<p>I'm looking for about 6 East Coast boarding schools to visit while I'm on vacation at the end of July. I'm getting frustrated and overwhelmed because all of the schools seem to offer all of the same things. I don't have any family or friends who have attended a boarding school, so the only places I'm getting information from are CC and the schools websites and view books. I will not get the chance see any of the schools while they are in session. The schools I'm currently looking at are Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Peddie, Taft, Tabor, and Cushing. The only requirements I have are that they are non-denominational, have around 500 students, and an average class size of 12 or less. </p>
<p>I need financial aid. I would be applying as a repeat junior. Last year my SSAT's were in the 90 percentile. I did very poorly on the reading section, but have worked on it so I'm positive they will be higher this fall. I have a 3.9 GPA at a local public high school. I am a competitive USA gymnast so I haven't got the chance to do much else. Practice is 12 hours a week, 16 in the summer and missing practice for other commitments is unacceptable. I'm going to try to squeeze in an after school club this year. I'm very athletic and would like to try field hockey, tennis, and lacrosse. I'm not expecting to make varsity and would be happy on a thirds or JV team. I'm looking for a school with a strong science focus, and would prefer a rural school in a small city/town. </p>
<p>My parents are not helping me with the choice but they will let me attend if I can manage getting accepted. I'm really looking for first hand experiences. I would also like any tour and interview tips. I have never seen a prep school campus or talked to any admissions officers, so I'm very nervous. Im having trouble thinking of questions to ask that cannot be found in the view book. What kind of questions should I ask? Should I prepare for the interviews at all or just speak from my heart? I have no clue what to expect or even what schools to visit. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>You should prepare for your interviews and tours. Do a search and you will find many threads with interview questions and tips. More importantly, you should research the school before the interview and have some questions in mind to ask. </p>
<p>Also, if you are going to Taft you may be able to visit other schools in the area on the same day. Choate, Miss Porter’s (if you are a girl) and Loomis Chaffe are all relatively close. This may be true for the other schools on your list, I would definitely try to visit a lot of schools even if you are not sure of your interest right now you may be surprised once you tour to find that schools you had not seriously considered are suddenly very appealing.</p>
<p>The BSs do look relatively similar on the surface and you will find that the schools all talk on the tours about more or less the same buzzwords (small classes, great facilities, access to teachers, etc.). The differences will be in the subtleties, such as student attitudes, is the dress code formal or lax, are the students more or less conservative, etc. But, some of those subtle differences are hard to see in the summer when the students are away. One thing you can focus on is how they view someone who has to commit so many hours to gymnastics. Are they encouraging, accomodating, etc. Pick a couple of other things that are important to you (science, writing, photography, debate club, whatever) and ask about them at each school to glean differences.</p>
<p>Are you planning on continuing in your sport?
Are there coaches and facilities near each of those schools that are equal to the program that you are participating in now?</p>
<p>No I will not be continuing gymnastics. I want to go to boarding to try something new. My whole life has revolved around gymnastics since I was little, so I have missed out on a lot of opportunities. I love gymnastics, but who knows, I could end up loving lacrosse or field hockey! I have never wanted to do college gymnastics, so I will only have one less year than if I stay in it in my current town.</p>
<p>Blair could be a school to put on your list - visit and talk with other students to see if it is a fit for you. Beautiful campus, under 500 students, involved faculty, engaging academics, great matriculation, fine, new facilities. </p>
<p>As far as the intervews, some preparation/awareness of typical questions is prudent, however, speaking from the heart, making eye contact and being yourself is most important, as the BS wants students who will be a good fit for their community. Typically they want to know about you, your perceived strengths and weaknesses, favorite class, teacher, life experience, role model, goals academically, hobbies and most important, why you want to attend BS in the first place and WHY you want to go to their particular BS - so research the schools and present yourself for who you are, why you want to attend and what you can bring to share with the community.</p>
<p>You should be a fine candidate for many of the schools on your list, as well as for Blair.</p>
<p>You will probably excel at many other sports with your gymnastics training! You could never continue gymnastics while at bs (not at any respectable level, at least), so be sure you are really ready to be finished with it.</p>
<p>A question as well…what level are you and are you certain you don’t want to compete in college? I only ask because my daughter enjoys collegiate gymnastics much more than she did USAG.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody for the suggestions. My entire mom’s side of the family lives on the East Coast and I currently only get to see them about every 3 years. I would like to be able to visit them on long weekends or have them visit me. It would also enable my mom to get the chance to see her family more when she would come for events like parents weekend.</p>
<p>Keylyme: I would have been a level 9 last year, but I got a stress fracture in my back. I have been out for almost a year now, so I have had time to think about my future. Gymnastics has been really hard for me because I am afraid a lot. It has been really hard for me (and my coaches) to get me to where I am/was, but I don’t really see myself going any higher.</p>
<p>gymnasts transition well to many sports. A L9 from my daughter’s gym quit because coach felt like she was too big for gymnastics (she was a big girl…5’9"); he suggested she try the weight events in track. after only one year she had broken (demolished) every record in our state. She went to UNC on a full ride and made the olympic team (Greece…not sure of the year). Extreme example but her track coaches in hs and college attribute her success to her years of gymnastics training. My own daughter was injured in hs (torn elbow ligament) and was limited in her gymnastics for several months. She decided to try track at our hs…never having done it before…she qualified to states in both hurdles 4x200, and 400m. Two of her teammates also excel at pole vaulting. And of course, diving…my daughter’s teammate was on the gymnastics team at the same university my daughter now competes at…she didn’t make the line up at all her freshman year, so she decided to try diving. She picked it up easily and competed for them her remaining three years (DI). </p>
<p>Good luck to you…I am sure you will find many things you excel at. Gymnasts are among the most hard-working and disciplined of all athletes. Many people don’t realize that, unlike other sports, it is a year-round commitment required upwards of 32 hours a week.</p>
<p>(okay i’m not contributing to this conversation much, but i wanted to pitch in nonetheless :D)
try it! it won’t hurt if you try the 1m. 3m’s okay too, but um, the 10m platform…</p>
<p>The schools all look the same on the outside, but you will find out very quickly which one has the best fit for you when you are there. They actually all feel very different.</p>
<p>I’m worried I wont be able to find which schools feel the best without getting to see the students. Would anyone like to tell me which schools they felt the students were happy and friendly and which schools they did not?</p>
<p>I saw practically no students at SPS and I liked it the best. I just felt the better on the SPS campus than any other (it was my last visit). I was amazed at exeter, but then SPS blew me away and I barely saw anyone. You don’t have to base everything off the students.</p>
<p>I think I just envisioned myself on that particular campus…and I liked the openness of the admissions office and the nice people. I felt like I had an identity there for some reason…but yea. I don’t think you need to see a crap load of students to get a feel for where you will like the best.</p>
<p>honestly, you should try to visit all the schools you apply to. if not, then go to the revisit. maybe you should visit the schools you’re feeling less sure about.</p>
maybe you should visit the schools you’re feeling less sure about.</p>