Applying to Prep School!!!

<p>Saying thank you is not sounding deperate and havng good manners. If youcan't see that, then that is very sad. Really sad that is what you think. Sorry to be harsh, but when is saying thank you, I appreciated your time, I learned something, sucking up? Do yu say thank you when someone does something nice? When they take time to talk to you? Do you assume they deserve so little respect for you to ackowldge them in a classic respectful way?</p>

<p>Yikes, mabe I am old fashioned, but then again, so are the poeple who will be getting you into your schools, jobs, scholarships, etc.</p>

<p>citygirlsmom, Wow that was very nicely said. Not really harsh , but you did not mince words.LOL</p>

<p>Okay...that's great, trust me I'm speaking from experience so your criticism is quite pointless. I thank them in person by saying " I enjoyed your time, thank you for the interview etc." But if you send them thank you notes, saying it again its a bit redundant and annoying.</p>

<p>Esa, I don't think anyone is critizing you. Maybe you can look at it this way. With so many apps. it allows you another opportunity to have your name and a thought or two about you in front of them. You are trying to sell yourself . Good luck</p>

<p>eahopeful, it is not redundent, nor annoying. It maybe you do not care enough about the process. As an aide for a City Official in a Major City, when we get handwritten thank you notes, they are very special. They are read and appreciated. They go to the top of the coorespondence pile. IF you can't be bothered to spend five minutes, than I guess the person interviewing you shouldn't spend five minutes of their time. Once you get into the world of academics, business, and such, you will realize what we are talking about. If you want to stand out, appear special, and appear mature, you will always go the extra mile. IN the adult world, believe me, I know from where I speak, we appreciate manners. Saying thank you right after the interview is fine. but think about this. This person is going to write up in some form your meeting and send it to the college. The hand written note is a reminder of what you discussed, who you were and reminds the interviewer to finish what they need to do. So in a way, it benefits you.</p>

<p>But if you really believe manners are annoying, there is nothing more to say.</p>

<p>In my opinion, writing a thank-you note to an interviewer has absolutely no effect whatsoever, unless you are the absolute borderline applicant. If you're good enough to be admitted in the first place, the schools will accept you no matter what. If you are not good enough to be admitted without writing a thank-you note, you will NOT be admitted. In fact, if you're not good enough in the first place, then writing a thank-you note will actually hurt your chances because it will seem that you are desperate. A note will not make your chances of admissions better. It is merely (slightly redundant) good manners.</p>

<p>Having gone through the college application experience a year ago with my son who went to Exeter, I can tell you that their college counseloring office STRONGLY recommend that their students write thank you notes. My guess is that if Exeter believes it in that office, they believe it in their own Admissions Office.</p>

<p>Amen to that! To all, i guess the lesson here is that while a thank you note will absolutely NOT guarantee an acceptance nor a rejection for that matter, but when the committee sits to review each applicant, believe me, they look at every aspect of that individual, including their professional maturity to send a thank you note. Every single job interview, or college interview expect a thank you note, so why not a prep school.</p>

<p>peariceparent, Ditto at Middlesex</p>

<p>Yes....when people say you look needy or whatever for writing a thank you note that is in fact an arrogant attitude...that you are so above manners you couldn't be bothered</p>

<p>...a thank you is just good manners. Period. If people can't see that, I am sad. And, just because it may not help you in some way, does that mean not to bother doing something nice? It seems it is all about me me me, if it doesn't do me any good, why bother? We bother because it is gracious, classy, and can make the reciever have a good opinion about the sender. We in our offices have never said "gee a thank you, how tacky" And for it being merely good manners....what is wrong with having good manners? </p>

<p>Think of it this way, if you need to see how it could help you, the world is very very small. That person who interviewed you may be a potential boss someday, or could come into your life in another way. As you get older, you will discover this is true. A thank you note is good manners, but it is also smart. And if you think it will hurt you because you think it makes you look desperate, you are mistaken. Ask around, to people with power, and you will be suprised.</p>

<p>I didn't write one... I really hope it doesn't hurt me.</p>

<p>It's a bit weird for sending it now.. I was interviewed by Exeter in November. And if the two alumni who interviewed me for Choate and Lawrenceville already sent off their reports, would it really make a difference if they received a thank you note now?</p>

<p>This is overlooking the mere good manners factor... its more if not writing one will hurt my chances or not.</p>

<p>Tara - maybe the moment has passed, then again, maybe you could write a thank you note for each of the alumni interviewers after you've heard from admissions and include that information. That would be an especially nice thank you note, since you'd have nothing to gain at that point. It would 'merely' be an expression of gratitude for their time.</p>

<p>hey everyone, maybe we should move on to some new stuff.</p>

<p>4 weeks!!! We live in California, applying to private and parachial schools here... anyone else? One school takes 14% or so of applicants, another 25%....yikes...seems alot of talk about east coast schools...</p>

<p>are these schools in nocal or socal?</p>

<p>I am new to this forum and was wondering how competitive my daughter might be in her effort to gain admission, as a 9th grader, to Deerfield, Taft, Hotchkiss, and Choate. I think her SSAT's (94% overall) and grades (A's, B's and a couple C's) are "OK", but her interviews all seem to have gone very well. All schools/interviewers seemed to have really liked the fact that she has gone to JHU-CTY for the past three summers, has taken extensive voice lessons (singing), acts in school plays, active in sports (but does not excel) and loves volunteering at the local nursing home. I guess the bottomline is that we are worried about her grades. Do you think that will hold her back or will they see her as a well-rounded person with intellectual potential?</p>

<p>I feel as though I should have used an educational consultant for guidance in where to apply, but it is too late for that now.</p>

<p>Your thoughts would be appreciated.</p>

<p>I think she has a good chance at these schools. She should get into at least one. If you have time, you might submit a late application to one of the schools a step down. There are many, many fantastic boarding schools in the northeast besides the "top 10". My son attends one. You probably have missed the February 1 deadline at most schools,but you can still submit applications.</p>

<p>Bay Area!! D had a 92% ssat, 97 ver, 96 math, 60 (yikes) vocab---but lots of ECs, full ride merit scholarship to school of choice (where she gets in), 1st honors (97gpa)
and more...I am sure she wil be fine, I am more weirded out than she is, even though Big Sis is in Lil Sis # 1 choice...</p>

<p>Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>What what what??? OMG what happened??????</p>