<p>Thank you, Benley.</p>
<p>First, I would agree that you should make sure that any school you’re considering would be a better academic opportunity and a better match for you than your local public school.</p>
<p>That said, if you live in an area with a weak public high school, or you’re hellbent on going to boarding school I would ask your parents to consider the less selective peer schools of those on your current list. For instance, if you’re looking at Groton, Middlesex or Milton consider St. Mark’s, Brooks and Lawrence, their ISL peers. The ISL is a sports league, but like the Ivy League, another sports league, its members share many commonalities, so this would be like applying to Cornell instead of focusing only on Harvard, Yale and Princeton.</p>
<p>If you’re a girl would your parents consider Dana Hall? It has a higher acceptance rate but is well respected. The average SSAT of incoming Dana students is in the 58th percentile, but the average SAT of Dana students is in the 88th percentile. As a comparison, kids at Taft, a bigger name school, go in with SSATs in the 83rd percentile and come out with SATs in the 90th percentile and kids at Thatcher go in with SSATs in the 90th percentile and graduate with SATs in the 91st percentile. In other words kids at Dana Hall are making greater gains in this one measure.</p>
<p>@Sue22</p>
<p>To build on your point of SSAT - SAT, I think Dana Hall does a tremendous job. I mentioned this before and I recommend OP to look at the Webb Schools in Claremont, California. Webb is a co-ed and its numbers tell me its acceptance rate is much higher than more established names. Its average score is lower too. But its average SAT scores and college matriculation stat are similar. (So, pretty much similar to Dana Hall) While numbers aren’t always everything at all and you should look closely into its student demographics, I think Webb has been very successful.</p>
<p>Great video on why you should go to your safety - [MALCOLM</a> GLADWELL: If You Want A Science Or Math Degree, Do Not Go To Harvard - Business Insider](<a href=“http://www.businessinsider.com/malcolm-gladwell-if-you-want-a-science-or-math-degree-do-not-go-to-harvard-2013-9]MALCOLM”>MALCOLM GLADWELL: If You Want a Science or Math Degree, Do Not Go to Harvard)</p>
<p>@eluviunz, in that case, it’s not very discrete of u to be broadcasting your friends’ test scores, school by school, as there is probably not much anonymity once identified as being a Vietnamese student at these schools.</p>
<p>And what’s the worst thing that can happen to them when people find out they have a 95 ssat 112 toefl…</p>
<p>Discretion is not about whether anything bad can happen. It’s about having the basic courtesy to not broadcast OTHER PEOPLE’s personal data on the internet.</p>
<p>Then rest assured that there are more than one Vietnamese at each school mentioned, and it is thus impossible to determine with absolute certainty to whom I’m referring. I didn’t drop names, so I have not trespassed any individual’s privacy. I’m not sure whether you’re simply being captious.</p>
<p>Whoa. I’m glad PD took me out to dinner last night!</p>
<p>First, where (in over 200 posts) have I said K2 goes to Berkshire? I have a strong connection to the school and promote it to parents/students looking for something truly special, but K2 is not enrolled there.</p>
<p>Second, I have two kids. K1 is at a “Dream” school (as far as I know) right now. And by “Dream” school, I mean: PA, PE, Groton, Deerfield or St. Paul’s. Quibble all you want with my definition/list, but I will stand by it.</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree that “Dream” school is subjective and love the sentiment, so after this post I’ll try to use “Selective” or “Highly Selective” instead. That said:</p>
<p>K2 is at a Hidden Gem. I take issue with people who automatically assume that a student would choose a Gem over a “Dream” because they couldn’t survive in a highly competitive/academic environment. Why did K2 (with stellar stats) choose a Gem over a “Dream”? Because he very wisely assessed the path he was on (with one particular sport) and wanted the freedom and quality of life ( and the blessing of a BS/AD- which isn’t necessarily easy to get) to pursue his passion/ goals outside of school -unlike his brother.</p>
<p>Even K1 ( who shares the same sport) sees the wisdom in that move and I think on some level harbors some regret when he sees his younger brother living the life- having it all and in many ways eclipsing him. I’m sure there are other reasons for choosing a Gem over “Dream”, but that’s ours- and K2’s story.</p>
<p>Look, I have no quarrel here nor am I offended in any way (Berkshire alums, parents/students and faculty might be a little miffed, though!), so there’s no need to apologize to me or K2- we’re fine, but thank you.</p>
<p>I just wonder why people bombard others with “Dream” stats every time someone tries to promote or recommend a nice Gem. It gets to be a little like Ground Hog Day (or a SevenDad thread- I’m totally kidding!!) and I think it’s a disservice to the new students/parents who are truly exploring ALL options.</p>
<p>And I know I’m going to regret doing this… but +1 to Benley. I don’t know what for, but it feels like the right thing to do, so I’m going with it! :)</p>
<p>Thanks for the “+1”, photomom. I’ll enjoy it before you start regretting. 
This thread is about “safety schools”. To qualify for a “safety”, a school needs to be easier to get in, or in other words would take more students with lower stats. However, those who promote a certain hidden gem almost never like other people think of it as a “safety”, and those who choose it as a safety don’t necessarily see the true value of it as a hidden gem. Different perspectives naturally lead to some exchanges, which is all right as long as the exchange is civil, IMHO. </p>
<p>Now, back to the topic of “safety schools”. I think most people would agree that some highly selective schools are almost never anyone’s safety. But the less selective schools are not safety schools for all either. As a matter of fact, there’s no such thing as a safety for everyone. For a candidate with stats that are competitive for a highly selective school, their safety is a school with an admit rate 10%-20% lower than that of their matching schools. Does it mean they will definitely get in the “safety” of their choice? No. But, if you are taking the “reach, match and safety” approach, that’s probably the best you could do, right? How else would you be able to identify a safety school you genuinely like?</p>
<p>Maybe the thread should not be called ‘safety schools’ but ‘casting wide net’ strategy. (That is also so-called 7Dad thread.)
OP’s parents propose ‘Go big or go home’ method, which would work fine when there is a satisfactory fall-back local/Day school option.
OP realizes that there are many more wonderful schools where great education could be had without the prestige label attached. </p>
<p>What does it mean to cast a wide net?</p>
<p>It certainly does not mean just adding schools to your list with >40% acceptance rates or <60% SSAT averages. </p>
<p>It means coming up with a list of schools that you will be excited to attend. For each school, ask the question: Will I attend this school if this one is the only school that accepts me? If the answer is no, do not apply.
The list will include some selective, some less selective schools. All the schools in your list should have most of what’s important to you. List what’s important to you. It may be specific sports, music, art, small size, large size, distance from home, food at local town, etc etc.</p>
<p>Thus, it means knowing about you and learning about the schools. </p>
<p>It means more research, research, research.</p>
<p>The question to ask is ‘what Gem schools have great Arts program and are in driving distance from ABC? Or have a great robotics team and a swimming pool?’
Not ‘what are good safety schools?’
The latter question is ill-defined and you won’t get a useful answer.</p>
<p>PS. Classicalmama and GMT+ already gave good answers but the thread derailed since then.</p>
<p>OP- I’m so sorry for my part in the derailment. Payn4ward is right- there are many great answers here and hopefully more people will chime in and offer suggestions.</p>
<p>Best of luck with your search.</p>