Congratulations again to all who completed the prep school application cycle this year! If and when you’re ready please share where you/your child will attend school this fall.
Would love to know WHY that school won out in the end, too!
I’ll start! DS will be going to Andover!
He also got in to Loomis, Hotchkiss, Lawrenceville and Hopkins (day school)
He had shadowed at Hopkins, Loomis and Choate and we had attended a football game at Hotchkiss and done the tour etc.
In the end Andover had everything he wanted. It’s close to some family and not too far from home, Boston is there to explore and he loves Boston. He wants a super strong math and physics program and the opportunity to try things like debate club and play his sports under the tutelage of great coaches. (We love the football and lacrosse coaches). We also loved the school spirit and the Andover/Exeter rivalry. What a fun life experience to play in the oldest rivalry game in the nation! Additionally I loved that Andover is putting a serious emphasis on wellness and balance. No point in climbing the mountain if you don’t stop to enjoy the view right? The support system is also outstanding. I was impressed by how thoughtfully everything was designed. They agonize over details to give kids the most robust and happy experience possible. And finally. I LOVE that they will not accept a kid unless he or she is NICE! We need more nice in the world, especially amongst those in high level and leadership positions. We revisited and really felt comfortable and like it was a good fit. Oh! And the food is amazing. My son is not a small individual and he can pack it in! He’s a super picky eater though so it helps to have a solid food service there.
Even with all of those amazing qualities it was still a hard choice. All of these kids have amazing opportunities ahead no matter which of these schools they attend.
I will be attending Andover next fall! I am extremely excited!I was also accepted into Groton and Milton, but the final choice was really between Groton and Andover ( because of financial aid, mostly).
I decided to choose Andover because of the strong STEM department (especially the observatory) and because all the admissions people and my interviewer were super nice to me. They demonstrated that they really cared about me, not only my stats. For example, a Brazilian admissions office called from Andover to my house in Brazil a couple of weeks before M10 to suggest that I changed my application from 9th to 10th grade (I was originally apllying as a repeat) because then I would better explore my potential. She also made sure to say that Andover had Brazilian students and that I would feel home. That, for me, showed that they were really worried about how I would feel and how I would adapt to the community (not that any of the other schools wasn’t).
Some other factors I took into consideration were sports (soccer) and extracurriculars, such as MUN and Knowledge Bowl. Also, although both schools offered amazing FA grants, Andover’s was slightly better. But, still, this was the hardest decision I ever had to make…
Berkshire Berkshire Berkshire. Yesterday was revisit day. Although we were told my son was the first of accepted students to enroll, we attended revisit day nevertheless to see the school through new eyes, meet some faculty and let our son further absorb what was in store for him. We left the school 6 hours late exhilarated. This school is a pearl or a gem or a diamond. It is in a secure, country setting outside Great Barrington (voted one of America’s “best” mall towns). It is secluded at the end of a long driveway and sits at the base of an iconic mountain. The buildings are bright, cheerful and meticulously maintained (as are the grounds). The faculty are warm, energetic, passionate, connected, articulate and approachable. My son’s guide was clearly hand-picked for him as immediately it was clear that many of their interests overlapped and he made him feel comfortable and welcome. They have struck the right balance in my opinion between academic “excellence” and conviction in raising the whole child not just one dimension. It is small enough that at 14 years old a student can (and is expected to) experiment and try something new. Leadership opportunities abound. I was impressed by our 1:1 with the dean of academics who essentially told us they would mail our son a recommended program and that it would open a dialogue in which we could then let them know our thoughts for him. They want our input as they believe it will help them set him up for success. The day ended with the entire group of 60 visiting parents being serenaded by the girl’s acappella in the library. I will close with the group text exchange from my daughter (a junior in college) to us and my son’s replies: How was revisit? Gr8 Loved it.
My daughter will be at Andover,in part because she did not get into any other top-notch boarding schools. She was waitlisted at Choate and SPS. We found out a week ago that she was also accepted into a highly selective arts conservatory, but picking Andover was a no-brainer. Better facilities, better everything. My own first choice was actually SPS, but my husband went to Andover, and my daughter preferred a “non-religious” school (even though we are Episcopalians).
We’re thrilled for her, and she would go today if she could. Go big blue!
Such an exciting time! Nice to see kids finding the schools that fit them.
DS has decided to attend Andover this fall.
He was also accepted to Choate, Deerfield, Loomis and Peddie. All the coaches and AOs have been warm and supportive before application deadline and after M10.
