MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Might I remind everyone that the plural of anecdote is not data. Regardless, the discussion of endowment vs. FA on anything other than a macro level is one that is a bit premature and/or too in the weeds for the OP. The OP has already demonstrated the ability to do independent research based upon suggestions posted.
No one EVER said to write them off. In fact all we have said is just don’t write off the others (insert acronym schools)
The truth is it is HARD for full aid kids everywhere. Schools need to pay the bills and they can’t accept every full aid kid that applies. But writing off some of the schools that give out a larger percentage of full or near full grants is just bad advice if said school is a school the OP has interest in and has the time/wants to apply to.
There is no lowering of standards or wasting time applying to any of the schools mentioned. No ones said that there was. There are so many amazing schools out there. I’m not sure why you keep going there. It seems like you feel that applying to any acronym school is a waste of time.
Post #5 : Now- if you want to add a Hail Mary school or two from your previous list that would be totally fine.
Post #8 : Every list should be fluid until app deadlines anyway and OP can easily add one or two schools from the original list.
I agree with @skieurope . The OP has already demonstrated the ability to do independent research based upon suggestions posted .
I would like the OP to know that I NEVER would say that certain schools aren’t worth applying to, and that they should apply wherever they like. What I was trying to say was that even though fit really really matters, maybe try to look for schools that would be a good fit while also being as realistic as possible in terms of FA. So maybe try to look at schools that are fits that ALSO have the ability to give you the FA needed. Obviously I’m not you, but I would apply to a mixture of schools that I could picture myself at that could definitely supply FA, while also applying to schools that I could picture myself at that I may be less likely to get FA at. Either way you should really like all of the schools you’re applying to.
Although I am just a kid from the gladchemms crowd, I would be happy to give you names of schools that I really think you would like based on what you wrote (I actually applied to Berkshire too! And Taft! Berkshire is a really great school if you’re into STEM or are outdoorsy,and they have some really cool special programs! I know a bit less about Taft. Sadly, in the end I think I misjudged the school and it wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but obvioulsy you might love it.).
I would recommend NMH: the people there were the nicest I’ve met! In my opinion, they strike the perfect balance between a small, close-knit school and a larger school.
If you’re looking for a more artistic school, I would definitely recommend Putney. They have a really cool work program where students all play a roll in the community, and they also have a functioning dairy farm (and LLAMAS). It’s definitely a more rustic school, but when I visited I really liked the feel - the people there were SO welcoming and at the community meeting all of the kids cheered for one another when a peer got up to speak.
You said: " What I was trying to say was that even though fit really really matters, maybe try to look for schools that would be a good fit while also being as realistic as possible in terms of FA. "
Putney is a fabulous school and always worth a close look but if you’re " being as realistic as possible in terms of FA" as you suggest - wouldn’t a 16M endowment put you out just a little bit ? It wouldn’t bother me one bit if a student was totally in love with Putney and wanted to apply for a full ride , but you said quite definitively : " The truth is that lesser-recognized-by-the-general-population-schools are likely to have smaller endowments and therfore less money for FA".
I don’t mean to put you on the spot here but come on… 
I’ll ask you once again, @“Nico.campbell” : Which schools ( mentioned on this thread ) can’t afford to offer the OP a full ride?
Here’s where I’m coming from:
Every M10 the Decision Thread tells a tale and while there are many happy outcomes to celebrate- there’s also an important cautionary tale woven in that many people tend to miss. The reason why it doesn’t jump out at everyone is because many of the kids ( who were seemingly qualified, wonderful and very active up until M9 ) never come back or post their results. Do you need to guess why?
Over and over again we experience the same theme with many kids who only applied to “HADES” or GLADCHEMMS" and then on M11, almost like Groundhog Day, we’re flooded with new threads about how these kids should’ve applied to other schools or more schools outside the usual suspects. And, of course, we have a smattering of the usual: I Need a School with Rolling Admissions -STAT! threads, as well.
Do you understand why so many veterans on this forum choose not to contribute anymore? How many times do you need to beat your head against a brick wall?
Please tell me ( since I’m still here- remarkably ) how joining a massive herd comprised of kids who are only applying to schools with the most unforgiving acceptance rates in the country is a solid plan or a brilliant strategy - especially if the vast majority is seeking aid? Does an acceptance rate that reflects a tsunami of applicants ( whether they’re qualified or not… ) seeking full or very generous FA determine a schools worth or elevate it above all others as the only real games in town in terms of FA or a wonderful BS experience ?
I think not -but a candidate won’t know for certain unless they take the appropriate amount of time to research and compare these fine schools to other fine schools.
That’s why I weighed in and told a very nice/ viable BS candidate from Indiana that her original list was “Top” heavy and to do more research . As her list stands today- if she wanted to add two Hail Mary schools to the list ( which I encouraged ) she would have THREE BEARS ( if Taft remains ) along with all the other super nice schools which aren’t exactly cakewalks either but can absolutely accommodate anyone seeking aid. Also- FWIW- I thought OP was very smart and very strategic by adding a couple of very nice all girl schools to her list .
