<p>Everyone looks for something different in a BS. Some like small, some like big. Some like competition, some like a more lax environment. Some prefer coed, some prefer single-sex. What about a certain school made it stand out to you? The same way that some prefer Coke over Pepsi or vice versa. (I personally don't drink soda, but that's a great example!)</p>
<p>Even thought Groton was the only school I applied to, I loved the small size and close-knit community as well as all the opportunities. Also, their FA would actually allow me to attend! (>$75,000/year is free tuition. - I know that lowers my chance of getting of the waitlist by a million miles. :mad:)</p>
<p>An interesting and long history, located in a city, co-ed, competitive. At least, these are the things that drew me to my top choice.
When I was looking at schools (all 3 times), my criteria was more like: non religious, large, offers swimming and cycling, preferably co-ed, very academic.
It’s odd how few of these original criteria my top school actually meets. It has swimming, but there isn’t much time for sport and no cycling. It’s very religious, and not that large.
Whilst there may be specific features that people will favour differently, I think more of it comes down to the school than anything else. Some places just feel right.</p>
<p>My family barely grazed the $75,000 income mark that would have made a potential free ride to Exeter, Groton, etc. :)</p>
<p>When I was looking at Choate, Hotchkiss, Taft, and Andover, I was looking for:</p>
<p>[ul][<em>]Co-ed
[</em>]Non-religious
[<em>]Located in New England, where relatives live
[</em>]Not a elementary-middle-high school combination
[<em>]Good music, dance, and/or arts programs
[</em>]Relatively small student body
[<em>]Supercalifragilisticexpialidociously good food
[</em>]Academics that were not so rigorous as I’d feel overly stressed, but one that would challenge me
[li]A very close-knit, intimate sense of community (that shows in the happy chatter as students walk to their classes, or closely clustered dorms)[/ul]</p>[/li]
<p>I really tried to pick schools that would fulfill most of these criteria; I also didn’t want to apply to 39670192 schools and then not give the applications my all.</p>
<p>•small school
•traditions
•good athletics, multiple skill teams
•good music program
•sense of community
•challenging academics
•co-ed
I guess my search for boarding schools was helped because my sister goes to Groton. Anyway, I’ll be going there next year. By the way, the one criteria Groton didn’t fit was distance from home</p>
<p>I think Groton is just so amazing I’d fly there every single day even if I lived in Antarctica. As long as the price of gas wasn’t a problem and I could sleep on the plane.</p>
<p>@stargirl3-I totally agree</p>
<p>BUMP!</p>
<p>Small school/great community
City location(!)
Day school
I originally wanted a coed, but I’m getting used to the idea of a girls school
Amazing academics-top ten
Welcoming girls
Lots of off-campus freedoms
Also, that they accepted me!</p>
<p>Oh, and I’m going to the Winsor School! :)</p>
<p>*small community
*easy access if my parents wanted to visit
*good neighborhood
*good support system in place
*opportunities to try new sports
*diverse population</p>
<p>The only category Hotchkiss didn’t fit was easy access…the 2 1/2 hr drive is never pleasant</p>
<p>I started this thread, and I’m not sure what I’m looking for. I originally ruled out Andover due to its size, but the cluster system makes it seem smaller. I’m good with either coed or all-girls, and I want to have sports teams that no one can be cut from. I want challenging class discussions that focus more on the why than the what, and access to faculty outside of the classroom. My school would preferably be close to home, but SAS doesn’t fit that. Besides, coming from NE, I don’t add geographic diversity to any of the East Coast schools. As loveyoutoo said, the biggest bonus is that they accept you!</p>
<p>I think that your visits will help you get more of a feel for the schools. In a way, it’s kind of like clothes. Maybe you see something, try it on (visit schools), then realize the fit just isn’t right. And vice versa. Even though you think you are looking for something, just like in @UKgirls case, you may find a perfect fit with something that doesn’t meet everything you thought you needed it to be.</p>