I’m looking to apply to some boarding schools for the 2022-2023 school year as an incoming 10th grader. I’m wondering if the acceptance rates are the same? Is it significantly lower than freshmen? Are there schools with a large number of incoming sophomores? I applied last year for 9th grade but received no acceptances. My application has gotten better, but I’m assuming that everyone’s application gets better since you have an additional year to participate in activities, competitions, etc.
Really, it depends on the school. There are quite a few that expand the class significantly sophomore year. (Our did. ) Many kids who want to go to BS are already there. So there are spots – fewer-- and fewer applicants. BUT… It is typically a different pool. JBS kids. Lots of international kids where this, not 9th, was the natural break and place to change schools. Kids who didn’t get in last year. Kids who realized their local option wasn’t a good one.
All you can do is put your best foot forward. Definitely ask the AO about the odds. If you are willing, ask about the benefits of repeating 9th.
@jdv77 I know at Hill, we are a 548 person school as of now for the 2021-22 school year(could change through the summer). I am going to be a new sophomore, and as of now there are about 40 of us new sophomores. 40 is a lot for most years. Usually there is about 30 new sophomores as per my AO, but this year we heavily overenrolled having to build a new dorm over the summer.
awesome! I’m super excited for this fall, and if you have any application questions don’t be afraid to ask! (This fall I’ll know more about actually living there, so if you have questions come fall time, reach out!)
I also know more about this years numbers compared to the website which is from last years, so I can give numbers like %on FA, etc. If you need.
I don’t know if you’re interested in Lawrenceville, but there’s ~70 new sophomores per year (for context, there’s usually ~150 freshmen). I believe the acceptance rate is slightly lower for new sophomores than for freshmen, but they do take reapplicants.
I think Deerfield adds about 50 students to their Sophomore class. The typical entering Freshman class has @ 53 boys and 50 girls. Some good chances for entering 10th IMHO
Almost every boarding school adds to the sophomore class. In fact, I would be hard pressed to come up with an exception. But as @gardenstategal correctly points out, there is new completion for 10th grade slots as most junior boarding schools run through 9th
Will the 9th grade acceptance rate differ from 10th? Depends on the school. Any difference is likely to be infinitesimal compared to 11th.
As a general rule, the 10th grade class newly admitteds are 30-40% of the number of 9th grade admits. Fewer entering-10th grade spots, fewer entering-10th grade applications.
In terms of admission at some of the most selective admissions schools, we notice the 10th grade admits often tend to have a very specific focus and high-level talent, i.e. dance, music, varsity athlete, visual arts. To the extent these schools admit well-rounded, “less pointy”, kids, this seems to happen more in the 9th grade class.
Glad you are re-applying, just make sure you have a nice, broad-range of schools that are not all ultra-low acceptance rate schools.
