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neato, I still remember back in the old days how “desperate” you were trying to get every bit of information, data, numbers… anything really to get some sense of the process, possible outcomes, justifications for a sucess or a failure… how we ppl are forgetful!</p>
<p>It’s amazing how our attitudes change, isn’t it? I was just thinking about admissions proccess and how thinking it was no big deal and if you were meant to go you’d go and that next years applicants were being all unessecarily fretful… And then I was like “What am I thinking?” a few months ago, the whole thing was terrifying!</p>
<p>Benley, You hit the nail on the head. Neato doesn’t need stats now that his/her son’s admission is over. We’ll have to see what he/she does next year. just saying…</p>
<p>I think that stats are a greatr leaping point especially when you’re new to the Boarding School world. Once you get a feel for where schools are academically I think it comes done to individual fit which I believe is what Neato was saying… Or I could be putting words into her mouth of course.</p>
<p>I’m with Neato. Stats are a starting point but if your kid isn’t a fit - it doesn’t mean anything.</p>
<p>But that is not what this debate is about is it? Oh well</p>
<p>Sure it does - MG said time to read 2500, people wondered what it meant, we theorize it meant 500 didn’t complete the apps (which is pretty close to the situation at my college) and in the end we’re saying that stats are relative so why sweat his comment.</p>
<p>If you got in - the issue is moot. If you didn’t, likely they read the app and it was in the 2500 pile.</p>
<p>What else stats you want school to disclosure ?
Do you think school should post that they need 20 football players and which position they needed the following year or they need 10 violinist because 10 seniors will leave school.
I don’t think school will do this like a company to post positions to be filled.</p>
<p>Personally i think school disclosure enough data. acceptance rate, average ssat.
The stats only help to let you know if you have chances or in the range. Let me ask this. If an applicant get in Exeter this year but he/she choose not go. and then apply next year. Will he/she guarentee to get a spot next year ? he/she will compete with different pool of 2500-3000 applicants.</p>
<p>School choose students that fit their needs - not only academic record but also student’s skill they need for their community. and then students choose school fit him/her.
I think it’s a fair game.</p>
<p>I am the first to admit, and I did at least twice in that post, that I love data, that I want the info. The point is that it didn’t really do me that much good. I’m sorry. I thought that was very clear. </p>
<p>What will I do next year? I will use academic stats to see which school MIGHT be a fit for daughter. I will use admissions stats to determine if she needs to find more than X schools that she would like to attend. What I won’t do, that I did this year, is try to find the “true” admissions rates based on category. This is because I learned that the most important variable in whether a child gets in is fit (and luck and FA).</p>
<p>Whether a school’s admissions rate is 16% or 60% doesn’t matter because if a kid is wrong for a school, they probably won’t get in. </p>
<p>That is what I learned this year. I’ll always be data driven, as I said earlier. I have an interest in data. That doesn’t mean it’s particularly useful. 
There are too many variables for “# of admits divided by # of apps” to be very USEFUL. This realization is the only thing that has changed. And yes, since my child has been admitted, it really doesn’t matter to me any more. Why would I really NEED the info? He’s in. It could be 5% or 50% and it wouldn’t change a thing.</p>
<p>This debate originated from ExieMITAlum’s comment that she would advise her alma mater to “hold back on number” and is really a “policy debate” on whether the schools should let the public know accurate stats like number of applicants, admit rate, yield etc. It is above and beyond Exeter. More importantly it is not an attack on Exeter. Exeter is part of the Ten School and they routinely get together after April 10 and disclose some stats to the public for this admission cycle. </p>
<p>I know the discussion got carried away. What I want to say is that if CC does have some impact on the schools’ policies and practice, we want to send the message that more rather than less information about the admission process is desirable. The admission to the top prep schools just like the top colleges is alreay such a mysterious “black box”. More disclosure could never hurt. Many of us already have our kids in prep school so it is not “really useful” to us, but this is not about that. With that, I am putting an end in posting in this thread.</p>
<p>Something like the Common Data Set that colleges put out? That would make me absolutely giddy! :)</p>
<p>As Benley has, I rest my case on this topic.</p>
