<p>I hope we can keep this discussion alive long enough to be of some help to current applicants. To my certain knowledge equitable access is a big issue at St. Paul's and I would presume at Exeter and Groton also. FA applicants are not in 'a slightly different race' which becomes more difficult as need increases but in a hugely different race particularly if they have no URM, sports or legacy "hook"</p>
<p>Having just survived year 0 (we hope our generous FA will continue for 3 more years) of b.s. and starting into year 1, I am starting to look at the college admissions and FA boards. </p>
<p>Far more complicated, indeed.</p>
<p>I will add that equitable access is also a big issue at Middlesex. If FA is important to you, make sure you find what schools do what. For example, Groton clearly states on their web site that if you are applying for FA, it will be more difficult to be accepted. They even tell you the percent accpted with and without the need for FA. It is also possible to be accpeted with aid offered and then that number not be enough. I would submit, if they want you bad enough they will give you plenty</p>
<p>Boarding schools are alot like colleges, they do not want to fill their classes with all academics, right or wrong, they want diversity and I don't just mean color. Left hand, If I understand you correctly, you feel that with colleges you don't have negative outcomes because of safties, matches, etc. Boarding schools are no different, you have many choices. To me it's no secret that CCer's are a very smart and motivated subgroup and when many on CCmake choices such as Exeter, Andover, St. Paul's, Hotchkiss, Middlesex, Choate, Milton, Deerfield, Taft, SGS, Peddie and the other low accept rate schools, I ask, where are your safties? Maybe if we chose our schools better we would have a better outcome. Lefthand, this is not meant to say you're wrong, but rather to further the process of hopefully helping future preps have a good outcome.</p>
<p>PS. Pleas excuse me if I missed your school from my list, we all know the low accept schools. It only means that my memory faded a bit as I was typin LOL</p>
<p>goaliedad - I think the big difference is that there is so much more information out there about the college process. It sounds like it's filtering down to b.s. but we're not quite there yet. If you've navigated the b.s. application process I think you'll find the college one to be easier - you've got three years to learn all you need to know (and probably have a very good college counseling office at your d's school). </p>
<p>And paleozoic - I didn't know the extent to which the race is different so didn't want to overstate. You clearly have more knowledge.</p>
<p>Paleo, you make my point exactly....with your most recent comment, you can easily substitute college for bs. They really are not very different at all. What may be different is that we may know how to play the game better after 3 years of high school.</p>
<p>If /when you apply to college, you better understand that if you are white of middle class income, you better get in line. Legacies, athletes, URM's, special interest groups, development cases, etc all get a hook. If applying to say Princeton who's accept rate overall is maybe 11%, your chance is more like 2%. That's are hard pill to swallow, and imo a lot harsher than bs</p>
<p>by the way lefthand, thanks, this issue should prove to be valuable to many that will come after you.</p>
<p>As of the last admission cycle, Exeter admits applicants without regard for financial need. It is not widely advertised by the admissions office, but I am 100% sure that it is the case. You only need to look at St. Paul's need-blind fiasco a few years back to see why Exeter has not made a big scene about the transition.</p>
<p>Speaking for the athelete hook... </p>
<p>From what I've learned (from other boards)...</p>
<p>Being a top level athelete helps pretty much equally with prep and college admissions. It will guarantee (with coach's blessing) that you are admitted to a school where you qualify but would have a low odds of admission otherwise.</p>
<p>Being a top level athelete can help a lot LESS with FA at college than b.s. depending upon your sport.</p>
<p>In our case, girls hockey, there are about as many college Div 1 and Div3 womens hockey programs as prep hockey programs (about 60 or so).</p>
<p>However only 30 of them are Div 1 with 8 of those being Ivy League (need based FA only), so only 22 offer atheletic scholarships. Now as much of the talk in this topic and others talk about what you bring to the table getting you FA money, we can see that the vast majority of prep schools with girls hockey can color both their admissions and their FA decisions based upon hockey skills as there are not NCAA rules governing this.</p>
