Finding the right school!!

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>I am new to this forum and I am really glad that I found it. I have been reading through the postings and noticed a lot of talk about safeties, matches and reaches. I get that all the schools in Exeter's grouping are reaches, but how do you find a safety or match. Even schools like Westminster and Loomis only take about 35%. That's still a pretty low number. If a school takes 50% , half of the people still don't get in.</p>

<p>The last time I took my SSAT's I had about a 91% average.
I go to a rigorous private day school and get mostly A's.
I play soccer and lacrosse and also do hip hop dance. (I'm a white male)
I volunteer at the YMCA helping with swimming lessons. </p>

<p>The schools on my list are:
Exeter, Andover, St Pauls's, Deerfield, Choate
Westminster, Loomis, Avon and Salisbury, Northfield Mt Hermon</p>

<p>Would any of these be safeties?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Two questions that will make a huge difference -- will you need any financial aid? Are you currently in 8th grade applying for 9th grade?</p>

3

<p>I am in 8th grde applying for ninth and unfortunately I will need financial aid.</p>

4

<p>If you need significant financial aid (more than a few thousand dollars) then no school will be a safety -- your safety will be your local school option. The situation is just too complicated with FA. you may well be admitted to multiple schools, but you may not get enough FA to attend. Or you may have several nice offers of both admission and FA -- it is hard to say.</p>

5

<p>If I didn't need financial aid, (I am thinking of trying to get some help from my grandparents) which schools might be safeties?</p>

6

<p>Of the ones you listed, I believe NMH, Salisbury, and Avon Old Farms have the highest admission rates. Whether that makes them "safeties" depends on your definition of "safety."</p>