<p>This is a repost (posted in the general boarding school thread). I really have no idea what I'm looking at and could really use the help of some more experience folks.</p>
<p>I really don't have much experience in the boarding school realm. To give a brief back story, I was deferred from the United States Naval Academy for an extra year of athletic development. Although I had a 33 ACT (33 M/33 E) and excellent grades from a top private school in CA, the sport I play's coach decided that I needed an extra year of physical development, as the service academies do not have the "redshirt" option. I am not qualified to attend the Naval Academy prep school, as that is for remedial students that have not qualified for the academy academically.</p>
<p>There is an alumni foundation that pays for prospective USNA candidates to go for a "PG" year... Could someone please rank these schools in terms prestige and Academic rigor? There's 18 schools I have the option of attending and I eliminated 8 thus far. </p>
<p>The ten schools are (in alphabetical order):</p>
<p>Avon Old Farms
Blair Academy
The Hill School
The Hun School of Princeton
Kent School
Mercersburg Academy
Northfield Mount Hermon School
The Peddie School
Portsmouth Abbey School
Salsibury School</p>
<p>This would really mean a lot to me if you could take the time to do this. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>If you look at college matriculations, it looks as though Mercersburg has a large number of Naval Academy matriculations, so they seem to have high credibility with the Academy. Hill and Blair should be good for this as well. Applications are due Jan 15, but you might call and explain your situation if you may be a late applicant.</p>
<p>I should have clarified this in my earlier post, but in the eyes of the naval academy, all of these schools are the same. Candidates in this program have a 99% acceptance rate to USNA, so basically pending satisfactory academic performance and no trouble with the law or what not, you’re basically in. So I guess I’m looking for what school could I as a student, future school/plans aside, benefit from? And this is kinda random, but I have heard that some prep schools have strong alumni networks… Is that true with any of these schools?</p>
<p>What are your interests as a student? I would advise you to look at the course lists and pick the school that has the strongest programs in the areas of interest. If you aren’t willing to go single sex, cross off Avon and Salisbury. From there, you can look at facilities and quality of life factors.</p>
<p>Peddie has had some really outstanding NA post-grads in the past. I think the school is certainly in the top third of the list for academic rigor and prestige. However, you need to take this as an opportunity to examine yourself and then study the schools carefully for a good match. As a long-time observer, my two cents puts NMH, Mercersburg, Blair, Hill and Kent in the (roughly) top half as well.</p>
<p>Portsmouth Abbey is right on the water in Rhode Island with a very good sailing program. If you are going to the naval academy you will have to learn how to sail if you don’t already know. Beautiful campus!</p>
<p>If you are doing a PG year on the advice of your coach then your sport must be important to you - pick the school that can best advance your skills while challenging you academically but also speak with coaches because many BS varsity teams are all recruits playing at a very high level and you will want to make sure you have the opportunity to play as well wherever you attend.</p>