<p>I'm applying to mainly Andover, and Exeter but also Hotchkiss and Deerfield (though that was more of a what the heck let's give it a try) but since these schools are really hard to get into, I also need a safety school just incase I didn't make it into either. Any suggestions? I'd like a really good school (to me that's highest SAT scores and % of kids that go to good colleges) that isn't really small (probably medium), and it must be a boarding school. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>I’m assuming you’re a girl, so have you considered all girls boarding schools? Miss Porters, Madeira, Emma Willard are all excellent options.</p>
<p>Barring that… search up “lesser known schools” on prep school admissions. It’s also in the featured threads. It has a good, comprehensive lists of less selective schools.</p>
<p>And really, “safety” schools are just as good or better than the most prestigious. So don’t let the term safety show you those schools are worse.</p>
<p>when i was applying to prep school taft and exeter were my back-up schools</p>
<p>Taft and Exeter? They’re reaches for many people.</p>
<p>People have different definitions of what constitutes a “good” school.</p>
<p>But based on your criteria, these sites may be worth checking out:</p>
<p>[Boarding</a> School Stats : Matriculation Stats](<a href=“http://matriculationstats.org/boarding-school-stats]Boarding”>http://matriculationstats.org/boarding-school-stats)
[Boarding</a> Schools with the Highest Average SAT Score- Boarding School Review](<a href=“http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/highest_sat_scores.php]Boarding”>Boarding Schools with the Highest Average SAT Scores (2023))</p>
<p>If you’re committed to New England, try Portsmouth Abbey (might be smaller than you’d like), Brooks, Gunnery, Kent, Westminster, Berkshire, St. George’s, or Loomis-Chaffee.</p>
<p>I am going to be blunt here . . . but how is any of this our problem?</p>
<p>Rose has decided to apply to what are probably the four most competitive schools in the country, but now needs one of us to tell her which of the hundreds of other schools out there she should apply to “just in case” she doesn’t get accepted by these nearly impossible to get into schools.</p>
<p>If Rose (or any other boarding school candidate, for that matter) can’t, on her own, do the research necessary to find the schools that interest her, where is she going to find the self-sufficiency and independence she’s going to need in order to get through four years of boarding school? Put some thought into what you’re really looking for and do some of your own research . . . then come back and ask for help. I guarantee the suggestions you get at that point will be more helpful.</p>
<p>Wow…dodgersmom, you have a very valid point. Thanks for the perspective check to all us overeager posters. You may be blunt, but you are honest.</p>
<p>I think asking for insight from other [hopefully] experienced people is a legit aspect of research.</p>
<p>@ARose.A.W,
Whatever “safety” school you decide to apply to, make sure it is a school you would actually be willing to go to. Too many kids this year found themselves very disappointed on 10-March.</p>
<p>It’s hard to give specific advice without knowing anything about your profile. Assuming you are FP or close to FP, if you are a straight A student with SSAT in high 90’s, a couple of schools with admit rates around 30% should be your safety. If you are. B/B+ students find schools with 40%+ admit rate as your safety. If you are applying for FA, it’s trickier. You need to be very strong in a school’s applicant pool and can meet certain needs of the school community to have a better chance. </p>
<p>Another piece of advice - when you choose your safety, be wary of very small schools. Do some math. Even with higher admit rate, how many do they take for your grade and gender? If they are getting a few legacy and sibling applicants how much chance is left for you? Etc. Good luck!</p>
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<p>Absolutely! But only after the student has done some research (and soul searching) on his or her own.</p>
<p>Pick a geographic region and sit down and go through Boarding School Review with a fine-tooth comb . . . figure out what you like and what you don’t like. Don’t like what you find? Broaden your geographic region. Use some other search parameter that suits you better. Read the student reviews.</p>
<p>Then, when you’ve done all that and have at least a clue what you’re looking for, come to this forum and ask for help. But don’t expect us to do all the heavy lifting for you. And don’t come here saying that you’ve narrowed your search to “good” schools in New England that are easier to get into than Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, and Hotchkiss! Really??? You might as well say that you’ve accidentally dropped a teaspoon full of water into Lake Michigan and are hoping that one of us can help you find it again!</p>
