FAQ

There are generally about 135 students in each entering class. We receive about 750 freshman applications each year.

While we do not require students to visit and/or attend an open house, we do strongly encourage them to. Students who visit are given a first-hand opportunity to see our classes, teachers, students, and campus. Additionally, open houses are a time for families to experience UHS together.

Yes. Our traditional interview has been replaced with our Applicant Inquiry Activities which will take place in-person during the month of January. These group sessions give us a view into how students work together to reach a common goal. There will be no more than 4 applicants per group. There will be an “interviewer” in the room, however they will primarily be there to observe.

Once we receive the Parent/Guardian Application and the application fee or fee waiver, applicants will be able to schedule their interview on Ravenna- Hub.

No, we will not be requiring or accepting the SSAT or ISEE test for the 2025-2026 admissions season. 

UHS does not sponsor international students for I-20 visas and we do not have a residential program. Additionally, we do not offer any ESL classes or review TOEFL scores as part of our Admissions process. If your family is moving to the Bay Area and these specifics are not applicable to your situation, we are happy to review an international application.

We consider transfer applications for a very limited number of spaces, based on availability. The process for students applying for tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade is identical to that for our ninth-grade class. Please email admissions@sfuhs.org for more information. 

While we value our longstanding relationships with sibling and alumni families, we cannot guarantee admission to students based on a prior association with UHS. Sibling and legacy candidates must undergo the same admission process as all other UHS applicants.

Electronic Notification of Admissions and Financial Aid Decisions are available at 4:00 PM PT on Friday March 20, 2025 via Ravenna-Hub.

If you are placed in the UHS wait pool, you will receive a reply form in your admissions decision notification asking you to indicate whether you would like to remain in the wait pool should a space become available. We do not rank the wait pool.

Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is $64,850.

Yes! Since our founding, UHS has been committed to building and sustaining a community of equity and excellence by admitting students of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and talents, regardless of their financial means. All financial aid awarded is based on family need. Families who are concerned that UHS may be beyond their means are encouraged to consider applying for financial aid which can make UHS an affordable option. Please click here to get more information about how to apply.

Like other independent schools in the Bay Area, UHS students receive about 45 minutes of homework per class each night, which translates to 2–3 hours per night.

As a student at UHS, you will find that you can be involved and have an impact here by participating and taking leadership roles in a wide range of student-run organizations and clubs. These groups enable you to apply your energies to meaningful pursuits outside of your classes. It is easy to start your own club at UHS; every year, students create and manage dozens of clubs and organizations with the guidance of faculty sponsors.

Clubs may include: Amnesty International, Art Club, Asian Club, Astronomy Club, Black Students Union, DanceDanceRevolution Club, Debate Club, Devil’s Advocate (school newspaper), Disney Club, Diversity Committee, Dodge Ballers, Epic Movie Club, Food Club, French Club, Gender and Sexuality Awareness, Girls Who Code, Green Club, Grilling for Good Club, Hope Cures Club, Investment Club, Kiva Club, Italian Club, Jewish Club, Latino Club, Math Pi-rates, Middle Eastern Club, Retrospect (School Yearbook), Robotics Club, Russian Club, The Satonics (student-run a capella group), Software Development Club, Stories for Success, Student Council, Students for Women's Equality and Rights, and VOX (Literary Magazine).

The UHS Office of College Counseling carefully guides our students and families through the college admissions process. Our graduates attend a variety of colleges and universities all around the country and the world.