<p>Who is traveling to campuses for interviews yet? We are about a month away from our interview trip.</p>
<p>Yes, also in some apps the parents ask that parents make statements, particularly for exeter. I spent a lot of time doing this</p>
<p>We did our interviews in May, Summer, and November of 04 for January 05 applications. Child was in 7th grade for most interviews.</p>
<p>Although at Exeter interview child was in 8th</p>
<p>Wow, I wouldn't even have imagined that people interview in May for an admission deadline in the following January. We were already thinking about this whole process back then, but our research then was Web-browsing and emailing a few friends who had some knowledge of prep schools. </p>
<p>So, prep4654dad, it sounds like you have had one child go through the process (as that child did a January '05 application). How do you look back on the process now?</p>
<p>We had one interview and have 4 more slated for January. Honestly I'm not looking forward to spending big $$ for 2 plane tix & long cabride in NH to go to St. Paul's (heard great things about it here & elsewhere, though). However, with their great endowment and potential for fin. aid, son wants to def. give it a shot. </p>
<p>Any thoughts on ways to do well in an interview? We've got the basics (be yourself, share stuff about yourself, ask questions you'd like to know, etc.) :-)</p>
<p>I think it is important to show that you and your s or d have done your own research about the school. We re-read the viewbooks as we were driving up to the schools!</p>
<p>Ask lots of ???????????? It's your time to interview them as well. Remember, the school you choose must be worthy of taking care of your child in many ways, and I don't mean baby sitting</p>
<p>shelley, thanks will get back with you</p>
<p>Right now at home it's my wife's turn to read the viewbooks. I read them as soon as they arrive, then my son reads them, and now she's reading them. I'm sure they'll be reread during our cross-country drive to the interviews. </p>
<p>I agree with the idea that the parents must interview the school as much as the school interviews the family. Perhaps I would be more at ease if I were a boarding school alumnus myself, but I definitely am reluctant to have my son go far away for anything but a truly excellent environment in which he can not only learn academic content, but develop lifelong interpersonal skills to a new level. So, yeah, if you go interview with the schools, I think it is only natural to say, as a parent, "How can I be sure that this is a good idea for my child's education" (in your choice of words ;) ) and see what the school officials say in reply.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions re: interviews. Interesting, tokenadult that you're driving cross country. </p>
<p>Maybe just because I'm not 100% in sync w/son's boarding school aspirations, but the idea of driving 6 hrs (one way) to St. Paul's is not doing it for me (nor the option of paying $350 for plane/cab fare). </p>
<p>I was thinking of having him do the phone interview option. </p>
<p>Would this put a damper on his app/chances---would anyone know? Son is pretty nice (not to be biased..!) in person, so thought the interview would be an asset for him. </p>
<p>Just can't swing the cost right now (incongruous in light of 33K tuition, but whatever...)</p>
<p>Thanks much for any thoughts... :-)</p>
<p>Well, I can't speak for other parents, but I figure if there is somewhat of a shot our son might get in, we might as well know what the school is like. If my son keeps to his current schedule of preparing application materials and requesting letters of recommendation, and if I fill out the parent materials in the application by the deadline I have set for myself, we will have mailed in our applications BEFORE we go traveling, a few weeks in advance of the hard deadlines required by the schools. We are traveling when it is convenient for our work schedules. We want to see the school because we really want to make sure that our son has a good learning environment next year--wherever that is. For the same reason, my son and I made quite a few visits to local independent day schools, and our whole family attended some day school open house events. </p>
<p>I'm with you on thinking that at least "phoning it in" has the advantage of less out-of-pocket expense. But we'll pretend that our interview trip is our "vacation" (we take no other vacations in a typical year) and I hope my wife and son enjoy their first visit to New England, a region I used to travel to on business. If just two of us traveled, we might come out ahead economically by flying rather than by driving (but maybe not in our monopolized air travel market) but with three traveling, and our work schedule light during the week in question, driving makes economic sense. </p>
<p>Best wishes for gathering the information you need. Many thanks to the parents and students who are sharing their experiences in this thread.</p>
<p>jolynne, just remember there are many families that your son will be competeing with that will do ANYTHING to get their kids into SPS. If it is that important to yhour son, I'd find a way to make the trip. Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>Governor Dummer Academy is changing its public name. </p>
<p>Thanks, catg and tokenadult for the thoughts/persepctives! </p>
<p>I don't know...I'm just not loving the idea of son being 6 hours away at a school (accessible mainly by plane flights..). Not even sure about the chance to get in--I guess son would have somewhat of a shot (although, he didn't get perfect SATs like your son, I think, token! :-). He's got an interesting sport, though, and some public service. </p>
<p>I'm just leery of geting his hopes up (odds of admission are kinda long, and odds of adequate financial aid even longer!). Feeling that if I faciliate this interview (& he sees the [probably] amazing campus) it could be even a harder fall when/if the admit/aid is not there. :-(</p>
<p>Thanks for listening! :-)</p>
<p>The very best of luck to eveyone applying!!</p>
<p>I do not recommend phone interviews unless you live overseas. It is a must to visit and interview. All things being equal with apps, they will give the nod to the other app.</p>
<p>Jolynne, you bring up a good point also. The pictures of the campus do not do SPS justice. It is amazingly beautiful and will only fuel the desire. However, always remember you have no chance of admittance if you don't apply. If you don't like the idea of your son being that far away, think about keeping him home another year and having him repeat a year at school. It is very common.</p>
<p>Jolynne Smyth, bs's will not take all high grades and high ssat. I will say , I believe the grades are important. However, These schools are building communities with diversity. They are not looking for high SSAT and grades alone. Your son probably has as good as a shot as any. You won't know unless you try. I hope you realize that there are many, many very good bs available that will provide a stellar education.</p>
<p>prepparent and catg -- thanks much for the additional ideas/thoughts.</p>
<p>Actually, son's strength is in the SSAT (did pretty goodl) -- he just won't have a perfect SAT score to transmit as a supplement, and he got a few Bs this term. So who knows.</p>
<p>Now with these additional comments, I'm really in a tussle! :-) [book a flight, don't book a flight...arg!] :-)</p>
<p>We do have a bunch of very good boarding schools about 90 mins from us. St. Paul's was tempting though, frankly, because of the size of the endowment and potential fin. aid (plus the rave reviews I've heard about it's nurturing community, etc.).</p>
<p>Jolynne</p>
<p>If your child's grades have suddenly turned to A's this year, it is very very imporant for that to be brought out during the interview by you child (along with a strong attitude towards keeping those grades and a nod towards waking up and realizing this). </p>
<p>I think most BS's will recognize that kids do grow up and will look at that change very favorably. </p>
<p>In your case doing that face to face and not over the phone is probably the best way to sell that.</p>
<p>Lemons do turn to lemonade with a little work!</p>
<p>Jolynne, Book the flight. No need to supplement the app with the SAT. Please look at other schools while your in the area. There are tons of great schools with in a hour to hour and half from sps. Go look and interview at others. If you need any help private message me.</p>