<p>With my son we tried to apply to a mix of schools that offered the classes he wanted. He really wanted to take Russian which gave us 2-3 choices for that, then German which also limited his choices.</p>
<p>I also looked at FA, % accepted, SSAT, and many more variables. In the end we came up with 8 schools. 4 were reaches Deerfield, Hotchkiss, SPS and Exeter. The remaining 4 seemed more likely Governors, NMH, The Hill and Loomis. </p>
<p>His first choice and the one I thought he had a good chance at was NMH. Rejected. </p>
<p>I think when you live far from the east coast it can be hard just finding schools that fit your needs. It was a long and difficult process for us (mom and dad) and my son. He has already said that he will not reapply next year, he is done. Who can blame him?</p>
<p>Personally, if there's was only one school I actually wanted to attend I would've only applied there, and stayed at my current school if I was denied.</p>
<p>Well I can't stay in my current school because I'm doing a PG so this was my last shot. If I didn't get into any of my schools, pretty much my life would be over.</p>
<p>I guess it is different for you guys. Applying for a PG year is like the same as applying college. I almost got murdered by the college advisors for only applying to 5 schools.</p>
<p>Lots of interesting responses. Here are some comments on a few of them:</p>
<p>1) hsmomstef: I enjoyed your post. I am curious about your inclusion of NMH into the list of schools you looked at for a lot of FA. The reason I say this is NMH is listed as providing what is almost EXACTLY the FA amount ($17K) that is the average for all boarding schools. With an average in the $17-18K range why did you consider the school?</p>
<p>2) elveedaily: I too have heard of Cambridge School of Weston. This is a very good school that has a nice reputation in the Boston area. This is the kind of school that you almost NEVER hear about on this board. Congratulations on your acceptance.</p>
<p>3) apples & bananas: I liked the list of schools that you've applied to. We've looked at Cushing and Berkshire in the past and liked them both. They are all very stong schools and I'm sure you'll do well at any of them. </p>
<p>4) agogparent: Not that it matters (which I guess is the thrust of my initial post) but from the comments on this board NMH is "considered" to one a 2nd tier school. It's an outstanding school and I can't imagine why kids who threw all their eggs into the "HADES basket" didn't apply to a place like this. I get the impression from some folks that the time spent at NMH simply would not be comparable in any way to the time spent at, say, Hotchkiss. This is what I don't understand.</p>
<p>Sorry I didn't see "Daddys" post before I started this thread:</p>
<p>March is not the 'end game' to get into a good Prep School
Many great Boarding Schools haven't given out all their FA yet, as the months progress their picks reject them and then their waiting list students move on to other schools as well. This opens up FP and FA spots at these schools. You can still get into these schools. I have heard some students being accepted mid summer FA and FP that weren't even on their radar in March or April. March is only the first wave, so if you have your heart set on getting into a good Prep School for next fall please do some research and start calling schools you might like to attend. Explain to them your situation. No one will hold it against you if you put all of your eggs in one basket and the eggs didn't hatch. Just be honest. Visualize yourselves at Prep School next fall. It can still happen.</p>
<p>Daddy Warbucks,
I think that you posed an interesting question, but it seems unlikely that you'll get very far with this crowd. There are plenty of people applying to these (not top 5 prestige) schools, we're just not going to hear about it on CC because it has been "normed" out.</p>
<p>There is a certain way that a forum community decides what gets discussed. For example, one of the posters says she was accepted to Virginia Episcopal, as well as first choice Exeter, but there weren't really any threads about Episcopal here. Everyone thinks that threads about Exeter are OK to have, and we have a lot of them. But threads on schools further down the CC prestige list die quickly. I know there are many "lurkers" who don't post, but they do read the threads. So they also get the idea that this forum is to discuss Exeter and Andover. </p>
<p>I think the parents and students of NMH have done a good job marketing their school and because they have a significant number of posters on CC, NMH is a legitimate topic for our forum, even though it isn't A or E. We have a couple parents from schools outside the NorthEast like Thacher, Cate, Ashville, etc - they post very infrequently because the number of threads about them are sparse.</p>
<p>We have an admissions person from St Andrew's Florida who posts here and we had a rep from Westtown School as well. Maybe these less well known schools are discussed by parents locally, but it's not happening here on CC. There haven't been any threads about St Andrew's Fla or Westtown this year.</p>
<p>My child is thrilled to have a choice between Tabor, Governor's, and St. Mark's. Those schools were at the top of our child's list, in part because they all offer German. (German at Tabor is currently a question mark, but they also have a strong classics program.)</p>
<p>I'd appreciate any input about our three schools, because they all have great, special features. It is not an easy choice, but a happy one!</p>
