Applying To Prep School, 2010!!!!

<p>vanilla, the SSAT although important is NOT the most critical part of an application. As long as it is decent, it really shouldn't prove to be detrimental. So if you want, you could get some practice tests and work with them to get familiar with the style of testing. But if you don't want, I really don't think that anything above 82% would impact a decision. Again, I know people who scored in the 60th percentile and still got into highly selective schools because of their personalities and dedication to their passions.</p>

<p>Hi, I'm new to CC so this is my first post. I'm an 8th grade homeschooler and I'm thinking about applying to a boarding school for next year. I'm wondering if anyone has any kind of advice on applying and what kind of school to go to. Also what is the atmosphere like at a boarding school compared to other kinds of education?</p>

<p>Excellent presentation of your thoughts. My D is very intelligent and processes information very quickly. I was a little concerned about the Boarding School stereotype, especially at Exeter, of a cut throat environment of fiercely competitive kids that don't want to share their knowledge or strong skill sets with others. Presently my D helps her friends with their Homework, wants to see everyone do well in school, and welcomes diversity in her life. You have helped me realize that all BS students are not so competitive & mean spirited that they perceive others success as an obstacle to their own. Thanks Superior!</p>

<p>Thanks! I was also concerned about the Harkness Method as it relates to the efficient instruction of math. This methodology of teaching Math will translate in the real world to critical analytical thinking to solve tough problems one encounters in College and in their eventual careers. This will strengthen logic and prime the brain to solving problems utilizing a multi-dimensional approach. I love Exeter and hope my D will be accepted and add something beautiful & meaningful to that community.</p>

<p>A+MATH- I wish I could help you on the home school deal.Hang on though because someone will appear on this thread who can help you. As for the type of BS, that would be difficult not knowing you. I can tell you that the one commonality of BS is that they provide an excellent education. Some are small, some large, some will hold your hand, and others will point to the mountain and tell you to climb. You may want to use this site as a starting point. There is no substitute for visiting the schools and picking their brains. Good Luck!<a href="http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Seriously though jedwards, I have not heard or read anything regarding Emma and exits. I will say that it does happen at alot of schools. I would think that no school is immune to this type of situation. That said,if you hear anything that may be out of the ordinary please let us all know. </p>

<p>Remember the many people that read this thread that may not write ( iwas like this in the beginning), they too would like to know the good, bad, and the ugly about bs. To the best of my knowlege, Emma Willard is a top notch bs.</p>

<p>My daughter is an Emma Willard senior and I have first-hand knowledge of the kinds of incidents Jedwards mentions. I don't have time right now to go on in detail, and most importantly I want to encourage you towards EW if your daughter is emotionally mature and gifted in math or science, also they are truly need-blind in admissions so if financial aid is an issue they will help you (most of the top coed schools are not need-blind and that does affect admissions prospects, something else we also know first-hand). My big BUT is... that my daughter and I feel there are a couple of weak links in the EW counseling and residential life process and that the "problem" girls who were not invited back might have been better helped. If you would like to know more, perhaps it would be wiser to PM me to help protect those girls' confidentiality (others reading here might know who they are if I go into detail). If your daughter is applying, question the interviewer thoroughly about how the school helps students who are struggling emotionally, using substances etc. I would expect you'll get straight and concerned answers. They should know that families are hearing these stories and are rightly concerned themselves. Kent Jones and Margaret Roach in Admissions are tremendous resources.</p>

<p>No school is perfect. All in all, we both LOVE Emma.</p>

<p>I'm amatricia's daughter! I love Emma Willard, and I'm really happy to hear that you're considering it. Coming here was definitely the best decision I've ever made. So yeah, concerning this:</p>

<p>More importantly does the school use a peer review with faculty involved also and administration?</p>

<p>Yes. If you break a fundamental rule (drugs and alcohol, cheating, hazing, other big stuff) you get something like a trial to determine your punishment. There's a "conduct review committee" made up of the dean of students, some faculty members, and girls from each grade. They hear all the details of your case and you have a faculty member and student to support you and speak on behalf of your character.</p>

