<p>I understand that in the past few years, too many kids said yes to Deerfield. When they decided to accept just a small number more than they had beds for they still ended up having to convert common rooms into dorm rooms. Supposedly they started only admitting the corresponding number of empty beds they had to offer. Making the acceptance rate very low, waitlist very big but a bed and desk for everyone who said yes. Deerfield lurkers, I know your busy but feel free to clarify.</p>
<p>I definately know that happened at Westminster as well. Last year too many kids said yes, leaving fewer openings than expected and planned for 10th grade. So, in order to avoid that happening again, they accepted the exact amount of openings for 9th and 10th. For 10th they even only put a small number on the wait list as well (there were 15 openings and 12 on the wait list, so as a % it's big, just not a big number). They went to the wait list as they got no's.</p>
<p>Another thing affecting the rates is a huge increase in the number of applications from abroad - especially as the dollar falls against other currencies. Again, this may skew the acceptance rates as most schools have some targeted domestic/international student ratio.</p>
<p>Thacher's admittance rate was just under 19% with a yield of 85%. </p>
<p>This year's senior class of 63 are bound for Cambridge, Stanford, Harvard, Dartmouth, Amherst, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Middlebury, Wesleyan, Tufts and on and on. One would think by reading this Prep School Admissions discussion group that the East Coast lays exclusive claim to the top tier boarding schools. That would be a mistake. </p>
<p>Thacher is not for everyone, that's for sure. A student has to be well rounded, love the outdoors as much as the indoors, have a personality that is naturally oriented toward the benefit and success of others, and have tremendous academic capabilities and drive. But for that kid, they will think they've died and gone to heaven.</p>
<p>We looked at Exeter, Choate, Groton, St. Marks and St. George's. These are all wonderful institutions, but you realize quickly after being on Thacher's campus that, to use the Headmaster's words, "it's a whole different deal." And it really is.</p>
<p>I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I will say that our school choices are limited by geography to a degree. I don't look at schools beyond New England only because my family wants to be within 5 hours of one another. For instance, my s doesn't want to look at Mercersburg because it's seven hours away. That doesn't mean I think any less of it. I actually think it maight be a fantastic school for him' but it's important for him to know that when a long weekend comes around, he can spend most of it with his sister and brother rather than in the car or on a train. There are simply so many terrific schools out here that it isn't necessary to look beyond the 5 hour driving radius. </p>
<p>It's nothing against the non New England schools at all. Also, when you live in this area, you are more likely to know people who have gone to these schools. Even in our tiny little town, there are graduates from Exeter, Millbrook, Andover, Darrow, SPS and Kent. They are known quantities, so to speak. That's all.</p>
<p>I don't know where others live. Mine is just the perspective of someone who lives not in the middle of the the NE schools, but close enough to be comfortable knowing that my children can come home for more than just the extended breaks and that we can go see the "big game" or the concert or play without the expense of airline tickets and hotels. </p>
<p>I guess you could say that proximity is one of the factors we consider.</p>
<p>Location ended up being our deciding factor too neatoburrito. There are just so many great schools, and I'm sure my S would be happy at so many of them. We weren't even considering BS until I learned there were a few within about 2.5 hours of where we live. It was also important to me to be able to drive up for games, or just dinner if he was having a rough week, etc. I guess we are lucky to be relatively close to some good schools, though not everyone has this geographic possibility, and some do fall in love with a school that is very far away, or a program that a particular school offers.....the choices aren't easy!</p>
<p>I agree to this. Geographic location is certainly one of the factors we considered. My pareants I liked other schools scuh as Deerfield and Hotchkiss. However, while we were heading to Deerfield for interview in December from Boston area there was a terrible strorm. We barely met the
appintment time. but it took 7 hours to retutrn to our home. It would've taken about two hours without storm. After all, we did not accept Hotchkiss
admission since it is located at so isolated area and I am still waitlisted in Deerfield. But My parents convinced me that I go to Saint Mark's School(SMS) since it is only 40 minutes away from our place. My parents say they can come to me anytime whenever they need to. I feel comfortable with the decision and I can feel at home there.</p>
<p>i am lucky to live in NH with so many good schools close by.</p>
<p>I noticed this article on the St. Paul's website. It's more complete than what had been in the school newspaper, including how they used the website. Notice that there are very few incoming fifth formers (11th graders) but plenty of new 10th graders. </p>
<p>St. Paul's School received a record number of applications for admission for the fall of 2008. Of the 1,182 students who applied, 250 - or 21 percent - were admitted, continuing the high rate of selectivity that has become the norm over the last several years.</p>
<p>Of those admitted, including 25 students offered admission from a strong waiting list, 59 percent have elected to enroll. In a year of unpredictable yields for many independent schools - a trend caused by the declining economy and increasingly generous financial aid offers from many institutions - St. Paul's continued to attract students of the highest caliber.</p>