<p>We went into this process looking at a variety of schools and decidedly against allowing rankings determine where we would apply. We visited Andover and the moment my d walked on campus she decided she did not like the school. The moment she walked on Miss Porter's and Mercersburg's campuses she fell in love with the schools. Following advice on CC we did apply to several "top tier" schools because of FA concerns. My d is a strong candidate, high SSAT's, URM, geographical diversity, strong interviewer etc. Our results for the so called lower tier schools have been disappointing. Waitlisted at Mercersburg (d says it feels like a rejection), have not heard from Porter's yet. Also, the ABC program referred us to two lower tier schools, Episcopal High School, waitlisted, have not heard from the other. I have gotten PM's from people saying the reason she was waitlisted at Mercersburg is because they did not think she would attend. It seems like the lower tier schools expect certain students not to want to attend their schools and waitlist/rejection them. How does that help them in the long run? How do you even convey to a lower tier school that you consider the school to be a top choice?</p>
<p>Grejuni: Super post. I have no doubt that you've hit the nail right on the head. This explains why posts about "other" schools (if they're even posted) fall by the wayside almost immediately. Still, I wish this forum were robust enough to entertain posts about the much great universe of quality schools out there. </p>
<p>And I still can't help feeling bad for the kids that just applied to A and E and didn't get in (and with their very low admission rates I don't know how you could even hope to get in to these places). Now they'll most likely miss out on the boarding school experience entirely.</p>
<p>Periwinkle-St. Mark's is one of the schools my d was accepted at. We loved St. Mark's and spent more time there than the typical tour and interview (long story). We met so many wonderful parents, students and staff, including the chief who is from Brazil I believe. We really liked how the main buildings are connected and the new girls dorms has rooms bigger than any other school. My d is also interested in the German program! She is fluent in German and wants to continue her study of the language. Two of the schools she is accepted at do not offer German. Since her plan A for boarding school did not work out, she is sorting through her other options.</p>
<p>One way to counter what Grejuni talks about is for parents and students to share what is great about their school. The NMH information came from a small group of people who are obviously passionate about the school. With just a few posters I think any school can have a bigger presence on this forum.</p>
<p>Grejuni and Warbucks (sounds like a law firm)</p>
<p>This board is a national (international)forum, so it's not likely that people applying or interested in local or regional schools would get involved, although I agree, there are a lot of lurkers.</p>
<p>Saint Andrews is an excellent local school, as are Pine Crest, Gulliver, and Ransom. But they have very few boarders, and very few international students. Also, FA resources are much less, so they don't attract the broad range of applicants. </p>
<p>Concerning the HADES versus TSAO versus "second tier". These are distinctions that exist in the mind of the beholder. All of these schools are prep schools. All of them send their students to great colleges, state colleges, and no colleges (including AandE). What matters are the friends you make, the teachers you love, and the course you set for yourself. </p>
<p>I am especially sorry to read here about kids who have been accepted, but feel rejected because they didn't get into their first choice. Hopefully they will change their minds by September. Also, the kids who didn't get in anywhere should look to their local schools for opportunties. More kids from Public Schools get into Harvard every year than from all the private schools combined.</p>
<p>Tough choice Periwinkle. My grandfather went to St. Mark's and graduated in time for WWI. Some first cousins back in the 80's. My Mother still talks very highly of St. Mark's and slightly disappointed none of us (4 kids) attended. I know the DOA at Tabor who is younger than me. I can still see him sitting on a tricycle with a runny nose in my mind's eye. I only hear good things about Tabor. Governor's I certainly know but not familiar with. I lean towards St. Mark's. Good luck and congratulations.</p>
<p>It is interesting to me that there is some mis-information about financial aid on this forum. </p>
<p>The big schools are NOT the only ones that give out high % awards. As Stef said, it is research. A large endowment does not mean large awards. An average award of $17k does not mean that they don't give out full awards. We found that you are more likely to get a higher FA award at a school where you fall at the top end of their acceptance pool. They want you more.</p>
<p>I know students who got $0 FA at a "top school" and nice packages at a "2nd tier" school. They would have been middle of the road kids at the top school but they are top kids at the other school. </p>
<p>I think it is really the big fish in a small pond or the small fish in a big pond. FA is about finding what pond you'll be the big fish in.</p>
<p>My son is one of those who had no interest in any of the top schools. He is one of the top in our district of about 1,500 8th graders. He has lots of honors (both school, state and national). Takes high school honors classes and has 99 or 100 averages in all of his classes. An impressive list of EC's including a special volunteer project that has now been carried on for several years and grown to more than 75 volunteers. His recommendations were great (we were told by the schools where he applied). We are also from a very poor area of the country so add a little geographical diveristy. He is just a great kid. He would have been a good candidate for a number of upper tier schools. </p>