<p>The past two years were kind of crazy with CRC cases, I think. This year seems like it's going to be much calmer.</p>

<p>If you have questions or just want to hear more from someone who knows Emma really well, feel free to PM me. I'll also second that Mr. Jones and Ms. Roach are awesome people. And... GO EMMA! :)</p>

<p>LOL. Now, how often do a parent and a child independently reply to a message? I've been wondering who belongs to who on CC, but I guess we've been outed. Thank you, dear. </p>

<p>I wonder if there should be a CC equivalent for prep schools. Is there, besides this subforum?</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your comments. I for one look at Emma Willard as a very good school, so some clarification is helpful.</p>

<p>Jedward-
I'm glad your daughter is considering so many all-girls school. Emma Willard, MPS, and Westover are all great schools. However, I'm going to just add that MPS has several girls who have made a successful transition from British boarding schools to here. There are actually 5 or 6 girls that went to private middle schools in the UK ( though one was a day student).</p>

<p>Dear elvenqueen -</p>

<p>Are these English girls, or American one? Do you know which English boarding schools they attended? That's really very interesting, because we rarely encounter ANYONE who has gone to school in the UK - thanks so much for your input!</p>

<p>At the opening day at Miss Porter's a few weeks ago, the admissions head was quoting statistics for the incoming class - 3 of the new girls were home schooled!<br>
Good luck with your search.</p>

<p>You're welcome, prepparent. I expect that all the girls' schools mentioned here are strong; obviously my daughter is happy with her choice. She is a very good student (98th % SSAT, skipped a grade etc.) who decided to rejoin her original age cohort at Emma after trying public high school and homeschooling, and fits right in. </p>

<p>It's possible that the rules system is stricter at Emma than at other schools; conversely, I've heard about nasty incidents at coed schools that might have been prevented by enforcing rules. I really don't know that much about life and academics at the other top girls' schools so I'm interested in reading any anecdotes that appear here.</p>

<p>just in the new classes, 3 girls were homeschooled. I was also homeschooled for about 3 years before I came to MPS. The girls who went to boarding school in Britain. 1 is british. 2 are twins who are from spain but they live in NYC ( they went to Marymount). Another (the day stud) was an american temporalily living in london (went to Marymount). Another went to Stover, she lives in Boston now.</p>

<p>Sorry, I wanted to send this with the prvate message but forgot. This is the Middlesx web site.
<a href="http://www.middlesex.edu/Default.asp?bhcp=1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.middlesex.edu/Default.asp?bhcp=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Hi, I am novice to this forum. We are looking into some prep schools in Boston and planned our tour/interviews to the schools pretty soon. The campus visit is first hour touring around and second hour interviews with the admission office. </p>

<p>I heard that an interview is require for the admission. The school officials travel around the world to interview with the international applicants before any admission decision is made. For domestic applicants, the schools will have alumini or student parents to interview the applicants locally if they can not make a trip to the schools.</p>

<p>Can anyone tell me if the interview included in the 2 hour campus visit is part of the admission process even before any application materials are sent? Or that is simply informational for parents and applicants? If it is, should we prepare a resume or portfolio with the applicants archeivements? Many thanks to anyone who can quickly reply to my question.</p>

<p>I don't think they could do two interviews-to many people come from out of town to expect them to come back. So the one you do when you visit will be the one they use. They can start your file when you schedule the interview, and add the application when it arrives. Since it is early, they do not expect you to have your application in yet.</p>

<p>Yes, this is an interview for both the parents and the applicant, separately. The admissions rep will generally meet with the applicant first, then the parents. The student should be prepared with the "why do you want to come here", "what is your favorite subject", "what do your friends and you do" type questions. Parents will have a chance to "brag" and ask questions. These interviews are important. The admissions rep becomes your advocate in the process. If possible, get a few of these interviews under your belt before you go to the schools that are high on your list.</p>

<p>First, I want to welcome you newcomer to the prep school thread. Shelley is correct regarding the two seperate interviews. As I recall, My d completed all her interviews before she had her apps completed. When you visit, you can kill two birds with one stone. When you visit you can interview at the same time. You may even decide not to apply, but no big deal. Good Luck!</p>