<p>@ Seven Dad-from the thread you started “see below” it seems you might have made up your mind a while ago?</p>
<p>Lobbying for a non-HADES “featured” thread…
Folks-
For a while now, I’ve thought that it would serve everyone (especially new applicant classes) well if there was a “Non-HADES” thread right below/above the “HADES…what makes them so good” thread in the “Featured” section of the forum.</p>
<p>The thought is that these schools deserve as least as much attention as is paid to the more famous schools. Who knows, maybe someone who had only known about the more famous schools will find a school that is a better fit with a higher likelihood of admittance via a thread like this.</p>
<p>The title might be something like:
The Not-HADES…why it’s smart to take a closer look at these great lesser-known schools</p>
<p>The first post might be something like:
There are the schools everyone has heard of, and there are the schools that everyone should hear more about. This thread is dedicated to these “below the radar” schools from every part of the country. Have a favorite? Add it to the list and offer your 2¢ on why people should take a closer look.</p>
<p>Optimally, the thread would have one of those self-policed cumulative lists complete with location so that from any page, one can see at a glance what schools might be in their geographic consideration set.
If you think this is an interesting idea, chime in. Maybe the admins will consider making it a featured thread if enough people are interested.
-7D"</p>
<p>Yes I sure they offered more than 90. But that is how many slots they have and that is the number of applications they had. If you estimate 150 % then they offered 135 places which is a 12 % admit rate.</p>
<p>SPS13MA - I don’t reach your conclusion from 7Dad’s wish to see other schools featured more on CC. It would be genuinely helpful to a prospective boarding school applicant and his/her parents if this were the case. It doesn’t indicate prejudice on 7Dad’s part, quite the opposite really. Better access to more information only improves the decision-making process. The point of your post and the time you took to write it makes you sound a bit thin-skinned.</p>
<p>@SPS13MA: Yeah, you’re right. I guess that’s why I took yet another day off from work, drove 14 hours roundtrip, paid for a night in a hotel, took both of my children out of school for a day, AND invited my own parents to join us for the SPS revisit…because I had made up my mind a while ago. That must be the reason.</p>
<p>@All: It’s been interesting to read people’s reactions to my SPS recap, as well as reactions to the reactions. Thanks for all the PMs. Time to go to the post office…</p>
<p>School decisions have a highly personal element to them. It’s easy to start the research process focused on very prominent schools and then be pleasantly surprised to discover other schools with similar characteristics. Call them “hidden gems” if you like, though nothing stays hidden for long these days. Having visited both SAS and SPS I can say that there are some similarities in setting and yet some very meaningful differences in the schools’ origins and in the students I observed. Helping their child make such an significant decision is not something parents take lightly. So, it’s easy for me to understand why the extra input of revisits could be desirable before signing a contract.</p>
<p>For the child, the ability to visit classes and observe the interactions among current students represents information not available during the standard tour/interview visit. This is why I’ve recommended that those beginning their search should try to make preliminary visits to schools to attend a sporting event, play or other student event so that their family can make an assessment about cultural fit before putting that school on their list. Obviously this is not possible for everyone, but it is a good idea if you can manage it. Clearly starting the process early makes a lot of sense, especially if you have younger children who will also benefit from the research.</p>
<p>Dear SevenDad, thanks for the detailed description of SPS revisit. How ironic that the incoming SPS rector is named Mike Hirschfeld. “Hirsch feld” means “deer field” in German. LOL</p>
<p>Hope to hear more revisit stories, especially on schools that haven’t been covered here yet. Anyone?</p>
<p>Also, what about overnight visits - giving the prospective student a chance to stay in the dorm overnight? Is this uncommon? Do you need to make a special request?</p>
<p>Basic format/schedule of your revisit day
We went to the main building to register and then were directed to another building, I think it might be called the Arms building? There were various teachers and coaches that you could talk to for an hour. Then we were paired with our student guide and went to a class with them. After that it was lunch time so we had sitdown lunch with our tour guide. Then we went to two more classes. After this we met up with our parents in the building we’d started in. There were refreshmants and such. Everyone sat here and there was a student panel that gave insight on the school and answered questions. After this the boys and girls acapella groups sang for us. </p>
<ul>
<li>Did the revisit confirm your interest in the school or did it dissuade you from matriculating?
I would say neither. I did all the research and already liked DA, so I didn’t really need to be persuaded. It did show me different aspects that I could not see just through research or touring the first time. I actually got to interact with the real kids, not the perfect children I feel like the students at the top schools are sometimes made out to be. I found that the other kids were down to earth and just… normal kids. I really was impressed by the acappella groups and how nice everyone was, especially at the sitdown meal. </li>
<li>What specific things about the revisit pushed you in either direction?
I would say the science class I sat in made me like the school more. It was so much smaller of a class than I’m used to which I loved. It wasn’t some ultra smart, no fun class where they just read out of the book the whole time. The kids all participated, a nice change from looking over at kids sleeping in my current school. Another major factor that made me like the school was the TEACHERS. I was there all of a few hours but I could already tell that they were very interesting, caring people. I could tell they genuinely loved what the were doing and cared for their students. The first things my parents praised once we met up at the end of the day was the teachers, their enthusiasm is really radiant. A final factor I really liked was how much everyone genuinely LOVED deerfield. When I first got there I was nervously just standing with my dad talking to a teacher, and a senior came up and made me feel so comfortable. She said she came as a new eleventh grader and had trouble at first, and gave me all this advice and even offered me her email and facebook if I had any questions. It is little stuff like that, a person going out of their way to make me feel comfortable, that shows how much a person must really enjoy the place.</li>
<li>Did you learn anything new/surprising about the school?
