<p>be enthusiastic during the interview, ask plenty of questions, know a lot about the school, etc …</p>
<p>Well we will see how this works out next year. haha.</p>
<p>Let them know that their school offers something you want that the other, higher tier schools don’t.</p>
<p>But if I say that (insert tier-2 school name) has something that (insert tier-1 school name) doesn’t have, wouldn’t the tier-2 school question why I would apply to the tier-1 school if the tier-2 school has something that the tier-1 school doesn’t?</p>
<p>To quote you on another thread you posted 5schoolapplicant:" However, I spent countless hours working on my interview skills and writing copious essays for my boarding schools, prepping for the SSAT, etc. - and even then, I was waitlisted at two of the schools I applied to".
You yourself basically believe in the Tuft effect. I believe Peddie is a good fit for you and will offer the appropriate academic rigor to challenge you. However, let there be no illusions, Peddie will never challenge you the way Exeter would. I’m not that familiar with Peddie but it appears to be the right choice for you and congrats on your matriculation. The 70% SSAT Average speaks volumes about the academic success of most of their students up to the point of their matriculation to Peddie. However, the great thing about The Peddie school is that they take students with average 70% SSAT Scores, but by the time they graduate they have a 2000 average “SAT” SCORE which is a testimony to their Academic Program. St George is at 81% SSAT Average, however, their graduates have an average 1900 SAT Score by the time they graduate which tells me that Peddie is far more superior academically. St George School did you a favor when they waitlisted you, if academic quality is your main criteria. Peddie is a much better school at elevating the academic achievement of their students. Maybe you were enthralled by St George’s beautiful Campus, but academically they are not as good as Peddie at bringing out the best in their students. Every eventually ends up where they were meant to be.</p>
<p>Wow, I am actually extremely impressed by your research. You just hit the nail on the head with your points.
You are correct in that I do indeed believe in the Tuft effect (I even started a thread on it earlier) but I do not think it is applicable in EVERY school.
That said, I also agree with the other points you made in your post - the very reason I turned down my acceptance from Exeter was BECAUSE it was too challenging and competitive, and not nearly as supportive as I would like in a school environment.
And I would like to apologize - upon rereading my earlier post, I seem very assertive, and even behaved like a jerk. I am sorry. Where I am in Delaware right now, everybody speaks like this.</p>
<p>@ 5 school…I am do happy that you decided on Peddie over Exeter. It seems like you picked the right school for the right reasons. I shows that you will be great at whatever you do.</p>
<p>My d select DA over Exeter not for the reason you stated but she felt her choice gave her a better sense of community. Before our visits we listed what we were looking for in a school. We knew all schools would give her the academic challenge but the bs experience in its entirely was equally important. It was important to me that my d have fun and enjoy activities outside of the classroom, plus the prize being an IVY college was not and still isnt our focus.</p>
<p>P.S. Loomis was the only school that didnt select my d. Some feel it is 2nd tier. I think they did the right thing, but my d loved the school and it would have been difficult to choose.</p>
<p>@Alexz - thank you so much! I just wish that everone had the same ideology as you did - a reputation does not take priority over an education.</p>
<p>2010: I don’t think they’d question why you’re applying to other schools without that particular ______________. Every school is just a bit different–and schools expect (in our case, encourage) students to apply to several places. What the school’s going to want to know is what it is specifically about their school that attracts you.</p>
<p>For example, my son was attracted to Exeter because of the academics (the way his guide described students creating their own classes and the Harkness table) and the setting (he likes the school/town mix). At another school, he liked the academics/sports mix–that particular school had all of the sports that he loves and does well in and Exeter does not. So he could sincerely talk to that school about what made them different/special in his eyes.</p>
<p>Well, if you go into a so-called “second tier” school and convey to them, as a parent or student, that you regard it as a “second tier” school…they’ll gladly accept your application and fee and make the “fit” determination right away for you. Someone’s attitude probably shined through during the interview. And if the applicant was seeking FA, why would a school tie up perfectly good money on a candidate who would come only in desperation? That money is scarce (as are beds and seats in the classrooms) and there’s really no point in tying up a scarce resource in someone who, in turn, is not really invested in the school.</p>