We decided not to revisit due to logistic reason (We reside in Asia), but were fortunate to have an extensive conversation with Andover’s Head Master while he visited our city right after M10. We are also able to draw informations from family friends who has or are attending DS’s admitted schools.
It was difficult to part with other schools, but ultimately we are glad that DS has made his final choice and we are moving forward!!!
@jc570109 go big blue! What sports will he be playing?
So nice to hear @jc570109. Welcome aboard!
So last night I decided that I was gonna come to a decision before midnight. As many of you probably guessed, I’ll be attending Choate!! 
All of the kids were so kind and it just really really felt like home to me. Wow I feel a bit intimidated because so many people on this thread got into Andover :)) . I revisited at 5 of the 6 schools that I got into: Milton, MX, Choate, Putney, and NMH. In the end, MX really did impress me and made me rethink my descision. Last night when I told my parents that I had chosen Choate, they started celebrating and we have already ordered some swag :)) .
The sad part is that I’m the type of person to think about what could’ve been, so my mind is racing with thoughts like “what if I had applied to Exeter? Maybe DA? What if I was accepted to Andover?”. I know it’s ridiculous, I wish that I didn’t think that way. I guess I’m a bit of an extremist, so I naturally want to go to the “#1 school” (whatever that means), although I know that it’s completely idiotic of me. I don’t even believe in the whole "ranking’ of schools, but part of me still gets stuck on it. I’ve never been the type of person to celebrate myself, but rather think about what I could’ve done different. I really wish that I could be super-duper proud of myself, but maybe that’s just the 14 year old in me being immature :-? . At least I can understand this about myself :)) .
Anyways: SOOOO excited for September. I don’t even want a summer break, I just want to move into Choate. I can barely stay in my seat at school because; #1 I don’t like it there in the first place, #2 It seems so mediocre after seeing all of these schools in real life :)) . I hope that everyone chooses a school that they love! :)>-
DD will be attending Andover from ATL! We did revisit day last Friday and it was amazing; kids were happy, said they felt supported with a vast array of resources (my greatest concern), all staff were incredibly warm and the entire community was extremely diverse, in all respects. Soooo excited!!!
@Nico.campbell Choate is awesome! DS is going to Andover but has applied and been wait listed twice at Choate! I think it’s natural to feel a little bit of “the what if’s”. It’s a huge decision and so we all pause to think about whether we are making the right choice. But Choate is world class. All the coaches and admissions people we know there are wonderful. So happy for you.
@southernprepfam woohoo!!
Congrats @Nico.campbell . I’m sorry the travelogue has come to an end, but am glad you have landed in a good place.
So you know I’m the one here who’s big on life lessons. You’ve clearly learned a lot about yourself, and I suspect the lesson that you’ll take away from this is when you have a great opportunity in front of you, the only way to make it less wonderful is by dwelling on other opportunities that might have been. You’re going to have a fabulous 4 years. I have zero doubt that your life will continue to present incredible options. Prepare yourself to take them and not look back! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
@Nico.campbell DC applied to choate 2x and was waitlisted both times but was accepted to A/E. So, stop thinking about what might have been and love that school that loves you. I just wish D.C. Could make up his mind, and with that, he may not pick A/E and may end up at a hidden gem.
Congratulations @“Nico.campbell”! You’re just feeling a little “left out” on this thread I guess. 
Know that the sample on CC is very very skewed. And in past years, there haven’t been nearly as many Andover admits visiting CC either. Anyway, Choate, Andover, Exeter, Deerfield… are all great schools. Be proud and be excited that you have successfully got into and will be attending one of the world’s best schools!
Or @momof3swimmers , a less hidden gem when we hear about swimkid’s choice!
@momof3swimmers Nooooo… He needs to come on this thread and be brain washed so he can make up his mind to Go Big Blue!!
Everyone on this website is so supportive! I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done with some of the advice and support that has been offered here .
@momof3swimmers best of luck to your son! I hope that he’s really happy, wherever he ends up!
@panpacific I was wondering if there are usually this many Andover admits on CC! I felt quite overwhelmed :))
@gardenstategal thank you so much for the kind words! I will miss the travelogue too 
. I’ve learned more about myself than I ever thought that I could through this process!
@bc12345 I hope that your son has an amazing time at Andover! Thank you for all of the support, you really are great!
Thanks everybody!!
@panpacific I’m working on him. I’m pretty sure if you cut me open I would bleed blue lol! It’s really hard not to show my preference.