<p>He chose his schools based on things that were important to him. Location, ECs, students, faculty, etc. His philosophy is that he wants to enjoy his high school years along with having excellent academics. He has a handful of colleges he is interested in so one of the criteria for him was that each of the schools has had students attend these colleges. He has a true passion and only one Ivy school even offers the degree.</p>
<p>Every school he has applied to immediately recommended him for their merit scholarships. After our interview at one school, my son commented that he felt like the school was trying to sell the school to him and not him trying to sell himself to the school. We made a point to let this school know that they were his first choice. Has been since day one. He was accepted and now we await the FA/Scholarship info.</p>
<p>I think there are many like us who lurk on these boards. The information from some of the parents and admissions counselors has been so valuable. </p>
<p>Also, my heart just broke yesterday for some of the students and parents when they didn't make it into one of the "Dream Schools". I encourage you to look at schools that know your child is as special as you know they are. </p>
<p>I am not against HADES. I just want students and parents to know there are lots of other options.</p>
<p>My son and his classmates at his MAPL school are doing extremely well in college- many at highly selective colleges. Their experience at boarding school was outstanding. The MAPL schools provided a great balance of academics, athletics and interaction with faculty and staff. I would not have traded his school for any of the "more prestigious".</p>
<p>
[quote]
More kids from Public Schools get into Harvard every year than from all the private schools combined
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm sorry, Pa.Pa, but who cares? Believe it or not, there are many kids and their parents who are not even thinking about college, they simply want to learn! </p>
<p>I am not attacking Pa.Pa directly. I am just so sick and tired of hearing all these wonderful schools in relation to their matriculation rates. My son applied to Groton for many reasons, none of which had anything remotely to do with prestige or matriculations. The chapel program, size, guest lecturers, classics and humanities program and most importantly, intensity of the academic program is what drew him to the school. When we visited the first time he had an immediate positive response. Since he is currently in 7th grade, Groton's very tiny 8th grade gave him the opportunity to apply. He was waitlisted. I am proud of him. He was not rejected.</p>
<p>Again, I apologize for the rant. Next year he will apply to more schools, probably SPS, St. Andrew's Delaware and others. </p>
<p>Please don't lump everyone who applies to the "top" schools in one category. When my son fell in love with Groton, he had no idea it was one of the most selective out there. It was simply everything a really smart, humanities focused kid could want. I wish it was not so prestigious. </p>
<p>So, if anyone knows of schools that have the same ethos as Groton, PLEASE, let me know. I don't care about the college matric lists, because the last thing this mother is thinking about it college! I'm thinking about how to get my son into an environment where he can thrive intellectually and spiritually and develop the kind of quiet leadership that is innate in him. By no means do I think that this can only be found at the "top" schools.</p>
<p>As far as public school.....yeah, he would have a better chance of getting into Harvard from his local public school. But is an IVY league diploma worth such an academic sacrifice? I don't think so.</p>
<p>emdee: The story you tell about your experience with Mercersburg really opened my eyes. I still can't fathom why a school like that would not accept kids it deems to be "above it". There are so many reasons a kid with great qualifications might want to go there. The location may be perfect; they may have friends who've gone there; they may have heard about a specific teacher/department. The list goes on and on. I don't see yield information on these schools anywhere (boarding school review just list acceptance rate) so what would it hurt to accept them? </p>
<p>DebateMom: Your son sounds like an amazing kid. Puts mine to shame (just kidding, sort of).</p>
<p>I'm getting the feeling from some that my original post may have been anti-HADES. This is in no way the case. Those schools are amazing and kids that possess the qualifications needed to apply should go for it (if indeed the schools are a good fit for them). My point is to not forget about the other amazing schools that are out there that we don't hear nearly enough about. And if going to boarding school is a goal, applying to these (in addition to HADES) is most likely a smart move.</p>
<p>My S got into St Marks and personally I think its the best fit for him.
Waitlisted at the tier 1 schools he applied to but in the long run he will be able to excel at sports and accademics at St. Marks. Right now H and I are having the waitlist argument.
S is happy to attend St. Marks.</p>
<p>On a side note in terms of colleges: my D was accepted at a very prestigious tier 1 college from a small catholic HS. So, its not always where you go to school, its what you do with it that counts.</p>