Admissions FAQ

What happens after I submit the application packet?

The information will be reviewed within 7 – 10 days of receipt. If we feel that we may be able to meet your child’s needs, the next step is an on-campus interview and an overnight visit. A letter will be sent to you asking you to contact the admissions office to schedule a mutually convenient appointment.

Do you conduct interviews on weekends?

Admissions appointments are scheduled Monday – Friday at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. daily.

Who will we meet with?

You will meet with Jeanne Pacheco, Director of Admission and Placement, Nancy Hopkins, Assistant Director of Admissions, and/or Megan Sharpe, Admissions Associate. Your meeting will take place in the Admissions Office located in the James Center.

What do we need to bring?

A letter will be sent to you confirming your appointment and providing you with a few questionnaires that will help us prepare for your child’s visit. As part of the forms on the Admissions Procedures, there are also medical forms and questionnaires that will need to be completed and on file prior to your child’s overnight visit (these forms are required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts). The medical forms do not need to be completed until an appointment to Riverview is confirmed. You will also be provided with a list of items to bring to make your child’s stay a comfortable one.

Will my child be tested during the interview?

No formal testing is done on the day of your visit. You can relax and enjoy your visit. This is an opportunity for us to get to know your child better and vice versa!. We would encourage both you and your child to bring your own list of questions!

How long will the interview take?

You should allow approximately 2 hours for your appointment.

Will we be given a tour of campus?

After the interview, you will be given a tour of campus (classrooms and dorms) and you get to meet the students and staff!

How much time is required of the parents?

After the tour has concluded and if everyone is comfortable and in agreement, your child will start the program and participate in all aspects of our program just as if he were a fully enrolled student. This is where parents say good-bye and enjoy the rest of your stay on Cape Cod or in nearby Boston or Providence, RI. You will be asked to pick up your child at 5:00 the next day.

When will we know the outcome of our child’s visit?

Information from your child’s visit is collected from his academic team as well as the dormitory setting. The information is reviewed by the Admissions Committee and a decision regarding acceptance is usually made within a week of the visit. A letter is sent to the family informing them of the decision.

Do you offer financial aid?

Financial aid is available and need-based. A financial aid application packet can be provided to you at the time of your interview or you can contact our Business Manager.

The following is a list of questions frequently asked by students:

What classes will I see?

You will be placed on an academic team with students in your grade. These classes are not individualized for visiting students; rather, they should give you an idea of what our classes are like.

What types of questions will I be asked?

Why do you want to come to Riverview?
Describe your school day (grade, schedule, homework).
Describe the responsibilities you have at home (room care, self care, cooking, laundry, pets, etc.)
Tell us about your friends and interests. Have you ever had a job?
What frustrates you?

Will I shadow another student?

We do assign “buddies” to students.

Where will I sleep?

Students who visit are placed in a dormitory with approximately 12 other students; 2 students to a room. Since you are visiting, we place a rolling bed into a room with 1 or 2 other students.

What is the food like?

In the secondary school, we offer a variety of nutritious food at each meal to appeal to all teenagers. Breakfast is made by our chefs and brought up to the dorms by students. Each dorm is equipped with a kitchen, so other breakfast options are available. Lunch and dinner are served in our dining room where a salad bar, fresh fruit and homemade soups are options in addition to the main meal. In the postsecondary component, students prepare their own individual breakfast, eat lunch on campus at the G.R.O.W. Café and prepare dinner as a small group in their residence.

Should I bring a cell phone?

We encourage students to stay in touch with your families during your overnight visit. Cell phones are allowed on campus, but are not to be used during the school day.

Thank you for your interest in Riverview!