<p>I'm having trouble really deciding what schools I should consider as safeties, matches, and high reaches.</p>
<p>So far my parents and I have considered Hotchkiss, Loomis Chaffe, St. Pauls, Deerfield, Kent, and Choate and I have almost next to no clue which I should label at what level...could someone give me some help?</p>
<p>They all seem like reaches to me; but that's just me.</p>
<p>I don't know about Kent</p>
<p>do you know schools which are considerable matches and safeties?</p>
<p>hotchkiss, st. pauls, deerfield, and choate i guess are all reaches... but then again most good schools are. I think loomis is still a reach, but not as hard to get in as other schools. I don't think Kent's a reach.
Reach basically means that its a school beyond your level, but you really want to get in/try.
BS isn't like university- it's really actually simler than universitiesp. each BS looks for a specific student, whether it be an athelete, scholar, or musician. personality counts big time- BS is like family, and they're looking for a "family" member. if you're really arrogant, impudent, basically not beneficial towards the community, you won't find many schools liking those kind of people. i'm rambling here, but basically all good schools are really hard to get in- 1 in 5 get accepted.</p>
<p>loomis and kent are not reaches..
reaches GENERALLY fall under the idea when acceptance rate is lower than 25% and that usually extends towards lower than 30%
loomis's acceptance rate this year was very high apparently. i've asked around and some say it went down to like 33 (doubt it.. im sorry) but others say it went up to 43 (doubt that too,, sorry) but 39 is a safe bet bcuz im VERY sure i saw that one last year so yeah
kent is match/safety. quality of the school could be compared to a reach though, so don't deter yourself from applyign there cuz it's a good school, just easier to get into</p>
<p>Safety for one person might be a reach for another. My dad told me to take my SSAT practice and score it and use that as a guide... Lets say you get in the 80th percentile... Exeter, Andover, SPS and schools of that tier will be reaches. Kent, NHM and others of that tier will be good matches.</p>
<p>I agree with italianboarder. The first, rough, cut of what is a reach of not should be the SSAT score, so just take a sample and see where you fall. It's not all about the SSAT, but it's a start.</p>
<p>Thanks for the general definitions for the term 'reach', I went over the situation with my parents about choosing several reach schools and and they went to go see a counselor regarding a better range of choices, our currently refined list consists of:</p>
<p>Hotchkiss
Deerfield
Tafts
Canterbury
Loomis Chaffe
Kent
Choate
Gunnery</p>
<p>My parents and I are currently reconsidering Deerfield since we hear alot of talk saying it's extremely difficult to get into by mouth of friends and other families. Is this generally a better list?</p>
<p>deerfield is an EXTREMELY prestigious place. i'm not saying that to deter you from applying; rather, I'm saying be aware of it if by some chance you are rejected or waitlisted (actually, I think being waitlisted isn't THAT bad. It's better than being rejected.)</p>
<p>Keep it, I think. Personally, we should have reaches that we really like. If you like deerfield, why not tell them you want to be there?</p>
<p>The list is very balanced, don't worry about that.</p>
<p>My son is at Deerfield and he made it clear that it was really his first choice. Agree that personality is a fit there. Lacrosse and hockey expertise is helpful, music too. If you really love a school keep it on your list. This process is a bit idiosyncratic.</p>