<p>2010 hopeful asked the question “How does a person actually convey to an admissions officer that they are genuinely interested in the lower tiered school when they are also applying to a top tiered school?” Again, if you’re going to let some imaginary and arbitrary “tier” classification guide your decisionmaking process, you’re screwed. This is likely what happened to the OP. If you look down upon a certain school because other people rate it as being in a lower tier, you’re just not a good fit for that school.</p>
<p>I bet this happens at Exeter and Andover, too, with parents or students wringing their knuckles about the size of the school – conveying to the admissions officer that this family has made a negative value judgment as to the size of their student body. And if you do that, then guess what? They’re going to make the same “fit” decision for you that the “second tier” school made as to OP’s D. Not to protect yield. Not to bolster their standing. But simply because a HUGE factor in retention is having students who want to be at a certain school. And they want students who will succeed, not students – no matter how capable they are on paper – who arrive on orientation day with a bug up their rear-end for “only” being able to attend a “second tier” school or a school that’s “too far from home” or a school that has “too many students” or whatever complaint or reservations you may convey to the admissions officer as to why you (or your child) aren’t a genuinely good fit for that school.</p>
<p>So, to answer the question 2010 hopeful raised, be positive; allow yourself to visualize yourself a year later or 4 years later at that school and why, for you, that would be a terrific thing. And then share that sense of appreciation for the school. They want people who are secure enough in their own individuality to be happy and willing to thrive with all the great things they have to offer. I’m pretty sure they have the attitude that the families that have bought in to an idea that it’s a second-tier school can have the first-tier schools. If you can’t shake the whole tier thing from your world view, then let me put it this way: make sure they know why you think that school is a first-tier school for YOU. But, if you really do fully buy in to the tier concept and believe that those tiers are decent guides as to where you or your child would best belong, be up front about that so the school can make the wise decision for you and for them.</p>
<p>Nice to have you back D’yer Maker!</p>
<p>Hi there guys.</p>
<p>Im from South Africa and Im currently a Junior.</p>
<p>We dont use the 4.0 gpa system here.We convert everything into percentages.</p>
<p>But I get C’S and B’s mainly.Which you could say is average but I participate in lots of athletics and Im being recruited by St Johnsbury academy and Canterbury(in Conneticut)</p>
<p>But the tuition fees are soo expensive are there any other great BS’S that anybody knows of that I contact.
I will be repeating my junior year so i can better my chance of receiving a scholarship to play football and do a major in business management.
UCLA is my dream school !</p>
<p>Phillips Academy in Andover has the biggest endowment. They would likely overlook the C’s and B’s if you’re a recruited athlete and from S. Africa. There are plenty of scholars in MA with exceptional ECs and sports, community service etc., buty they would rather go with someone from another country because their mission is “from every quarter.” It’s too bad.</p>
<p>Try NMH. They also love diversity and have a South Africa “connection”.</p>
<p>Take a look at Hotchkiss. The head of school there is from South Africa.</p>
<p>" Phillips Academy in Andover has the biggest endowment."</p>
<p>Where are you getting this rbgg? Exeter has a much larger endowment than Andover! Look it up on Forbes, the schools’ websites, and Wikipedia! You already know that Exeter has a bigger endowment from the discussion on the thread that you made to cheerlead Andover! Please stop mindlessly rah-rahing for Andover. It’s a great school, we understand. But don’t try to change the facts.</p>
<p>Exonian is correct, Exeter has the biggest endowment. However, got killed during the height of the recession and lost close to 20% of their endowment from poor management. Andover lost roughly 12% because they were smarter and more consrvative with their imvestments and remained need blind while Exeter backed off big time in 2009 with their need blind policy… It has since been restored.</p>
<p>Thanks Burb! She works her butt off and doesn’t sit back and rely just on talent. I’m proud of her and she really earned every acceptance she received. Deerfield Baby!</p>
<p>Apology accepted 5School, as you were very gracious in your second post. St George lost out on you and thank God you’re headed to Peddie as academically you’ll thrive there and receive tremendous support.</p>
<p>@Bunts- What type of football are you referring to the real football also known as soccer or the american football which is somewhat similar to rugby ?</p>