<p>This thread started with speculation on what the Exeter stats meant re: a specific reference to who got read. First - the reference to “holding back” statistics was facetious. The fact that some parents are getting their underwear in a bunch over stats shows why schools do it in the first place. It isn’t to “inform” you - it’s to get you to think you’re getting an added value if you are “chosen.”</p>
<p>Most of us have conceded that stats mean nothing if your kid is miserable being there. And that the problem with boards like this is they whip people in a frenzy thinking they must “want” that one because it’s “better.”</p>
<p>My objection was calling the Adcom out by name and listening to parents debating on what they thought they ought to have gotten from the trip. The school isn’t there to serve you - go or don’t go. But don’t whine about it. It’s the very reason why Adcoms across the country say negative impressions of parents can impact their decision to take a student. </p>
<p>Some people see the numbers for what it is - an accurate depiction of who, what and where and use it wisely to make the best decision for their child.</p>
<p>Others use it to pump up low self esteem and make something out of nothing.</p>
<p>But I guess stats served their purpose - multiply the number of apps by the “fee” and the schools aren’t hurting even when they know the majority of applicants aren’t going to get a spot.</p>
<p>Take it anyway you want - I just don’t think speculating about a certain Adcom by name is fair game, and that suggesting schools owe parents a stat is ludicrous. No they don’t. It’s a courtesy - no more no less.</p>
<p>Hi 2010 class, I have created a thread to share your Revisit Experiences and Decisions 2010. [thread=894983]Revisit Experiences - Decisions 2010[/thread]</p>
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<p>I wish that were true but there’s another kid chomping at the bit. </p>
<p>I’ll still look at the numbers, but I won’t pretend they mean as much as I thought they did. Many wiser than I told me as much pre-March 10th. Now I know what they meant.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you, pulsar, in your search. Just don’t rely on numbers too much to determine fit.</p>
<p>exie -</p>
<p>Since when is discussing a revisit whining? The point of CC is to discuss experiences and share information. Sorry if everyone’s comments about Exeter aren’t rosy. There are things we liked about the revisit and there are things we wish had been done differently. Our child may or may not go. Depends on how he feels about the rest of the schools. </p>
<p>As far as your comments about vetting parents, frankly I find it insulting. A parent’s job
prior to sending their 13/14 year old away to a school for 3 or 4 years (and less importantly, spending many $$$ to do so) is to determine if the school is the best place for their child. That means questioning and looking at things with a critical eye. It means taking off the rose colored glasses and NOT feeling special because Exeter “annointed” your child with an acceptance and only takes x% of applicants. I doubt Exeter shares your opinion about an analyzing parent and if they do, shame on them. Asking questions and vetting the school beforehand is not the same as being an annoying parent once your child is there. It’s called doing your homework. That questioning will help you determine fit for your child. It’s better than picking a school just because your child liked his or her host or you thought the interviewer was nice.</p>
<p>Thinking that BS are doing us a big favor by giving us the information is absurd. We are the consumers paying $$ and you know who is in control in a free market.</p>
<p>Asking questions to figure out the best option for your child is what a parent should do at a revisit. These are the parents that will take comfort in finding the right fit for their son or daughter and are less likely to become a problem for the school once the student is there. Parents who are surprised by how things work because they didn’t understand things ahead of time are the ones that become the unhappy customers later. And parents are definitely customers. </p>
<p>Schools should do their best to have free and open disclosure both before the student is matriculated and after.</p>
<p>Schools choose the students, but they also have to deal with the parents for four years. I can imagine a great student, but with overbearing, rude, and obnoxious parents. If I were the admissions committee, I might be tempted to pass on the student. I have no knowledge that this happens, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it does. Schools are creating a community, and they have the right to choose members that will be a good fit…members can mean both parents and students.</p>
<p>Brooklyn Guy -you can’t help but factor it in even if not overtly stated. There are just too many good candidates who come without all the drama and baggage (although I once heard an Adcom at a different school say they it might be doing the kid a favor to take them out of their overbearing home.) Atmosphere, parent support, and a lot of other intangibles can make one candidate more attractive than another if all else is equal.</p>
<p>Parents confuse ‘advocating’ with ‘helicopter parenting’ and will never know if they - not their kid’s application - is the reason for the non-admit letter.</p>