Couple of questions

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Okay, obviously, this is my first post, and I’m a new member. So please bear with me if my post seems “out of the ordinary”. Long story short, I got waitlisted into about half of the schools I applied to, and rejected to the other half, and two more I dunno about. THose two are Andover and Exeter, Andover I hear (from various sources) sends out those who got accepted via UPS overnight, so it should arrive on the 10th, so I’ll assume that’s a wait list or a rejection. Exeter is my first choice, but most likely, assuming from the rest of these, it will be a rejection or wait list as well. What do I do?</p>

<p>Some things that you should know about me. I come from a small private school, which also includes ninth grade. My family and I originally came here a while ago, and I spent some of my elementary school years here as well as all of my middle school years. The strange thing is, I don’t know anybody, I know one neighbors family, the rest, the only time I’ve ever even spoke to them is at Halloween time. So i’m not even acquainted with anybody, this leads to the next problem. Now, my town combines with another town nearby (with a lot larger population) for high school. This makes it worse. Now, not only do I know only 4 or 5 of the kids in my town in my grade or the grade above (all of which are because they go to the same private school), but now I have to meet every single kid in my grade from my town, and the other town. That means I’ll be singled out, the kid that knew nobody else in a public high school that has hundreds of kids per each grade.</p>

<p>Long story short, I really don’t want to go to public school. So, there is the option of staying at my school for ninth grade, but I’m not sure it’s possible anymore, my parents have said that I will not go to ninth grade, so I don’t know if it’s too late. If I could, I’m not even sure I would. If I were to join public school in tenth grade, that’s even worse, now all the kids from each town know each other, that’s just making matters worse. However, my parents are kind of angry at me for slacking off on the applications this year (okay, I really slacked off quite a bit). And, if I look like the next year I’ll do it again, they defintely won’t even try to get me a spot in ninth grade at my current school. </p>

<p>To sum it up, I got waitlisted or rejected on all my schools except one, but I’ll assume that I got waitlisted or rejected in that too. I really don’t know any kids or even their families in my neighborhood, my town, or surrounding towns, so I really don’t want to go to public school. I have a chance of doing ninth grade next year, but obstacles are my unsure parents, and my school which my parents have already said to them that I would not come back for ninth. </p>

<p>I have to get off my butt, and start preparing for a long, passionate letter to each of the schools that I got wait-listed on. However, the things I am wondering are: </p>

<li><p>What should I do to really impress the waiting list schools? I know that I have to contact my current school, write some kin of heart-warming letter that informs them I want to “wait”, but that’s all. </p></li>
<li><p>How should I convince my parents that I am dedicated to getting into a private secondary school, so they could at least attempt to get me into ninth grade at my school.</p></li>
<li><p>How to I keep myself motivated. I’m one of those kids that starts out really strong, with a clear goal in mind, and then I kinda just waver off of it. It’s like having ADD, not able to keep your attention to one thing, I mean, when i’m doing my homework, I start doing it, then half an hour later, I get bored and waste off some time just browsing the internet and forums like these, and then at about two hours before I go to sleep, I remember I have a lot of homework to do, and then at that point, it’s a little late, and I finish my homework at 11:00PM or later. So I need tips on keeping motivated.</p></li>
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<p>Thanks for reading this behemoth of a post, and thanks in advance for all your replies (if any).</p>

2

<p>While it is worthwhile letting a school that waitlists you know that you are very interested and will attend if accepted, it may be very long odds against getting off the waitlist. If you really want to attend a boarding school, I would check out boardingschoolreview.com to consider other schools that you are a good match for statistically and consider applying to them. Many of the lesser known schools are excellent and will have openings after April 10 when they have all of the responses from their initial accepted student group. The ssat.org site will have a list of schools with openings after this time; you can also pay special attention to schools with rolling admissions. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks, but looking at that site, and looking at the most AP courses, most extracurricular, and such. So far, I think these schools are good, but the problem is, I applied to seven schools, if anything i'm applying to less next year. Also, if your wondering, i applied to Concord Academy, Middlesex, Groton, Deerfield, SPS, Andover, and Exeter (that's in random order of preference if you happen to wonder). Unfortunately, they're all in the lowest acceptance rates as well according to the site. Anyhow, another question would be, does Financial Aid affect getting into a school for any of them? My dad SAID that it wouldn't, but I was a little skeptical about it from the start, but we applied for it anyways.</p>

4

<p>It seems to me that it's ideal to be going into the public school in the year that the students from two towns come together - they will be 'up' for making new friendships and getting to know everyone else. Each group will probably assume you're from the other area.</p>

5

<p>schools do base decisions on FA .
esp for waitlisted candidates .
people with the relatively same stats are placed on a gender based list for FA or no FA . i remember cuz i got waitlisted at andover last year and the adcom answered our questions about it .
the lists aren't ranked , per se , but they do have gender based and FA based waitlists .</p>

6

<p>It's not ideal at all, the two towns are seperated for elementary and middle school. Every single sports team ( I mean everything, from lacrosse, to baseball, to football, to basketball, and hockey, etc.), and everybody knows each other. Anyways, I knew we shouldn't have applied for FA, it was my dad's idea. Is there any way to take myself off the FA wait-list? Also, my dad said that you can be accepted to a school, but then wait-listed/rejected on FA (so basically saying, you get in, but no FA). Is that true?</p>

