<p>I need to clarify; maybe alooknac has put it more accurately than I have regarding St. Andrew’s/SAS.<br>
It is true that the words “need blind” have been removed from the Viewbook, and replaced with, “historic commitment to socioeconomic diversity”. But on the next page, the text says, “admission decisions are made solely on the basis of an applicant’s strength [as demonstrated by] character, school performance, standardized testing and extracurricular talents and interests . . . financial aid files are not reviewed until after the admission committee determines which applicants will be offered admission.” Well, that sounds more like need blind than need aware. It’s certainly true that very few schools are both need blind in admissions AND meet full demonstrated need.</p>
<p>Charger78, this information both interests and intimidates me. Knowing only about 6% can afford FP, and the schools we’re considering offering FA to around 30% of its student body, means the competition for FA must be much greater than I wanted to believe. I knew it would be competitive, but I had no idea the competition was this steep.
We will carry on and remain hopeful, but these numbers do make me scared to get our hopes wrapped around BS.</p>
<p>I agree with Charger78, but you really can’t be a 100% sure unless they specify “need blind” I know Andover does…</p>
<p>KY, the 6% is of all American families, of which there are about 100 million, meaning 6 million could pay full tuition. There are that many households that have at least a $1 million of investable assets. So, it’s not surprising that many highly qualified applicants to the most selective schools, who could be FP and a legacy/hook, get rejected. Read the other threads; the competition for 14% admit rate schools is absolutely brutal. So, it boils down to the mantra everybody says on CC: cast the wide net (to less selective schools), and love the school that loves you – OR – go big or go home, meaning you have an acceptable back-up locally. Getting hopes wrapped around BS is not wrong so long as it’s done with foreknowledge and the ability to acquire perspective, both for parent and child. Sometimes, it’s a matter of applying for tenth or eleventh grades. The NY Times article from 2008 I’ve taken stats from quotes Exeter DOA Michael Gary as saying that boarding school is a “luxury”. Well, yes, very wealthy families are over-represented at these schools. I like SAS in part because Mr. Roach addresses this head on with the kids and they really seem to respond to the school’s messaging. Many posters have expressed gratitude for the journey of their FA applications; knowing the long odds, they still thought it was worth trying, if only for the lessons learned along the way. Taking the time to read these threads, expressing so many varied experiences, is just something these couple years, for me, have to be about, another chapter in my life. Good luck with your decisions on how to proceed!</p>
<p>We will be looking at several schools. But, even the less selective (30-50% admission) schools we’re considering don’t seem to offer more financial aid, and a financial aid wait list, for our family, is the same as a rejection letter.
We are definitely still going to apply and will try to keep both a positive and realistic attitude. I think the good thing about reading these threads is knowing what we’re up against. The bad thing about reading these threads is knowing what we’re up against.</p>
<p>To me, a true need blind BS should not ask applicants to submit their financials until it offers them admissions. Is there such a BS?</p>
<p>InernationalDad, you have a point but it would be inconvenient for the IRS, and no such institutions exist unfortunately</p>
<p>AmbiD77
Both Andover and Exeter are generous with financial aid, agreed. More kids receive awards, and more dollars are spent by Exeter, although charges are lower there. </p>
<p>So I’m not sure as you suggest, that the words “need blind” that Andover uses are truly necessary or meaningful apart from a marketing tool.</p>
<p>2prepmom, they aren’t a marketing tool, Exeter * specifically * mentions that financial status is taken into account</p>
<p>Ambi: I think the poing 2prepmom was trying to make is that given that the actual matriculation of FA/FP students and $$ awared for FA students at both schools is about the same, it’s hard for many of us to see what “need blind” yields in terms of actual results for FA students. Exeter admits that it is easier for an FP student to be admitted. That probably means that E. accepts more FP students than A. does, but that both accept roughly the same number of FA students. Acceptance and yield rates at both schools seem to bear that out. If anything, more FA students are probably applying to Andover, given its reputation as a need blind school, so it could well be more difficult to get in there.</p>
<p>kymomndad: We were in a similar position last year - our DD applied to non-acronym schools requiring almost 50% FA. What I learned is that the FA piece is somewhat flexible depending on how much they like/want your child. I would concentrate on finding a school that seems like a really good fit for your kid and where your kid has something to offer that school. We had 100% acceptances with FA offers from 0 to over 50%. The 3 schools that really wanted her understood the situation and the offers were made accordingly. When we sent regrets to one school that offered no FA they called back and offered to review if we sent copies of the other offers. We still declined.</p>
<p>Momof7thgrader it is so great to hear about your FA success. What we really are looking for is the best fit for our daughter, so your words are encouraging. Thank you.</p>