Common Questions
Admission
Q: How are students evaluated for admission to the Online High School?
A: Participation in the OHS represents a substantial commitment on the part of students and their families. In order to be confident that those who are admitted can meet the demands of the curriculum and unique style of learning we place on them, the OHS has a stringent application procedure. For more detailed information regarding the factors the OHS Admission Committee considers in the evaluating applications, please visit the General Application page and the Specific Course Application page.
Q: How do I apply?
A: To apply to the OHS, please follow these steps:
- Complete the Applicant Inquiry Form.
- Choose an Enrollment Option and Application Type.
- Register to take the required Standardized Test(s).
- Attend a Virtual Open House.
- Submit the OHS Application.
To see a detailed step-by-step guide, please visit the How To Apply page.
Q: Is there a different application for single course applicants?
A: Yes. Students who would like to be considered for admission only to a specific course, or a single course in a specific sequence of courses, should complete the Specific Course Application. Students must indicate on their applications for which course (or sequence) they are applying, and will be considered for admission only to this specified course (or sequence). If a students admitted to a specific course would like to take additional courses at the Online High School at a later time, he or she will need to undergo an additional application process.
Students interested in applying for admission to take a single course in an unspecified discipline, or interested in enrolling full-time or part-time should complete the General Application.
For more information regarding enrollment options and the application types, please visit our Enrollment Options page.
Q: How will I be notified after my application has been reviewed?
A: Once a decision has been made, students and parents will receive a decision letter by email and post. In general, students and parents will be notified within six weeks of the application deadline if their application is complete by the deadline.
Q: How old should students be when they apply to the Online High School?
A: There is no fixed age requirement for applying to the OHS. A student’s intellectual capacity and maturity are more significant than their actual age.
Q: Must Online High School students live in California? Does the Online High School accept students from overseas?
A: Since the OHS is an independent (private) high school, students do not need to live in California. The OHS welcomes students from throughout the United States and from around the world.
Q: I have previously been admitted to EPGY for a different program. Does this mean that I am automatically admitted to the Online High School?
A: No. Admission to the OHS is a separate process from admission to EPGY’s other programs.
Q: Can I transfer to the Online High School mid-year (i.e. starting at the second semester)?
A: We strongly encourage students to apply for admission at the start of an academic year.
Q: Do I need to leave my local school if I want to take courses from the Online High School? Can I take half my courses at my local school and half at the Online High School? Do students need to be enrolled full time at the Online High School?
A: Students at the OHS do not need to be enrolled full-time. Many students pursue joint enrollment options where some of their course of study is done at their local school and the rest is done at the OHS. OHS students may also register for less than full time if they are taking approved courses at other postsecondary institutions. (Note: Incoming seniors must enroll in at least five OHS classes if they wish to earn a diploma.)
Q: I would like to have some students at my school take courses from the Online High School. Is this possible? Does the Online High School have a school affiliates program?
A: Yes, it is possible to have students from your school take courses from the OHS. If interested, a school official should contact the OHS Headmaster.
Accreditation
Q: Is the Online High School accredited?
A: Yes, the OHS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Q: Are the Online High School courses accepted by the University of California?
A: Yes, the OHS has been approved as an online course provider for the University of California.
Graduation
Q: What are the Online High School graduation requirements?
A: Basic requirements include 4 years of English and Mathematics, 3 years of Laboratory Sciences and Social Sciences, and at least 2 years of a Foreign Language. In addition, diploma seekers take one course in the Core Sequence each year they are enrolled in the high school. They must also complete at least one AP or university-level course in each of the three areas: Humanities, Social Science, and Science or Mathematics. For a detailed list of requirements, please visit our Graduation Requirements page.
Q: Can I transfer courses completed elsewhere to the Online High School? How are transfers of credit evaluated? How do I determine if a course I take somewhere else will count at the Online High School?
A: Incoming students can apply to receive credit for coursework they completed before enrolling at the OHS. The OHS maintains its own list of approved courses and evaluates requests to transfer incoming credit on a case-by-case basis. Enrolled OHS students who would like to take courses at other institutions for OHS credit must get prior approval. When reviewing academic plans with students, OHS academic advisors discuss external options and how they might fit in to the student’s individual program.
Q: How do I transfer courses taken at the Online High School back to my local school?
A: The OHS provides students with a transcript for the work they complete at the OHS. The OHS Counseling Department helps students coordinate the transferring of credit from the OHS to their local schools.
Q: Is there an age requirement for graduation from the Online High School?
A: While students are allowed to graduate from the OHS upon completion of all graduation requirements, we encourage students who are sixteen or younger to remain in high school for an additional year. The advanced OHS curriculum offers many university-level courses to challenge students intellectually until such time as they are socially and emotionally prepared to enter college.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Q: What is tuition for attending Online High School?
A: Tuition information can be found here.
Q: Is financial aid available?
A: Some financial aid is available to enable admitted students who are in difficult or unusual financial circumstances to attend the school. The school will send instructions detailing the financial aid application process to the families of applicants who request the information on their applications. Students who submit their application for admission by the February 1, 2012 deadline receive priority in the financial aid review process. Financial aid applications are evaluated independently of admissions applications.
Q: How can I donate to the Online High School?
A: We encourage those who wish to support students in attending the OHS to contact us for more information.
Stanford and the OHS
Q: How is the Online High School connected to Stanford?
A: The Online High School is part of Stanford University and is located within Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies (SPCS). The Associate Dean and Director of SPCS serves a role equivalent to Head of School for the OHS and ensures that the goals and objectives of the School are in alignment with those of the University.
Q: Why is the Online High School no longer called the EPGY Online High School?
A: In 2012, the creation of Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies subsumed the Education Program for Gifted Youth and its activities. While the name EPGY continues to be used in reference to certain activities within SPCS, the centrality of the OHS within SPCS and the broader mission of the University has led us to change the name of the school to the Stanford University Online High School.
Q: Will attending the Online High School increase my chances of being admitted to Stanford University?
A: While the OHS is a part of Stanford University, the programs are distinct, in the same way that admissions to the graduate and professional programs at Stanford are distinct from Undergraduate Admission. Admissions decision for the OHS are based on an applicant's fit with the school and our determination of whether the school can productively contribute to the optimal education of the applicant. Admissions decisions for Stanford's undergraduate program are necessarily based on other criteria. Within the OHS, one of our primary goals is to prepare students for success in their future academic endeavors and our school profile shows that OHS students are competitive in their admissions to top-tier institutions. But as to guaranteeing admission to any future college or university, the OHS can do this no more than any other high school can.