<p>Oh, and waitlisted schools are Groton, Middlesex, and Concord Academy. Middlesex and CA are feeder schools (so basically, for me that means, they won't send a rejection letter, waiting list is the worst they give you), and my sister goes to CA.</p>

7

<p>It sounds like you really want to go to your current school for 9th grade if you cannot get off any waitlist (which is a good possibility). This means that you need to have a talk with your parents to let them know that you realize you slacked off and can improve next school year (and mean it!). </p>

<p>As noted above, there are boarding schools that will have openings after April 10th contracts are due. These schools are less competitive than the ones to which you applied, but still can offer a very fine education. You might consider this option too.</p>

8

<p>Cow,</p>

<p>When in doubt listen to Burb.</p>

9

<p>In my honest opinion, if you are slacking in public 8th grade, then I don't think you would handle, let alone succeed, at the highest ranked high schools in the country/world. Most kids who applied poured their heart, soul, schedule, resources, and lots of agony into those applications.</p>

<p>Also, if you haven't made friends at your local middle school and resent having to socialize at your local public school, how would you make it at a boarding school with strangers from around the world miles away from home, away from your parents?</p>

<p>And to answer #1, what do you mean impress? Didn't you list all of the awards you've received on the application? Did you do something extraordinary during the intermittent months? A waitlist letter is a time to express devotion to your favorite school. Maybe the waitlists/rejections were a blessing in disguise for you?</p>

<p>If you can't stay motivated to even write a letter to get off of the waiting list, how are you going to stay motivatd when you have a 25-page report on the 54th Massachusetts Regiment while your roomie snores away at 3 AM at boarding school? If you're not fit to handle boarding school, you will be absolutely miserable there.</p>

10

<p>hehehe cow u are just like me</p>

11

<p>I would trust your dad's "instincts" on financial aid. If you applied, chances are it's necessary. I replied in another thread about our situation - waitlisted last year, applied for financial aid, and it just wasn't possible for us to pay the full cost so d. is at our public school (and thriving, with lots of outside opportunities, etc., so there is life after a b.s. rejection/waitlist). </p>

<p>It may be hard for kids to believe but most parents can't just write a check for $35,000 (and that's for one child - as you've said, you have a sister). </p>

<p>I went to a public school where two towns merged in 7th grade, and I really do think when the towns join together is a good time for a new student to start. People are more open to new friendships. If you're really concerned, why not join a spring or summer sports team or other activity so you'll get to know a couple people? Even if you end up at a b.s., it's not a bad idea to have some friends in town for those long breaks home.</p>

12

<p>To answer one of your questions, yes you can be accepted to a school then denied financial aid (even if you qualified for it). That happened to my son last year, so he couldn't go. He did a year of ninth grade at his public hs and was accepted with fa this year, so will redo ninth grade. We, including him, are happy with this. I don't think he was mature enough to have gone away last year.
To whoever told cow she wouldn't be able to handle bs if she wasn't motivated enough as an eigth grader; maybe she just needs an extra year and this is a blessing in disguise (as are many blessings!) Relax, do a ninth grade year....if it's at your public hs, make the best of it.....and reapply for ninth grade again at bs.</p>

13

<p>Oh, and one more thing about fa - someone said that it does make a difference in the admission process. At most schools it does, but some are need-blind. When my older son applied to SPS a few years back, they told us they were need-blind. Now at the school my younger son received 0 fa at, they told us he truly was admitted, but failed the fa part of admission purely based on demographics.</p>

14

<p>Quick things, i don't go to public school, I'm near the top or at the top of each of my classes, I'm not slacking off at school, only on the applications (at the time I felt it was a waste of my winter vacation time, and boy was I wrong).</p>

15

<p>Cow - sorry to hear your results. If I understand correctly, you live or go to school near Concord and applied to Concord Academy, Middlesex, Groton, Deerfield, SPS, Andover, and Exeter. Any as a day student?</p>

<p>If I have the geography right, you applied to only highly, highly, competitive schools FOR YOU, even if you did not slack off on the aps. </p>

<p>You said you are a strong student, how did you do on the SSAT? Did you take the interviews seriously? </p>

<p>You need to either convince your parents to let you stay and apply to a broader range but not a larger number of schools next year, or go for the public school. It will be fine.</p>

16

<p>Cow--all of the schools that waitlisted you have recognized your talents and abilities and consider you to be qualified to be there. That is really an amazing accomplishment, even if those schools don't have room for you right now. Hang in there! </p>

<p>Also, please call your current school and let them know that you might want to return next year, depending on the outcome of your waitlists. Most private schools haven't sent out their contracts for next year yet, so I really don't think it is too late for you to choose to return. I believe they would welcome you back since you are a great student and you have been there for many years. My son's school sent out a "preliminary survey" to eighth grade families last fall regarding plans for ninth grade, but it wasn't binding. It was only intended to give them an idea as to how many were leaving or possibly staying.</p>

<p>You really have many options, even if they are different than the ones you were hoping for. Try to stay positive.</p>