It would seem that the SS placement advisor who guided @momof3swimmers didn’t recommend a “Top” only or “Top” heavy list ( see Post#14 ) as well, but based on her child’s happy and very fortunate outcome at a " HADES " , she is willing to advise others to do the exact opposite based on her child’s outcome.
Oh, and lets not forget that now every school outside a" HADES" has " crap aid " and they’re not interested in kids with great stats. As an alum and a "Top Five " parent ( twice- SD and K1 ) that comment actually took my breath away. How magnanimous.
Not to mention completely wrong. If the common goal is to encourage kids to do thorough and thoughtful research and to explore all the other viable options beyond a select group of schools … that type of mindset or comment is unnecessary and counterproductive.
If an applicant comes back with all “HADES” and “GLADCHEMMS” on their list- so be it. But at least they took the time to look and know what they’re taking a pass on.
Personally, I wouldn’t worry so much about “fit” at this point. Apply to a good smattering of schools -top, bottom, and in between - and hope for the best. None of these schools is transparent about who gets aid and for what reasons. Remember that every one of these schools is a business, not a social program; the school will offer aid based on its priorities, not yours. Some will accept a student and then offer no (or insufficient) aid, while others will just waitlist or reject outright, even if the student in question would have been admitted if full pay. Hope for the best and then worry about picking the best “fit” if you have the opportunity to weigh competing aid offers. Best of luck!
In some ways I agree with you @SatchelSF selective boarding schools like selective colleges pick you for the most part, you don’t pick them until you have a number of acceptances in your hand. A lot of these schools have a lot to offer most candidates and would be a fit for most good students.
Now on the flip side, if a student truly feels a school is a good fit, it could help writing the application. My DD#1 told Choate that of all the schools she visited she felt it was where she could do her best work both in the classroom and on the track field. For some reason, she felt most comfortable on their track, and as it turned out was a 4 year varsity track athlete and consistently placed in the top 10 at New England Championships all 4 years.
Fit does have its place, but it shouldn’t get in the way of applying to a large variety of schools to see where you can get in. If your best fit school, doesn’t choose you–you have to make do with another great opportunity.
I really don’t think anyone has said on this thread that the OP or any student for that matter should apply to just those schools with the lowest acceptance rate (I won’t use the term…) or those with the highest endowments but just like a good college application plan, some of those lottery schools might be included in the mix because if your student is in the lucky 7% or so to be accepted, then FA will not keep the student from attending.
Actually I NEVER said to do the opposite of what I was advised. I just said don’t write off the “schools that shall not be named.” They can still be included in the mix, ESPECIALLY for a full aid kid.
See post 14:
“Don’t completely write off those well known schools either. I think you should keep SOME of them on your list.”
Note- did not say “get rid of all the non acronym schools”
And in terms of aid, yes they can afford to give a full ride, but not to EVERY highly qualified full aid kid. It’s a fact. There just isn’t enough money for all of them. AO’s are given a budget. Darling Suzy could have the best stats, be an URM from North Dakota and a tennis super power, but if the school has an entire team of URM genius super star tennis players from geographic outliers and they need a Field hockey goalie, and the goalie also needs full aid too, they are going with the goalie.
However, a school like Andover (need blind) doesn’t have to make the decision in the same way. If they love everything about Suzie, it doesn’t come down to how much money she needs. Both suzie and the field hockey player plus a lot more can all be granted full aid.
I think at this point we can all agree that a varied list is good. It should include a mix of schools including some Hail Marys. Just don’t write off the Hail Marys based on name alone the way that we shouldn’t write off the non Hail Marys.
@PhotographerMom I’m just gonna repeat myself. These schools can offer OP a full ride, but it’s less likely as they have smaller endowments. I said I think a mix of schools is the best idea. Note that I said “-While also- being as realistic…”, meaning that not every school the OP applies to should be a school that offers high caliber FA regularly, but maybe one or two… or however many the OP wants. Putney was one of my recommendations for that mix. I always said the schools could afford it, but it’s just less likely because they don’t have as large a budget. If I said that school’s cant afford a full-ride quantity of FA, PLEASE just end this and quote me. I’m gonna stop participating in this now because I feel that I’ve stated what I find to be true (obviously not the universal truth) over and over again and it keeps getting misinterpreted. Oh the internet…
No one is misinterpreting anything, @“Nico.campbell” . All the best to you and keep driving FA kids to the schools with the most traffic because that makes total sense and I’m sure it will increase their chances.
Oh, the internet, indeed.
There’s no need to be rude @PhotographerMom [-X it does seem a bit like he is getting Mia interpreted and I don’t think he is saying that small schools have no endowment and that all applicants needing FA should apply to the bigger more competitive schools. Correct me if I am wrong @“Nico.campbell” but I think that you are trying to say to apply to many schools that offer different sized endowments to try and increase you chances of getting into a school. Words can sometimes be misunderstood on the internet and I don’t think that there is any need to be rude or sarcastic, especially when he respectfully decided that he didn’t want to be part of the conversation anymore and left. Think about what you say because it can come off as rude. “Keep driving FA kids to the schools with the most traffic because that makes total sense and I’m sure it will increase their chances.”