I learned it was preppier than I thought. I knew it was going to be preppier than Andover or Exeter, but I didn’t realize the extent. I also learned sit down meals arent every single day. In addition I noticed the dress code wasn’t as strict as I thought, which is a plus to me.</li>
<li>Something you wish you had learned which you didn’t
Not really.</li>
<li>How was the food?
I’m a vegetarian so I didn’t eat the main meal, but the main meal looked good. They had other options if you didn’t like the main meal so I liked that. All in all I would say the food was good; ESPECIALLY the cookies! </li>
<li>How were the classes you sat in on?
Great! The students all were interested, the teachers all great people. I love that they use the harkness method in english but not in like, sciences. I felt at home in the classes. That is one thing I was really scared about, how hard a transition it would be from public school academics to b.s., but if you are in an honors program and work hard as it is, I think academically you’ll be fine. </li>
</ul>
<p>-Overall it was a really good day. My favorite part was the student panel discussion at the end of the day because it gave a lot of insight on why the people chose deerfield, and other things. There was an international student on the panel, two actually, and they LOVED the school. I think that if someone who lives SO far away and doesn’t probably get to see their family except holidays loves the school then that shows something. My impression after leaving the school was very good, but I still am undecided just because of a few factors and cold feet.</p>
<p>Hi everyone! I originally planned to stay out of the revisit experience discussion but I have gotten 14 PM so far asking me about my revisits at Andover/Exeter, and why I chose Exeter. So first off, I would like to say a disclaimer about anything I write. I truly think both of these schools are very strong. Anyone choosing between them could not go wrong! Any persons experience during revisit day could change based on who you were paired with, the day, etc.
EXETER
Basic format/schedule of your revisit day
Reception, opening remarks, many classes, then closing remarks.
Did the revisit confirm your interest in the school or did it dissuade you from matriculating?
Confirmed
What specific things about the revisit pushed you in either direction?
The classes and the students. Every person at the revisit day was friendly and pleasant. Also the classes I sat in on were challenging, interesting, and so enjoyable! The teachers seemed passionate and understanding. The students seemed equally absorbed in class discussion. With the harkness method everyone in the class was implicated in topics of discussion. The students also said many significant ideas that demonstrated they understood the material. I was also delighted to hear the students joking at fitting moments while still remaining on topic. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Did you learn anything new/surprising about the school?
We often hear reports of Exeter being much like an academic prison. I was happily surprised to find the students were not only erudite individuals, but were also comical, affable people.</p></li>
<li><p>How was the food?
Very good! The salad bar was great!
ANDOVER</p></li>
<li><p>Basic format/schedule of your revisit day
The night before there was a student talent show that went on in the evening. Throughout the show trivia questions were asked about Andover. Answering a question correctly earned you a shirt with the school mascot (a gorilla) on the front, and a quote, “I think therefore I Andover” on the back. The next day we started with a breakfast. Students and parents then went in to the auditorium to hear a speech by both the dean of admissions and by the head of school. The speeches were about admission at Andover, the day, etc. Students were then paired with their revisit buddies and sat in on two classes during the day (Three classes if your revisit buddy didn’t have a free period). After that you went to the Chapel with the students and heard the presidential speeches by students running for class office. Lunch followed. Students and parents then reunited in the Chapel once again to hear about Andover through a student panel. Optional dorm tours/meetings with faculty ended the day. </p></li>
<li><p>Did the revisit confirm your interest in the school or did it dissuade you from matriculating?
Dissuaded. I felt like I was still in the ‘admission bubble’. I also didn’t seem to ‘click’ with the students at the school. I really enjoy academics. However the students in the classes I attended were laying their heads down, passing notes, whispering while the teacher was lecturing, etc. This made me feel very uncomfortable.</p></li>
<li><p>Did you learn anything new/surprising about the school?
Andover has a very strong science research program. The woman who runs the program was enthusiastic, and dedicated to her students.</p></li>
<li><p>How was the food?
Very good.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>@ccprep: I’m glad to hear that we’re not the only ones that were dissuaded by a revisit. And while I can understand your reluctance to post a “negative” visit report (especially if you have siblings who might consider applying to the school in coming years), I think NOT posting about your experience would be doing a disservice to the CC community.</p>
<p>@ 7D
I can understand the disappointment you faced with your daughter. Thinking you are going to one school, then ending up at another is a big change! However now, more than ever before, I am looking forward to this upcoming school year since I know I chose the school that fit me the best!</p>
<p>I’m always tickled at how things are interpreted. When did @sevendad say he was disappointed with the shift in thinking? His daughter making a choice that fit her seemed to me like a cause for celebration. Certainly his jovial mood and contributions on the discussion board implies they’re happy with the outcome. :)</p>
<p>Good point @exie! However I think that having to turn down an offer of admission from any school is difficult. We each applied to certain boarding schools for a reason, whether it was our first choice school or our so called ‘saftey’ school. Despite how similar some schools may appear on paper, each individual school offers unique opportunities than others. But successful matriculation to a school you love and enjoy is definitely a cause for celebration!</p>
<p>@7D
Also I’d like to thank you for your encouragement. I was in fact very hesitant to post a ‘negative’ review. I would feel horrible if I dissuaded someone from applying to a school they could possibly end up loving. Sometimes I feel rumors/opinions of the schools can be taken too seriously on CC. After all I feel the only way to know for sure if a BS is a good fit for you is to visit!</p>