Harvard-Westlake does not ask for a traditional admission essay on the pages we reviewed. The written pieces it describes are a Student Questionnaire of short-answer questions, due at least two days before the interview, and the unscored essay that is part of the ISEE. The school also accepts optional media and one supplemental letter of recommendation.
This guide explains each piece of writing a family will meet, what the school says about its purpose, and how to help a child do it well without writing it for them. It is for parents of grade 7 and grade 9 applicants for fall 2027 entry.
The Student Questionnaire
The How to Apply page describes the questionnaire in two lines. It asks applicants to respond to some short-answer questions to "help us learn about you and your interests," and to submit the responses at least two days before the interview.
The pages we reviewed do not publish the questions, the number of questions, or length limits. They appear when you work inside the online application, so read them there before you decide when to write. Because the deadline is tied to the interview date, and the school assigns the interview time, the safest approach is to finish the questionnaire soon after you submit the application form. The earlier you submit, the more room you have. The school's invitation rule for interviews is tied to the November 13, 2026 deadline, as laid out in the admissions timeline.
What the school wants to learn
The school's own stated purpose is to learn about the student and the student's interests. Its FAQ says it seeks "kind, curious, and engaged students." The questionnaire is the part of the application where the student's voice is most direct, so it is the place to show those qualities through specifics rather than adjectives.
The ISEE essay
Every applicant for fall 2027 entry must take the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE). The test owner, The Enrollment Management Association, lists an unscored essay as part of the Middle and Upper Level tests: one prompt, 30 minutes. It is typed on the online test and handwritten on the paper test. The test owner labels it unscored, and the Harvard-Westlake pages we reviewed do not say how, or whether, the school uses it. Do not treat it as a place to impress; treat it as practice writing clearly under time. More on the exam is in the ISEE guide.
Optional media and a supplemental letter
The FAQ says families may submit media showing a student's abilities or accomplishments in the arts or athletics. You email a link, video clip, photo, or PDF to the Admission Office at admission@hw.com, include the applicant's name and details about the submission (for example, which instrument or the jersey number), and limit video to 5 minutes. The FAQ adds that the school will accept one supplemental letter of recommendation for an applicant's file.
These are optional. If your child has a real strength in music, art, or a sport, a short, clear piece of media can show it better than a paragraph. If not, skip it.
How to help your child write the questionnaire
You cannot know the prompts in advance, but you can build the habits that make short answers good.
- Start with the student's own list. Ask your child to name what they actually spend time on: projects, books, games, teams, instruments, questions they keep asking. The honest list is the raw material.
- Pick specifics. A named book, a particular experiment, a recurring practice routine, or a small thing they built is more convincing than "I love learning."
- Write in their words. An applicant in grade 7 should sound like a student in grade 7. Parents can ask questions and point out unclear sentences, but the sentences should be the child's.
- Answer the question asked. Short-answer prompts reward a direct first sentence and a concrete example.
- Read it aloud. If it does not sound like the child talking, rewrite it with the child.
- Keep time for the interview. The questionnaire and interview are connected in the school's process, so what your child writes is a likely starting point for conversation. A child should be comfortable discussing anything they put down.
What the school does not publish
- The questionnaire prompts and word limits
- Whether the ISEE essay is read, and how
- Any statement that a parent essay or parent statement is required
The application checklist and How to Apply page we reviewed list no parent statement. If the online application adds a question for parents, answer it directly and consistently with your child's account.
Common mistakes
- Writing it for the child. The school wants to learn about the student, and an adult voice defeats the purpose.
- Leaving it to the last two days. The questionnaire is due at least two days before the interview, and you may not know the interview date far in advance.
- Padding. Short-answer means short. A clear sentence beats a vague paragraph.
- Claiming interests for effect. If the child cannot talk about it in an interview, it should not be there.
- Over-polishing the ISEE essay. The test owner labels it unscored, so a plain, organized response is the realistic goal.
Frequently asked questions
Does Harvard-Westlake require an essay?
The pages we reviewed describe a Student Questionnaire of short-answer questions rather than a traditional essay. The ISEE also includes an unscored essay, one prompt in 30 minutes, according to the test owner.
When is the Harvard-Westlake Student Questionnaire due?
The school asks applicants to submit their responses at least two days before their interview.
What are the Harvard-Westlake questionnaire prompts?
The school does not publish them on the pages we reviewed. They appear in the online application, so check there.
Can a student submit a video or artwork?
Yes, optionally. The FAQ says families may email a link, video clip, photo, or PDF showing abilities or accomplishments in the arts or athletics to admission@hw.com, with videos limited to 5 minutes.
Does the school accept an extra letter of recommendation?
The FAQ says the school will accept one supplemental letter of recommendation for an applicant's file, in addition to the standard recommendations. See the application guide for the required ones.
Next step
If your child would benefit from structured practice putting their interests into clear writing, the programs page describes what HarvardWestlakePrep by EduAvenues offers, and the resources page has planning tools.
Sources
- Harvard-Westlake How to Apply
- Harvard-Westlake Frequently Asked Questions
- About the ISEE (Admission.org)
HarvardWestlakePrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Harvard-Westlake School.