Congratulations! By completing this form, you’ve just taken a step towards the best semester of your life. Here are your next steps: 
Application Materials

Now, keep your momentum going! Here is what you’ll submit for your completed OA application.

Application Questions

Required Questions: Respond to these short answer questions. By short answer, we really mean short answer! These written answers do not need to be a full essay. One paragraph is fine. Your written answers will be uploaded to your SchoolDoc profile.

  1. Why do you wish to attend The Outdoor Academy?
  2. Describe yourself and your personality from the perspective of a close friend. Who are you as a person, friend, and student?
  3. Write a letter to your 10-year-old self. Describe to that child how you’ve changed and give them some advice you wish you had at that age.

Choice Questions: Choose two of the following to respond to as short answers. Your Creative Response (described next), will answer a third question on this list.

  1. Tell us a story about a time in your life when you faced a challenge or hardship. How did you overcome it and/or what actions did you take when you were confronted with it?
  2. Each student brings their own unique gifts to OA. Please describe a passion, interest, skill, or strength you would bring to this community.
  3. What is one thing you want to accomplish or achieve in your life? Why?
  4. What extracurricular activities are you involved in? Which one(s) are the most meaningful to you and why?
  5. Imagine that you are given funding to start your own community organization or company. Tell us about it. What is the mission? What is your role? Come up with a motto/tagline for your cause as well.

Creative Response Details: Because we appreciate that there are many different types of intelligence, we want to let you tell us more about yourself in ways besides writing. You have many options! Record a video, paint your answer, write a song, collage, bake a cake, show off your sports skills… The choice is truly yours. Your goal is just to share more about yourself and why you would be a great addition to the OA community. Have fun with this! To submit your creative project, you may upload it in SchoolDoc or email it to us.

Supplemental Materials
  1. Two recommendations. At least one should be from an academic teacher in the most recent school year. Your teachers can fill out this form on our website.
  2. School transcripts (or end-of-year reports) from the past two years. Transcripts do not need to be official. If your school does not confer letter grades, you may submit a copy of your relevant end-of-year evaluations from the past two years.
Parent/Guardian Questionnaire

Your parent/guardian(s) will get an invitation to fill out a short form on your SchoolDoc profile to complete your application.

A final note from the Admissions Team

We’re excited to get to know you through this application, and we’ll be here if you need help at any step. Once you submit the materials listed above in your new SchoolDoc account, we’ll look forward to connecting either via phone or Zoom to get to know you better and answer any remaining questions about OA. Our entire admissions team is made up of OA alumni, and we can also connect you to others in your area if you would like to learn about the semester experience in that way.

If you haven’t yet watched our student videos on YouTube or Instagram, that is another great way to familiarize yourself with what the daily student experience looks like both on campus and on the trail. You can also register to attend an upcoming admissions event either online or in-person.

Talk to you soon,

Katie Rowlett (Admissions Director, Semester 28), admissions@enf.org
Sophie Pippin (Admissions Counselor, Semester 42), sophie@enf.org
Reily Kennedy (Financial Aid Counselor, Semester 22), reily@enf.org
Jesse Pyles (OA Director): jesse@enf.org