<p>this really helps, chris. thank you.</p>
<p>As the prep school admissions offerings draw closer, I'm constantly looking for signs into the secret minds of the admissions officers. I've recently got an email from one school (I will not disclose) asking for the rest of my financial aid forms. I replied that I didn't have them; "use the old ones," I said. They said it was no problem and that they would "consider" my application anyways with the finaid forms I've given them. Is this a sign that I'm seriously being considered? Or am I hallucinating? </p>
<p>I'm gonna say this, and it might sound korny: but I've always wanted to live and work in the freest nation on Earth. Hopefully my dream is going to come true in the fall.</p>
<p>j, it's a Great sign! the fact that they are reviewing your financial aid info surely means that your are solidly being considered, otherwise, why would they ask for your paperwork if the intent is to reject you?? best of luck!!</p>
<p>I'm worried because they haven't called about my FA info and it's really a quite bizarre report.</p>
<p>You know what was weird? Calling up Exeter and asking them a question and having the woman on the other end say, "Well, I cant look at your file right now, because its in committee..." My heart stopped.</p>
<p>Heres a question. I'm homeschooled, and I sent in all my forms before the deadline. Several weeks later, I get an email- 'We're missing these forms'. Turns out they were there, but they had assumed my 'school' was going to send those forms, not me, so they didnt check. I thought that might be a bad sign. But then the day after, I called about something (to make sure about one document, because one of my parents had forgotten to sign somewhere), and they tell me that my file is in committee.</p>
<p>Good sign? Bad sign? Am I seeing things?</p>
<p>Oh, and J- I'm sure you're fine. They just wanted to make sure something hadnt gotten lost in the filing system/mail, is my guess, so they called. The fact that they weren't that worried about it seems a good thing.</p>
<p>Anybody have a bad experience at the top schools? I've only heard good stories.Looking for info on Hotchkiss,st,paul's,deerfield in particullar.</p>
<p>What's interesting is that the character of the applicant is not mentioned very often here and yet from what I've heard, the person's interview is among the most very important elements. Grades and test scores give an awareness to whether or not you will survive at the school academically but what they really want to know is if you fit in there and will be a positive addition to their school - and NOT just for your own selfish goals but as a member of their family. They have to live with you so they pick people they think will fit in and bloom there and thrive and show up to rallys and all of those things. Just because you're smart on paper doesn't mean you'd be a great addition to a dorm or a classroom or participate in all of the activities they plan for their enthusiastic community. You can be smart and be a bore - interviews are important. Very important. They can make up for any academic weaknesses. They have tutors for subjects but not for lacking personalities. That was my observation in the process.</p>
<p>I've gotten a confirmation letter from both Andover and Exeter, but not from SPS? Has anyone applying to SPS got one yet?</p>
<p>Regis, you must be right. If you think about it, character MUST be their biggest concern. They are aware a few bad apples could ruin a whole class!! It makes sense they have to give the benefit of the doubt to character and not academic ability. I am amazed these places exist when i think about being responsible for a few hundred hormone charged kids all living together.</p>
<p>Why isn't anyone applying to Groton? I had an amazing 4 years there and highly recommend it above many of the others for it's small student body, incredible teachers and overall wonderful approach. My boyfriend went to SPS which I'll have to say I may well have chosen had I seen it back then. They have the highest endowment per student which makes for some opportunities not possible at the others. They also have an amazing campus and loyalty that seems to even beats Groton's.</p>
<p>I really caution you guys to not be carried away by the big names, Exeter and Andover. Overall, my friends who attended these schools had mixed feelings. Certainly there are wonderful teachers and the widest variety of course offerings. However, instead of a cohesive community, these schools have communities with the community. There doesn't seem to be the same closeness between students and teachers. There isn't the loyalty to your class. They are more competitive.</p>
<p>I know many grads who say they wish they had not gone to A and E. I don't know a soul who did not love Groton, SPS or Deerfield.</p>
<p>Jazz, any comment on Middlesex?</p>
<p>It seems alot of people apply to certain school for one word.</p>
<p>PRESTIGE</p>
<p>I am going for a better education, being best prepared for college, and getting into a good college/university, then a grad school.</p>
<p>Maybe, but name often trumps what one learns...</p>
<p>In my opinion esa, prestige cannot happen without a good academic performance. And quite clearly, the better education brings out the prestige in these well known schools.</p>
<p>jazzpiano, if you could choose between sps,deerfield,middlesex or hotchkiss, which would you choose and why? I didn't apply to Groton because i heard it was really impossible to get in and full of very old line new england families.</p>
<p>AVOCO, sps, deerfield, middlesex, and hotchkiss.........no safties.</p>
<p>esa, i recommend calling the admissions office of sps to verify all items have been rec'd. i rec'd a written notecard from andover, lion links verification for exeter, and called deerfield directly. today, I re'cd an email from choate to say they will be emailing the notification on march 10th via email.</p>
<p>esa, how do you know you'l get a better education at E, S, and A? Why not peddie, the hill school, or kent. Certainly you can get a good education at these three ramdomly chosen schools. E,S, and A? are you sure?</p>
<p>Wait... Choate emailing the decisions... doesn't that go against the "Ten Schools Agreement" or w/e, which said that they will not email, call or fax decisions on Mar 10... w/e just a random thought</p>