Scholarship Eligibility

1. Applicant is the custodial child of a current member of the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or Space Force;

2. Applicant’s military parent is currently serving on active duty (Active Component, not activated or inactive Reserve Component) and has no plans to retire/transition/discharge from active duty service in the next three years;

3. Applicant’s military parent is able to submit a copy of his or her current military orders during the application process; and,

4. Applicant is currently in grade 8 or higher.

1. From active duty U.S. military families of any rank.

2. Stationed at U.S. military installations and U.S. military service assignments anywhere in the world.

3. Enrolled in public, private and homeschool educational programs.

4. Of all races, religions, ethnicities and genders.

1. Submit all required application documents (military orders, application, recommendation forms and official transcripts) by Orion’s December 1st application deadline. Orion’s Selection Committee may disqualify applicants who do not submit completed application materials by the posted deadline.

2. Schedule and participate in a Zoom interview with Orion representatives prior to the December 1st deadline. Orion’s Selection Committee begins meeting in December to conduct its preliminary review of application packages; therefore, candidates must have interviewed prior to the start of the Committee’s review process.

3. Fill out Online Inquiry Forms (linked to on Orion’s “Our Schools” page) for each of Orion’s member boarding schools.

4. Wait patiently until January to find out if he or she has been selected as as an Orion Scholar.

1. NOT need to send separate applications to Orion’s Member Schools to which they are applying. To save military families the time and expense of submitting multiple boarding school applications, Orion’s Member Schools have agreed to use the Orion Scholarship Application Package as their official school application, because it closely mirrors the typical boarding school common application. Prior to the schools’ deadlines (generally, January 15), Orion submits its Scholars’ completed applications to the matched Member Schools. However, Orion Scholars are required to fill out Orion’s Member Schools’ online inquiry forms no later than December 1st, and may need to submit supplemental information forms or essays to Member Schools as requested.

2. Take the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT). This standardized test is required by most of Orion’s partner schools and can be take online or in person at authorized testing centers all over the United States and abroad. https://www.ssat.org/. Orion applicants can apply for a waiver of the SSAT testing fees here: https://www.ssat.org/about/fee-waiver-program. Questions? Contact info@ssat.org.

3. Apply for financial aid to supplement their Orion Scholarship, which is done primarily through Clarity, https://app.clarityapp.com/sign-up. Scholars’ parents can submit the Clarity application to multiple schools by selecting the school codes shown in the application portal. The Clarity application costs $60; however, Orion’s schools each have a limited number of need-based fee waivers you can request by emailing their financial aid offices.

4. Schedule interviews with admissions representatives and/or coaches from each Orion Member School to which he or she has applied. It is essential for the schools to meet with and talk to applicants, either in person during a visit, or via video teleconference call. Most schools use an online interview scheduler, which can be found on admissions pages of the schools’ websites. We also encourage our Scholars to schedule a visit to each school if travel is feasible. If not, the schools have virtual tours on their websites.

5. Wait patiently until Orion Member Schools release admissions decisions on March 10th. After Orion’s Selection Committee submits Scholars’ applications to schools (by January 15), it cannot participate in or influence the schools’ selection processes. Even though Orion submits the application packages for its Scholars, the schools’ admissions decisions are completely independent. Most schools’ acceptance decisions and financial aid awards are announced on March 10th (“Decision Day”) via emails directly to applicants. Schools with rolling admissions may announce decisions earlier.

6. Participate with their families in Orion’s Virtual Boot Camp during the summer before boarding school fall enrollment. This event is a half day program of live web-based interactive information sessions, panels and social gatherings with Orion’s Team and special guest speakers intended to prepare scholars and their families for boarding school life.