<p>Want an all-girls’ school? Then look for one! Prefer co-ed? Then limit your search accordingly. Boarding School Review gives you all the tools you need to figure a lot of this out for yourself. Please don’t come here begging for help until you’ve at least tried to do some of the work on your own.</p>
<p>Boarding school survival skills include independence and self-sufficiency. Figuring out for yourself which schools you want to apply to is a good way to start practicing those skills.</p>
<p>Dodgersmom: I don’t mean this disrespectfully, but I don’t know what you mean by “how is this our problem?” </p>
<p>It’s not your problem. She is asking for help on a site designed for just that purpose. If you don’t want to answer the question, don’t. I see no need for the harshness. She’s here to ask for a place to start. You tell her to do research; well she’s doing research by asking this question! </p>
<p>That said, OP I think you should apply to some mid and lower level schools. Look up some of the suggestions here, and make sure that you have some schools that you not only know you will get into, but also that you love and could see yourself going to. Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree^ but dodgersmom has a point
some people do not even try to do research and comes to ask about schools. this just isn’t that case</p>
<p>I agree! ARoseeAmongWeeds HAS done research and she’s just looking for some new names to research! I found out about many schools on this board that I then went and researched on boarding school review. I don’t consider that relying on other people, I think it’s just using this board as a research tool to learn some new things! Also, sometimes when I used to go looking on boarding school review I didn’t really know what I was looking for. Sometimes the stats and reviews all seem the same, and someone pointing me to a school and telling me something about it really made some schools stand out.
Also, dodgersmom, what makes you think Rose HASNT done some looking on boarding school review?
My suggestions for schools that normally fly under the radar?
Episcopal High School, Dana Hall, and Pomfret are my favorites! I have experience with all of these, so PM me or ask if you have any questions!</p>
<p>if you dont mind coming to the west coast. schools like webb and cate r great! so is st marks near boston</p>
<p>oh and be careful thomas jefferson school is toptier for sat scores but they have a student body of 90 something students. I cannot see how 90 students spread over 6 grades (the school is 7-12) Compete with any other schools in sports, but it is still a great school.</p>
<p>I am not talking about tjhsst</p>
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<p>Many of the parents (and other applicants!) on this board regularly put in hours of their time to assist new applicants through the process. This time is all but wasted on candidates who ask for help without having even attempted to find an answer themselves first. If you try and fail, then please come here and ask for help. There’s nothing wrong with saying “I can’t” if you can honestly also say, “I tried.”</p>
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<p>Really? What research, if any, is reflected in the OP’s initial query?</p>
<p>I’m with dodgersmom on this.</p>
<p>The OP knows enough about BS that he/she is applying to four of the most selective schools in the country. And now, 15 or so days from the application deadline, he/she is asking an anonymous forum for advice on a “safety”?</p>
<p>Isn’t the time for thinking about this sort of thing back in August or September, or in the case of some families, last Spring?</p>
<p>And would it be too difficult to whoever helped him/her put together her “apply to” list in the first place? Or use the TABS “find a school” tool?
[Find</a> the Right Boarding School For You - The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)](<a href=“http://www.boardingschools.com/find-a-school.aspx]Find”>Find A School Tool | BoardingSchools.com)</p>
<p>Here’s a backup option: it’s called public school! We are lucky in this country that high school education is free! Take advantage of it, succeed, and go to a prestigious college!</p>
<p>what the hell is this? somebody asked for help, and we are denying them of it.
yes, I acknowledge that it is EXTREMELY late for doing this, but that isn’t our problem. maybe Rose works best under pressure.
Also, I think it’s pretty rare that someone woulr put HOURS of their time into helping one applicant. it takes a minute or two just to type up a few school names, and maybe a useful insight or two. how hard is that?</p>