<p>fyi, applying for FA actually affects your acceptance… the schools claim that applying for FA won’t affect your chances, but they will.
<p>Legacy counts a lot too, I’m not sure how much. aaeroplanes, you had really great EC’s, and that probably helped you just as much as the legacy. All of your EC’s can contribute to New England BS</p>
<p>@ ifax well, i wasn’t accepted the first year i applied, even as a legacy. my ssat percentile was higher, my EC’s were pretty much the same (except for the typhoon thing). the rising of my grades really did help, even just a little bit! when you apply for FA, it automatically puts you into a smaller classified group. and among that smaller classified group, they really pick the people who are of higher “qualifications” and will bring more to the community, so they feel that they are helping finance someone who will really benefit from it, because they don’t have as much money to give due to the economy. so yes, it does change your chances a bit, but don’t be intimidated by that!</p>
<p>FA will hurt your chances A LOT. None of the boarding schools you listed (or any boarding school I know of) is need-blind, meaning that they look at your ability to pay when deciding whether to accept you or not. You should read this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/961206-my-story.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/961206-my-story.html</a> Although we are not certain whether her chances were hurt solely because of financial aid, it does sort of show that FA does play a giant role in the admissions process. What aeroplanes said is true though :).</p>
<p>@Josh Byron,
I actually did read that article. I think that she just was in really bad situation. I mean, she probably just got really unlucky. Applying for FA I realize does make being admitted to a school, but if what happened to her happened to everyone getting in with FA would be impossible.
And aaeroplanes thanks. I have a question in general which I’m not sure of. Suppose one student gets A’s from sixth grade to eighth grade. But another student gets like B+s in sixth and then starts to improve and get A’s. These students have the EXACT same EC’s, SSAT, etc. (I know this is unrealistic) Which do you think that Exeter would admit?</p>
<p>Yeah, I do agree that it was just a really bad situation, and that she must have gotten really unlucky (wow, her luck stinks :(), but FA does hurt a little. Don’t overthink it though. It’s not like they’re going to reject you just because you need FA. But, let’s say it was between you and someone who has the same exact stats as you, except you need FA while the other kid doesn’t. They will most likely admit the other kid. But, overall, you have as good a shot as anyone else. :)</p>
<p>And, to the question directed to aaeroplanes, I’m not completely sure. On one hand you have someone who has played it safe their entire lives, but, on the other hand, you have someone who screwed up but showed improvement for it later. Schools do tend to favor improvement, but I think they would admit the student who hasn’t once slipped yet.</p>
<p>@JoshByron,
Yeah I kinda was that way. I got B+s and A-s in sixth grade, and then I started getting A’s in seventh because I put in a lot more effort. I dunno, I figure I got a shot, but I’m probably not getting into Exeter or Andover. Btw where are you applying to?</p>
<p>@ ifax i think that they like to see improvement in a student, even if it’s over a range of time. they like to see that their students are growing and will continue to grow at exeter. i think i was one of those students - i actually messed up my eighth grade grades but improved a lot in my ninth grade ones (i applied as a lower). so don’t let a couple of B’s distract you. as long as you do well in the other areas (EC’s, SSAT’s, teacher recommendations), i think you have a real shot!</p>
<p>Hey ya’ll,
I’m not quite sure as to how I should introduce myself, but, I’m new. I’ve been lurking for a while, but I decided to make an account since I’m applying as a sophmore this year. So, hi.</p>
<p>Hey DanceintheRain, I’m pretty new here too 
What schools are you interested in?</p>
<p>I’m thinking Andover, Cate, Hotchkiss, Exeter, Deerfield,SPS,and Lawrenceville. But mainly Andover. I have pretty high hopes :)</p>
<p>Every new CCer says he/she likes A or E…
Well you need to add more safety/match schools if you’re serious about going to a BS.</p>
<p>Well, the only reason I’m shooting so high is because even if I do get rejected from every school I apply to, I can go the school I’m at. However, I have been at the same private day school my whole life and for personal reasons, my parents and I think it best I go away for the remainder of high school. If I can get into any of those schools I will be beyond happy, but if it doesn’t work out, my safety is my own school.</p>
<p>Yeah, I’m in the same situation =) Good luck then!</p>
<p>ifax, actually I applied to schools this year I decided on going to St. Mark’s I got accepted to NMH and Putney as well, waitlisted at Middlesex and Choate, and then denied at Taft (my application was actually incomplete AND I didn’t interview with the admissions committee - i tried setting one up, but they said it was optional) and Cate (they said they had a spot for me as a repeat sophomore if I chose to go along that path, but there’s no way I would ever repeat).</p>
<p>@JoshByron,Nice I’ve heard that St. Mark’s is good. My mom says she knew someone who went there. I might fill out an application there but I’m already applying to seven boarding schools and one private day school, so any more might be too many. I could take a school off my list and replace it with St. Mark’s though.
@aaeroplanes, Thanks. I hope that Exeter does accept me. It’s a reach, but I guess it’s a reach for everyone. I wonder how many people on CC are applying to Exeter.</p>
<p>@ifax, practically everyone applies to PA and PEA, if you look at the chances.</p>
<p>^ 
you should apply!!! I have a friend there (she’s the one that advised me to apply) and she said she loved it. Just gimme 44 more days and I’ll tell you how it goes I REALLY wanted to go to Choate though, but I think I’ll be happy at SMS Although, 8 schools really isn’t THAT much. I applied to 7, and I really think I could have applied to over 10. The only thing that changes through each application is the essay - although I was able to manipulate my essay to fit every single one of my applications, which was a life saver Other than the essays, there are the short essay responses and the interviews, which really isn’t too hard to handle. You’ve just got to stay on top of things.</p>
<p>I applied to 10 schools! JoshByron, me too!! I put practically the same essay for a bunch of schools – it makes things a lot easier. A lot of schools let you choose your essay, choose one that you can use somewhere else. Trust me, after writing that many essays, even if you like writing, you’ll hate it by the end of your application.</p>
<p>Agreed!!!</p>
<p>@nerdgeekdork
Do Groton really accept new sophomores?(the school’s so small!) I mean do they accept people without any hooks(legacy, athletes, etc)?
What about new juniors?</p>
<p>My family is like “6 schools is too much!” and I’m like… you guys do you know how many people apply too top schools. They also only want me to apply to top schools in New England because they think they’re the only ones with money for FA despite what I tell them. -.-" sighhh. </p>
<p>I’m thinking:PEA, MX, NMH, EMMA WILLARD, groton* [CHOATE, TAFT, M’BURG(THEY DON’T WANT ME TO- DISTANCE) L’VILLE, BLAIR, KENT, GOVERNOR’S, DA, WILLISTON, SPS]<- those are all just thoughts really [in brackets] <- will DEF be narrowed down with a chainsaw[lol] I need more matches and safeties. :/</p>
<p>I think I only really have a chance at EW, NMH, PEA, Williston, and maybe Governor’s </p>
<p>I really like Groton, MX, NMH, and choate ;/</p>