<p>"In the uncertain financial climate of today, we are fortunate that we are in a very good position where we continue to attract and enroll high-achieving students who have many other options at our peer schools," said first-year Admissions Director Jada Hebra. "We have so many amazing kids coming and amazing students still on our waiting list."</p>
<p>Of the 148 new students expected in the fall, 77 are boys and 71 girls. The students hail from 24 states and 12 countries. Included in those numbers are 21 new students of color and 24 students with an alumni or sibling relationship with the School. In terms of geographic distribution, 22 of the new students come from Massachusetts with New Hampshire (16), New York (14), California (13), and New Jersey (9) also well-represented. </p>
<p>Eight of the new students hail from South Korea while seven come from Hong Kong and five are Canadian residents. The School will also welcome new students from Colombia, the Philippines, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, China, France, Germany, and Japan.</p>
<p>Among the new students will be 97 new Third Formers, 46 new Fourth Formers, and five new Fifth Formers.</p>
<p>In a continued effort to open its doors to more families, the School announced in March that it would enhance a two-year-old financial aid policy providing free tuition to certain middle-income families. The new initiative provides an education at no cost for admitted students whose families earn $80,000 or less annually. That announcement built on the School's previous policy, announced in 2006, that provided free tuition to admitted students with family incomes under $65,000. </p>
<p>Thirty-five percent of new students will receive some form of tuition assistance during the 2008-09 academic year. Overall, 34 percent of St. Paul's students will receive financial aid next year.</p>
<p>Hebra said her office was cautious in its initial admissions decisions, admitting fewer students than usual to prevent over-enrollment. But the School took more than two dozen students off the waiting list between the March 10 decisions and the April 10 enrollment deadline. </p>
<p>"We went to the wait list early because we intentionally built a strong one," explained Hebra. "In this time of economic downturn, where yield is more uncertain than ever because of attractive financial aid offers from so many schools, St. Paul's still had a record number of applications and very low selectivity."</p>
<p>Seems that applications increased across the board, despite the economy. Wonder why this is so?</p>
<p>This is from Choate newspaper article, which noted that applications hit an all time high this year: "Thursday, April 10th marked the final day of enrollment for accepted students of the incoming freshman class. According to the admission office, the application process this year has yielded a record number of applicationsover 1600 students applied to become part of the Choate community. These applicants hailed from forty-three states and forty-one countries. The 148 newly enrolled students, however, come from twenty-six states and twenty countries." </p>
<p>Also, the article noted that it still plans to take a few from the waitlist for the 2012 class!</p>
<p>
[quote]
But the School took more than two dozen students off the waiting list between the March 10 decisions and the April 10 enrollment deadline.
[/quote]
Well, there goes the "don't expect to hear before April 10" theory.</p>
<p>skibum asks: Seems that applications increased across the board, despite the economy. Wonder why this is so?</p>
<p>My speculation is that, like colleges, last year was a very competitive year with record yield rates, low accpetance rates and over enrollments. Perhaps, applicants applied to more schools than usual in the face of that. It seems like this year that BS are taking more kids off waitlists which also mirrors what is happening in the college admissions arena.</p>
<p>I also think that with the economy not so good, that means that the public schools are facing cuts in an already stretched environment. I know that when I was in high school in Massachusetts it was when they passed "propositin 2 1/2" which limited the amount towns could increase property taxes (major source of school funding) by 2 1/2% each year. There was a MASS exit of kids to private schools (ok, maybe not MASS, but out of my class of about 100 kids, I'd say at least 10 left - 10% is a lot). </p>
<p>In addition, schools like Exeter and Andover have done a terrific job of publicizing their endowments and free tuition. That would not only help their application stats, but other as well as it raises awareness of the availability of financial aid in general at all schools.</p>
<p>I also wonder if because of US exchange rate, perhaps more foreign students are applying as now US education is a comparative bargain for those coming from Europe.</p>
<p>The Common Application makes it easier for candidates to apply to many schools. Even if a school doesn't accept the common application, the Common App reduces the overall burden, thus driving up application rates, in my opinion. Also, candidates may have applied to more schools, hoping to be able to compare FA offers.</p>
<p>I think the first part of this discussion is interesting <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/334557-boarding-schools-long-term-decline.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/334557-boarding-schools-long-term-decline.html</a>. I think the market is going through a period in which the top 50 or so seem to be in good shape but beyond that many are struggling just to keep the status quo. The trend from boarding to day certainly explains why the % day has increased at many schools. Those schools with limits on internationals and limits on financial aid could have increased applications but still be looking for full paying US students after the contract signing deadline. All those wonderful new facilities strain the endowment because of increased maintenance. Standing still is falling behind.</p>
<p>I was that guy from Papua New Guinea</p>
<p>Bumping for comparison purposes vs. 2009 data...</p>