<p>This was posted by an admissions rep from westtown school. I thought I'd just copy it rather than link to the rather lengthy thread:</p>
<p>There are some excellent prep schools south of New York </p>
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<p>There is a tendency to think that all of the top prep schools are in New England. This is similar to the mentality that says, "there is Amherst and Williams and everyone else". Or, there is Harvard and Yale and everyone else.</p>
<p>Many students would be smart to consider any of the following schools that are south of New York:</p>
<p>Westtown School where I work as an Admissions counselor.
St. Andrews School in Delaware
Peddie School in New Jersey
Lawrenceville seems to be the one school that gets attention here.
Mercersburg School in rural Pennsylvania
Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia
Madeira is a girls school that is outside of DC.</p>
<p>There are dozens more that could be mentioned here as well that are worthy of exploration, but students are missing out on some great schools if they limit themselves to New England.</p>
<p>Secondly, high SAT scores is an EXTREMELY poor way to pick a prep school or a college. We could easily have SAT scores that are stratospheric, but we routinely turn down kids with SSAT scores that are off the charts, but are lacking in other areas. As a boarding school, the students you accept are being accepted into your home. We would be a much much poorer school if we accepted a lot of kids who we know (based on SSAT testing which is highly correlated to SAT testing) would score in the 1400's (old scale) or 2150+ in the new scale, but who may not make great roommates or who may not bring much to strengthen the community in terms of extracurricular contributions. Now, I am NOT saying that schools with SAT averages of over 1350 do not also pay attention the the things I am referring to. Many and arguably, most of them also pick dozens of kids with lower SATS over kids who will be tremendous community members and make significant extracurricular contributions.</p>
<p>Families need to pay more attention to the values and philosophy, history and culture of the school. Families need to trust their gut when it comes to the feel that a school leaves them with when they visit it. Families should look at things like: courses offered, college matriculation, reputation, etc, but they should also look for schools where kids are happy and well adjusted.</p>
<p>As someone who is in admissions, it's amazing to me how SAT scores are overrated. A quality environment is one where the school is full of great kids with outstanding character; kids who if you were to meet them, you would want your son/daughter to be like 95% of the kids you meet. You can't measure that by a 3 hr and 45 minute test. </p>
<p>In selecting a school for your child, think of yourself as picking a home for your child to live in. If you think about this, you won't obsess over SAT scores and believe you can create a pecking order of, "the best schools" by how kids do on a morning test. Instead, you will make sure that the values, philosophy, cuture, history, priorities and feel of the school are as closely alligned to the values you want to inculcate in your child. The kids that are living with your son/daughter in a close community like a boarding school, will have an indelible impact on the character of your child.</p>
<p>I am happy to answer any questions that anyone has about Westtown or boarding school in general. Feel free to respond in this forrum or privately with an email directed to my attention. By the way, if your son/daughter goes off to boarding camp and loves it, I can assure you that there is a boarding school out there that they can thrive at. The close relationships between students and other students; students and faculty are what makes a boarding school special. Sure, the facilities at your finger tip are great. Sure, the time management skills, growth of independance and lack of commute are attractive, but boarding school is great because of the unique relationships that it fosters.</p>