<p>I've heard stories about the wink/nod situations at Division 3 womens hockey schools where they work harder to find star atheletes "merit" money, but that comes at risk of NCAA sanctions, so I would guess that would complicate things a bit. There are no such strings within the b.s. realm.</p>
<p>Other college sports (and even boys prep hockey) are probably different, so YMMV.</p>
<p>I hope I haven't put too many generalizations out here about atheletes. It is not my intent, but the hook thing may sound like a great advantage. It is only in a limited way and at a very limited number of places.</p>
<p>goaliedad, from what I have read, being a recruited athlete give's you a hook to the tune of about 60% admit rate to the top elite schools. As you know, the ivies do not athletic scholarships, but they will meet your need.</p>
<p>collegeMK, can you elaborate on St. paul's "fiasco" with regard to FA?</p>
<p>
[quote]
I ask, where are your safties?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>lol I'm still working on those. I kind of have a safety day school, which is the only day school I'm applying to. Other than that, I'm applying to SPS, Andover, and Deerfield for sure, but I'm also considering Exeter, Peddie, and Hotchkiss for their good financial aid reputations, and Choate and Groton because I like them both, but I'm afraid that Groton won't give me enough financial aid.</p>
<p>According to Hotchkiss' website, I'd fit in the $15,345 category. My family could pay about $14,000, so that leaves me with around $8,000 per year that I would still need. Hopefully, they will take into consideration that my parents are both divorced. </p>
<p>BTW - I'm looking for a ''safety'' school. (40%+ acceptance rate) I know you guys are saying, "You consider that a safety?!" Well, I'm also applying to an IB private day school, so I'm looking for a school that's a little above that academically. (Ashbury in Ottawa, CA is the school). Also, the school must have pretty generous financial aid. </p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>JK, Pomfret looks like a good school, The hill is a very good school with 49% accept rate. I think both are first rate.</p>
<p>Thanks, I'll look into those.</p>
<p>JK - If financial aid is a concern, Deerfield is known to be very generous, and is, I believe, need-blind.</p>
<p>Also, Pomfret is a fine school in the old Episcopal, prep-school tradition, and it has what may be the most beautiful chapel of any school in the country. It also cares about a well-rounded education for its students, where sports plays an important role, along with other activities.</p>
<p>JK please my comment on other thread regarding St Andrew's and FA. They are the real deal. Middlesex is also very generous with FA. No strings attached with admissions.</p>
<p>Haven't read through the whole thread. Do we have an SSAT score yet? If you score in the mid 90's or above, I think you have an excellent chance at getting in with aid (if the school determines you need it) to at least one of the original 4 you wanted.</p>
<p>Thanks. That's encouring.</p>
<p>I'll probably be taking the test on October 14. I'll post my scores the day I get them.</p>
<p>I hope they're good enough!</p>
<p>oh my god...</p>
<p>I just looked on BSR that Deerfield's acceptance is SIXTEEN PERCENT.</p>
<p>Wow...</p>
<p>I'm soo dead. lol</p>
<hr>
<p>Also, I noticed in Milton's viewbook that they had asked students questions and it showed their location and stuff and most of them were from Massachusetts, Connecticut, or New York. I knew a lot of the kids were from New England, but not that much! lol. Hopefully my location will help a lot.</p>
<p>Go Michigan! :)</p>
<p>Jonathan: if you do a TIMED practice test as recommended your scores more than likely will be 'good enough'. You now still have to convince the schools to which you apply that they deserve to have you. Everyone will have decent SSAT scores and even perfect ones do not get you in. Work on your application essay--tell them why YOU want to be at a particular prep and what you can contribute to life there. This is the time to project intelligence, poise and confidence ( not always your strong suit).Be sure your teachers say glowing things about you, and focus your story around the school you most want to go. Those are the only things you can control in the process from this point on.</p>
<p>Thanks, paleozoic. You've been helping a lot.</p>
<p>Yes, I'm still studying a little bit before taking the practice test. I'm going to ask my algebra teacher a few questions, then I'll take it.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Wait!!!!!!!!!!! JK, when did Milton come into the picture, actually never mind, Don't want to go there lol</p>