It’s obvious that some people can’t stand the idea that other schools are viable alternatives for FA otherwise they would have applauded the direction OP was taking and just left it there. I find the pushback and the need to have it both ways ( when called out on anecdotal nonsense ) very telling and not very helpful to OP or anyone else.
Exhibit A: “Although it’s sad to hear, we all should recognize the fact that the hidden gems/lesser known/WHATEVER schools are less likely to give large amounts of FA. So in my opinion if an applicant is looking for a large amount of FA, they should look for a school they love with a larger endowment - probably a HADES or GLADCHEMMS…”
" Although it’s sad to hear, we should all recognize the fact…" Really?
My comment stands.
Actually I said some schools with big endowments have crap aid. And perhaps crap wasn’t the correct word to use. Less generous would have been a better choice. For my choice of words, I apologize.
Post 14: endowment isn’t everything. What you need to look at is the financial aid budget and average grant. Some schools have big endowments and have crap aid! ( edit-Give less generous awards than other schools)
But yes I feel there is such thing as less generous aid. When a family is below the federal poverty level, as the OP is, and a school with a large endowment only offers 80% aid, it is a pretty crappy situation to be in. Some would be ecstatic with large amount of aid, while to others it is soul crushing. I also didn’t say that a smaller endowment school never offed full or close to full aid. All I’m saying is you just never know until you apply. If the OP got into school A with 80% aid or a school like exeter that is FREE to families below $75,000 or St. Paul’s which is FREE below $125,000, School A is completely off the table.
I have also seen schools with an acceptance rate of 40% and an average SSAT of >50, waitlist kids with killer stats and hooks that are full aid that get into schools with a 9%-20% acceptance rate but have much larger average grants. As I said, schools have limited budgets and can’t take EVERY amazing kid with killer stats who can’t afford to pay.
I have also seen waitlist list letters and others have mentioned on this board, that state specifically that the reason for the waitlist is aid. If funds become available, And there is a spot blah, blah, blah. (But we know how that goes)They give the money to their top choices that they believe they can yield. Is students A, B and C get accepted with full aid to every school in every category they apply to, there is then lots of money left over, yet we rarely see kids that need aid come of the waitlist.
When you look at schools who have close to 50% on aid and the average grant is pretty darn close to the full tuition plus they provide spending money stipends, laptops, books, money for trips, music lesson etc., why wouldn’t you buy a ticket or 2 to play in that lottery? Actually you wouldn’t even need to buy the ticket because they gave you a waiver to buy it. Yup your chance may only be 9% but your chance is 0% if you don’t take the ticket. Why do you think so many kids apply to PA? Need blind is a huge draw. Now it is bad advice to ONLY play in that lottery. Full aid applicants need to cast huge, far and wide net. And that net should include some of those schools if they have the stats to support that application and the applicant would want to attend.
For the outstanding applicant, my guess is at schools with an higher acceptance rates with lower average grants, your chances are about the same when you need that amount of aid as schools with a lower acceptance rate but large (almost full) average grant. LOW!
OP should consider Emma Willard, Grier School, Westover, Mercersburg. A family member who applied for the Fall received ZERO from the big endowment schools and received a nearly full ride from Grier, and a few others Many smaller schools who take more foreign students as a percentage of acceptances use the money from the full pay foreign students to subsidize highly qualified US kids with need.
Edit. Paragraph 4 should have said average SSAT of ~ 50%
Great all girl suggestions @Center. I believe OP already has Mercersburg on her list which is awesome 
I showed my sister ( MPS alum ) this thread this morning and she thought Farmington might be a nice add on, as well . Walkers has been getting a lot of nice buzz lately so there’s that one, too!
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
In the future, please do not call out members for real or perceived ToS violations; that’s my job. Feel to flag the post for moderator review.
Additionally, since my last post was apparently too subtle, please move on from the debate. Just answer the question as the OP has asked. If you want to give your rationale, even better, but this is not the place to disparage other user’s opinions. As I said earlier, the OP can separate the wheat from the chaff.
@PampersPinkFloyd I am going to be a senior at Holderness and it has honestly been the best decision I have ever made. The students and teachers here are incredible and genuinely interested in your success. Its also really outdoorsy too, which makes it a little different than others you are looking at. We have “special programs” in March which is basically each grade going and doing something cool/ learning about the world. The juniors go on Out Back which is an 11 day camping trip through the white mountains of New Hampshire with 7 of your classmates IN THE WINTER. Anyway, I love my school and everything it stands for. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!!
For anyone currently engaged in the debate or who cares enough about the subject matter to get involved, I would suggest comparing the acceptance rates, percentage of students receiving financial aid, class size and average aid award of the target schools. These numbers will help tell the tale of which schools provide the best probability of meeting demonstrated financial need. Endowment isn’t the proper consideration at all.
On paper, the OP seems like an attractive BS candidate with excellent stats and is from an under represented area of the country to boot. She should apply wherever she wants.