Admissions FAQ

How early can I apply for my child to enter RVA?

RVA will not accept an application for a desired date of entry that is more than three (3) years away. For example, during the 2011-12 school year, we will not accept applications for any years beyond 2014–15.

If I send the completed application over the Internet, how can I get the application fee to you?

RVA does not accept credit cards. Please send a check made out to Rift Valley Academy for the correct amount of the application fee ($50.00 USD per application or 4,500/= KSH per application). If you are unable to send a check, please contact us and we can give you our bank information for wire transfers.

How does the waiting list work?

When we receive a completed application, including recent school reports, standardized test scores, and the application fee, your child is added to our waiting list for the desired year of entry. Applications for admission by Africa Inland Mission children are given priority. These applications move directly to the top of the waiting list and are given the next available space (provided they have submitted a complete application by the April 1st deadline). Next, the children of missionaries from other mission organizations are placed on the waiting list according to their date of application. If we are able to accept all of the missionary kids, Kenyan national children will then be considered for admission. If space still remains, non-mission children (expatriates) may be considered for admission.

My child is on the waiting list. Now what do I need to do?

It is imperative that you advise the Admissions office of any changes in your contact information or mission status. E-mail addresses tend to change frequently. Please be sure we have your current e-mail address. At the end of each school year, send a copy of your child’s final school report and any standardized test results. This will keep your child’s application active.

When will I hear about my child’s place on the waiting list?

The November prior to the desired date of entry, parents will be contacted to confirm their intention of sending their child to RVA. Once this has been received, you will be informed of your child’s place on the waiting list for the following year.

When will I hear that my child has been accepted?

AIM families will receive acceptance notification as soon as possible after their completed application has been submitted. Other mission families will NOT receive an offer of acceptance until after April 1st of the desired year of entry.

What is a “provisional acceptance”?

Acceptances will be offered by letter or e-mail and are provisional until the requested information has been received and evaluated. This includes (but is not limited to) medical records, academic records, and guardian forms, which are due within 30 days of the notification of acceptance. These forms are available on the password-protected area of this site. After the appropriate forms/records have been accumulated and evaluated, and the enrollment deposit has been paid in full, RVA will send a letter confirming that the student has met the standards of admission.

What medical records are required for admittance to the school?

A student may be admitted to RVA only if the school has: 1) written permission to follow the student health policy, 2) a medical and immunization history, 3) a record of a current (not more than one year old) physical examination, and 4) information regarding medications. These forms are due within 30 days of the notification of acceptance.

What is the enrollment deposit?

At the time of provisional acceptance, an enrollment deposit of $500 USD, or equivalent in Kenya shillings, is due within 30 days in order to hold the applicant’s space. The enrollment deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. The payment is credited toward school fees once the student enters RVA.

What happens if my child is accepted to RVA, but we decide to wait a little longer?

If you decide to wait for another year before your child enters RVA, we will place your child on the next year’s waiting list according to the date of your initial application. Because each year’s waiting list is compiled according to application dates, acceptance for a certain year does NOT guarantee acceptance for the following year. Applicants may only defer one time before needing to re-apply.