Received an email this morning with the link to sign up for Friday’s cohort welcome. Excited!
Still waiting on information about SSAT prep.
We are in the cohort and received the email about the welcome webinar.
Congrats @magnetnh!
Got the SSAT prep email tonight and signed up my kiddo.
My son got is in the current cohort for 9th grade starting on Fall 2021. The TestInnovators price went up to $400, do y’all feel its still worth it.
@dagoberto In my opinion I still believe that it is worth it. What I like about it is that it is structured. Not sure if you saw the schedule but it is basically 60 hours of SSAT test prep. The usual price is $1,070 and they will cover verbal, math and reading. You can do the prep on your own, but I like that they are providing an all in one package. Not sure where your child’s scores for the initial test were but I have read positive reviews for Test Innovators and the lower you start the higher the percentage increase. If you think your child is already at a high or acceptable level then it may not be worth it.
My child is not thrilled with 5 weeks of test prep but my other reason for participating on this test prep is that it will also prepare the students for future standardized testing, like the PSAT, SAT, ACT. I believe that what they may learn in these SSAT sessions can provide the basis for other types of testing, which will be a constant factor for admission and even top scholarships. There is a movement to do away with the SAT and these tests but until that time students will need to be able to perform well.
I hope you consider participating in the SSAT prep and the advise I have given others is to also apply to non-ABC schools to cast a wide net and that will also make this small investment of $400 worth it should the ABC schools not pan out.
Does any one know if the member schools we selected for the ABC, the same schools can be referred to the student given the grades and test scores the overall application is competitive.
Hi Magnath, If you accept into K-12 school through cohort can you reapply to ABC for a different boarding high school later?
@agadur ABC will look at your preferred school list then add or remove schools due to many factors, grades, test scores, SSAT/ ISEE scores and fit. Also what the school’s admissions is looking for in a student, all be it extracurricular, sports, community service, musical talent, art etc.
It is very competitive every year but this year moreso, since all students will have a virtual interview, rather then some doing face to face or virtual for admissions.
What happens if you cast a wide net and applied to non-member schools, then decide one of those schools is a better fit for your child?
@lilithmanon , When Feb/March comes around and school decisions are released and you know your childs standing the choice will always be yours and your child to make. Until you sign a contact with a school and send a copy of the contract to ABC, your child is NOT a Scholor. So if you get a better offer elsewhere. Which ever school(s) you give up goes to other kids of the schools waitlist. So it all works out in the end for everyone.
@agadur ABC makes the ultimate decision based on which schools they will refer you to, based on scores, grades, and their relationships with each school as well as the particular cohort that year. They do take your choices into account, but may add or remove schools. The latest email said referrals are coming early December, but I think we may get info soon in November. Regarding your other question, if you are accepted and sign a contract with an ABC school then they expect you to stay at that school for all the grades offered. So let’s say that you sign a contract for 7th grade and the school goes to 12th grade, it is my understanding that you should expect to stay at that school and not apply to other schools later on.
@lilithmanon Casting a wide net is a good idea, especially this year because there are many schools that will not be ABC affiliated. As per the email they sent to those in the cohort, if you are still interested in those schools then reach out to them and identify yourself as an ABC student and ask for fee waivers if needed. My advice is to look at other schools, especially if they take the SAO or other similar application where you will just fill out one application and it goes to all of those other schools.
Thank you @“NYCMOML&L” and @magnetnh
Good luck to all. This admissions season is nuts for me! One kid applying to HS and the other to MS! Eek!
How is everyone doing on the referrals. Any luck with the referrals?
@lilithmanon same here one kid to MS and one kid to HS
Referrals are coming soon. We received ours on 11/4 from the NYC Northeast Cohort. I think they should be out before Thanksgiving. My advice is to continue interview practice and begin the PFS/SSS financial aid form. It is a bear and you can start and come back to it to add the schools once you are referred. Fingers crossed for everyone and you will have to be flexible since interview dates are filling up fast.
Has everyone received their referrals? Are your interviews scheduled? November has flown by and I have a feeling December will as well so hoping all of you are continuing with this process successfully.
Yeah trying to finalizing all the interview dates based on referrals. Hopefully all interviews will be done by mid January. It’s a blessing in disguise in a way that the interviews are done remotely .
Just curious, on average how many ABC referrals did you all get?
Depends on many factors such as grade, location, the candidate profile. Range from 1 school to 20 schools.
Hi all, checking in to see how folks did with admissions!
We are fortunate to have acceptances in hand along with aid in some cases. There is some serious sticker shock, though. Not sure what I was expecting, got between 50-70% aid. We will still need to pinch a lot of pennies to make it work.
How did you do?