@RedLioness Our child got generous FA packages from 8-9 schools, so I’m not sure your theory is correct? As @gardenstategal says, you got into a wonderful school with the financial aid package necessary to attend. No need to try to second-guess admissions decisions at this point.
At the risk of being repetitive, there are several phrases I have used over the years. Two apply here:
• Correlation does not imply causation
• The plural of anecdote is not data
@gardenstategal @CaliMex did I come across offensive or ungrateful or bitter? If so, I apologise. Yes, I absolutely am grateful for what I have and for the awesome school I am psyched to attend next year. I didn’t mean to make it appear otherwise, only to give a tip to the next applicants and let them know.
@CaliMex huh. congrats to your daughter! that’s weird tho, like explained below I am fairly positive about the contribution of FA to my waitlists…
@gardenstategal I don’t mean to be rude, but yes, I do know that the transparency of FA was a major factor in why I received so many waitlists. I know some people who talked to the schools about my application and they explicitly received that answer and passed it on to me. Those same people have had relationships with these schools for longer than my parents have been alive. I trust their information.
If it seems like I’m upset about the waitlists, let me clarify. It doesn’t matter to me, I’m hardly upset about it - after all, I received acceptances to my top choices and I didn’t want more to have to decide between when they were all awesome schools. I just intended to tip off the next class of applicants that schools do know where you apply for FA to, since that was definitely some information I would’ve preferred to have been aware of during the application cycle, and a concern I’d had when applying for FA.
@skieurope sorry, it appears I didn’t see your comment. shrug that’s true. I only intended to put the experience out there, as that’s definitely the sort of info I would’ve been interested in while applying.
We’ve begun applications to the schools SWParenting Kid will be applying to (which aren’t due until January 10). However, we’ve got interviews set for October, and we’re wondering if it is better to submit apps in time for the schools to have them when we are there for interview. The apps will include things like portfolio, info about EC, etc. Is there a downside to the interview happening, without the school interviewer aware of these components of the student?
Even if you submit the applications so early, chances that someone will read them before the interview are slim to nil. You risk submitting a half-baked, not well thought out application instead if using the next several months for reflection, growth, and putting together the very best app you can. You also forfeit your chance to evaluate the school before applying. What if after your tour and interview you decide you don’t even want to apply there? You don’t need an application to talk about your interests - you can do that in person during the interview. And if you want to show examples of your work, you can always bring a few to share with your interviewer. The purpose of the interview is not to assess your artistic, athletic, or academic abilities but rather your personality, motivation, and general “fit” for that particular school community.
To the OP - very few applicants have “all their components” of the application submitted before an interview. Those that do are most likely interviewing late. We showed examples of the portfolio during the interview and also highlight videos.
I’d recommend waiting, at least for essays. Done right, the tours and interviews can help your kid hone in on what they are looking for in a school as well as how well each school fits that. It can help them learn about themselves.
This perspective can make for a significantly more compelling essay.
I agree with @gardenstategal and @GoatMama re waiting to visit the schools first. We have all our interviews the last week of October and will be waiting till afterwards
- Further insight into the schools will impact the essays
- Visiting the school might result in taking it off the list to apply to… and save the application fee
- There is absolutely no way we will have 6 completed, well thought out applications by October
Anybody taking the Oct 19 SSAT? We are hoping for a strong score to avoid taking it again in December.
Agreed, it’s unlikely someone will review the application beforehand. During the interview, the school wants to get a sense of you. They’ll see everything else later.
Thanks, all. Helpful to hear the opinions. @amumof2 Our kiddo is taking the SSAT in November, as we’re travelling during the October test.
Might be a good idea to plan on also taking the December SSAT as well unless your kid is a brilliant test taker. Mine is solid but not great, and definitely needed to take it twice because the first time nerves certainly affected the outcome.
How is everyone doing? As anticipated, juggling the application process along with regular school/extracurricular craziness is quite a challenge!
I hear you. I feel sorry for my kid. extras, grades, tests and applications. also this happens to be the season for XC so getting up every morning at 5.30am! But DS is doing a great job managing it so far. Cannot wait for the test to be done and one tick off. Now the prep is on. need to talk to teachers for Reccos at TG break. Am glad we are done with the interviews. They went well (we thought) and it did clarify more insight into schools. so was helpful. I asked DS to rank schools and I did mine right after all interviews were done, so we can now compare if DS were fortunate to get into multiple options.
We are all in the same boat. I too feel sorry for my daughter for all the work load this year. She has been losing sleep trying to get everything done. She took the test last week, hopefully she wont have to take it again, fingers crossed! But her ECs still takes so much of her time, and 8th grade academic at her school is also super demanding, plus preparing for the applications. Interviews are coming up in a week, can not wait for that to be done, one more thing behind us afterwards. Did I say there’s so much stuff for me to write as well, LOL! Can not wait for Jan after everything is submitted.
For those that took the Oct SSAT …results are out! I just checked. DD got 82 percentile. Will likely give it another go.
And now, the Nov 16 SSAT test results are out! Just in time to decide whether you’re signing up for the December exam with the “late fee”, rather than the “very late” fee
Yes! We took Oct and Nov and ended up with the exact same percentile lol. I checked with all the scores and they said they’d super score so we will send both and call it a day.
Is anyone else still waiting for November results?? My DD score still say “pending.” I’ve called SSAT on phone and they said scores roll out over the whole day but it strikes me as odd that everyone else seems to have gotten their scores already.
Happy New Year everyone.
Most boarding school applications are due in just under two weeks!! We are in the final stages of finishing up essays & parent statements.
I’m a bit panicked as we also have 2 recs that have not been submitted even though we gave it to the recommenders early Nov. we’ve reached out and gotten assurances that it will be done. So we can but wait and trust.
How is everyone else doing?
I for one will be glad when it is Jan 15.