@sandomenico.org.
✓ Inquiry Form:
Before submitting any other application materials, please fill out our international inquiry form. This will add you to our records and enable us to track all application materials as we receive them.
✓ Application:
Please submit your application via Ravenna or Standard Application Online (SAO). Please choose only one.
✓ Official School Transcripts:
We require two full years of transcripts and the first semester of your current school year. If your original transcript is in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by an official English translation. Additionally, all international transcripts must include a school profile that explains the grading scale.
✓ Recommendations:
Recommendations are required from your current math teacher, English teacher, and school principal or counselor.
✓ English Proficiency Test:
San Domenico strongly prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam. Our recommended minimum score for rising ninth graders is 85. Our school code for the TOEFL is 0897.
We will also accept Duolingo (minimum score 110), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam (minimum score 6.5), or the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) (minimum score B1-B2). Official testing results from Duolingo, IELTS, and CEFR should be sent to admissions@sandomenico.org.
✓ Student Interview:
Before scheduling an interview, students MUST first submit the international inquiry form, as well as a student profile in either Ravenna or SAO. Student interviews are required and conducted via Zoom. Interviews take approximately 30 minutes. Please email admissions@sandomenico.org to schedule your interview.
✓ Vericant Interview:
Students from Mainland China must also submit a Vericant interview. Interviews must be completed by January 15, 2025. Visit vericant.com to learn more and schedule an interview.
Standardized Testing Not Required
Please note that San Domenico will not require or accept standardized SSAT or ISEE test scores as part of the application process for the 2025-26 school year. This decision is in service to students and recognizes inequities in standardized testing.
Important International Admissions Dates for 2025-26 Academic Year
August 16, 2024: Applications available through Ravenna and Standard Application Online (SAO).
January 6, 2025: Indexed Tuition Application due.
January 9, 2025: Admissions Application due.
January 31, 2025: Final date to submit all required admissions documents.
March 10, 2025: Admissions notifications released (for applicants who applied by January 9, 2023).
April 10, 2025: Enrollment contracts and tuition deposits due for the 2024-2025 school year.
April 11, 2025: Rolling admissions begins, pending availability.
Meet Us on the Road
We are excited to connect with you in your home country! If you would like to meet with us during any of these visits, please send us an email at admissions@sandomenico.org.
For our events in China, you can RSVP here.
2024-25 Dates:
9/18-9/21: Hanoi, Vietnam
9/22-9/25: HCMC, Vietnam
9/22-9/25: Madrid, Spain
9/26-9/28: Split, Croatia
9/29-9/30: Belgrade, Serbia
10/1-10/2: Prague, The Czech Republic
10/3: Bratislava, Slovakia
10/4-10/7: London, England
10/31-11/6: Hong Kong
11/7-11/11: Shanghai, China
11/12-11/18: Beijing, China
11/11-11/17: Mexico City, Mexico
Campus Tours
If you plan to visit the San Francisco Bay Area, let us show you around campus! You may register for a personal tour by contacting admissions@sandomenico.org. We are happy to work around your travel dates and availability.
Virtual Tour
Can’t make it to campus? Our virtual tour is the next best thing. Follow along as our admissions team introduces you to our 515-acre campus - including athletics, arts, academics, residential life, and more.
Student Perspectives
Every year, we welcome more than 50 new international boarding students from around the world. See what they have to say about everything at SD, from academics and extracurriculars, to what it’s like to live on campus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a topic below
Are international families required to visit San Domenico for their interviews? / Can international students conduct their interviews via phone or Zoom?
International students are not required to visit San Domenico for their interviews. While we would love to meet you and give you a tour of the campus, those who are unable to visit our campus can schedule their interview via Zoom. Students must have completed a student inquiry and be in the “started” mode of their application, on either SAO or Ravenna, to schedule an interview.
Are International Students required to have a Guardian in the Bay Area?
San Domenico School strongly encourages students living outside of California or the United States to have a designated San Francisco Bay Area guardian in case of illness or to help in emergencies. Parents are responsible for finding their child's guardian. A form for local guardianship will be sent along with other enrollment forms after a student has been accepted. If you do not have local friends or family nearby, we recommend Student Health Advocates (SHA) and Cogito World Education as reliable resources to help with guardianship services.
Can international students apply as day students?
International students who will reside in the area with a parent or guardian for the entire school year may apply as a day student.
Does San Domenico issue I-20’s for students to apply for a visa?
Yes. Once a student has been accepted at San Domenico, the School will issue an I-20 so that the student can apply for an F-1 Visa.
Does San Domenico provide English Language Support?
At San Domenico, we believe that meaningful English interactions take place within the structure of a regular classroom and we do not provide separate ‘stand alone’ ELL classes. However, building language proficiency in a rigorous academic environment can be challenging, so all 9th grade students who do not speak English as a primary language are enrolled in an additional course called Academic English Language. This credit course is an accompaniment to their regular English 9 course and is designed to increase written and spoken English fluency. Coursework focuses on developing strong composition, grammar, vocabulary, listening and speaking skills.
