How does my son's list of schools look?

Prep School Admissions
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<p>Thanks for all the help in the past! My son has been working at narrowing down the list of schools he is interested in.</p>

<p>These are the criteria he decided on (in no particular order):</p>

<p>12% or more students of color
1:6 or lower student teacher ratio
30% or more kids on FA
600 or fewer kids at the school
grades 9-12 only (no lower grades)
co-ed
60% or more boarding
13 or less average class size
some club or program emphasizing the outdoors
some club or program emphasizing the environment/sustainablity
matriculation list for the past five years must include at least 3 top schools (Ivy/Stanford)</p>

<p>This list at least allowed him to narrow down the field. His description of the perfect school is "diverse, great academics, small and close community, able to pursue his love of the outdoors and interest in the environment". My qualification is that the school provide good FA.</p>

<p>So far (after going through every school at Boarding school review) this is our list:</p>

<p>Conserve School
Deerfield Academy
Episcopal High
Fountain Valley School
Hotchkiss School
Mercersburg Academy
New Hampton School
Peddie School
Scattergood Friends
St. Andrew's School, DE
St. Paul's School
Thacher School</p>

<p>These are really varied schools, I know, but they all generally meet his set criteria. some meet it better than others, but I didn't want to narrow the list too much.</p>

<p>Any comments on these schools? Anyone know anything bad or a reason they wouldn't recommend going to one of these schools? I know a couple are really different (Conserve, Scattergood) but they really appealed to him.</p>

<p>At this point we are looking to narrow the field some, so I am looking for any input. Our plan is to visit the final schools this spring or fall (probably the fall).</p>

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<p>Information regarding SSAT scores- all four- GPA and interests are needed as the schools listed are very different in many respects. Need more info.</p>

3

<p>The Cate School is one to look into due to your child"s interest in outdoor and environmental activities. One of the world"s most beautiful settings with steller academics in a laid back California atmosphere.</p>

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<p>40% non-boarding at a school of less than 600 may leave your too lonely on the weekends and short breaks.</p>

5

<p>What grade is your son? The United World College has a New Mexico campus. But United World College is only for grades 11 and 12.</p>

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<p>garrity -- thanks for the comments.</p>

<p>I had posted previously about my son's stats so I wasn't thinking when I made this post.</p>

<p>SSAT's are an unknown at this point. he will take them later, but based on practice tests, other standardized tests, etc I am guessing in the 80% -90% range. He is planning on studying for them.</p>

<p>he has a 3.8 GPA at a public school and is in a middle years IB program (competitive and rigorous).</p>

<p>Great EC's, leadership, community service, etc. A few awards -- school, regional and national.</p>

<p>From what I can tell, he would have a chance at any of the schools on the list (much less chance at some than others).</p>

<p>His interests -- he hasn't really defined that well. Drama, outdoors stuff (kayaking, camping, rock-climbing, hiking, etc), study abroad, social justice issues, debate and mock UN, science, the environment, sustainability, history day and more)</p>

<p>he is in 7th grade now -- will apply for 9th grade next january. I do know about the UWC (my older son applied).</p>

<p>You are right about the 40% non-boarding at a school of 600. I will do some more checking on the list and see if any can be eliminated based on that.</p>

<p>Cate was on his original list -- but eliminated because only 28% are on FA. I will add it back to the list and do some checking. FA will be a huge issue and he will need significant FA, so I don't want to waste his time or get his hopes up about a school if they are not good about FA for those really in need.</p>

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<p>It is so refreshing to see such a well thought out list of schools! As you narrow the list be sure to keep a safety or two rather than just very selective schools like Hotchkiss, SPS and Thacher. When you visit one or two, you will get a better sense of what environment appeals to your son (the very small, but tight midwest Quaker school community is much different than a larger, more traditional New England school). A visit this spring (schools are often open to that after their revisit days for this year's applicants) to representative small and larger (ie. 500ish) schools may help you hone your list more quickly. Congrats on your fine start!</p>

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<p>thanks -- we probably won't do any visits this spring. money is a big issue and we will need to save it for one quick and cheap visit to schools in the fall. We are in Colorado, so visiting isn't easy. </p>

<p>he did visit the local boarding school, fountain valley school, and loved it. They have 250 students and he liked how small it was. I had him keep schools that were a little larger to give him more options. What he wants is a close community with no real cliques and where everyone is supportive and friendly.</p>

<p>we will definitely keep safety schools on the list. It is hard to tell what is a safety, though, since some of the schools that have high admittance rates (conserve - 65%, FVS - 63%, new hampton - 54%, scattergood friends - 90%) may not come through with the FA or may be more self-selecting. most kids would not apply to scattergoods or conserve, which lowers the applicant pool.</p>

<p>I would eliminate several of the reachier schools -- except that FA would be good and he might get into one and not the others.</p>

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<p>I forgot one that was on the list -- Midland School</p>

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<p>You should probe financial aid awards. Some schools have a high percent, but the awards aren't that large; they just "spread the wealth" to many. </p>

<p>As you know, your list is very diverse. However, you have almost a year before applications are due so you have plenty of time to add and delete schools. If at all possible, plan to come east to visit schools. You will experience the different personalities that won't be apparent in a viewbook. </p>

<p>Keep safties and matches on the list. Based on what I've read, FA applicants tend to fare better when they are at the top of the applicant pool.</p>

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<p>If I understand correctly, your son will be skipping a grade. This is very difficult at such a young age- no matter how intelligent or gifted one may be. Colorado Springs has some excellent schools- especially if your son is in an IB program. Wait a year or attend Fountain Valley as a day student. I do not recommend going east at such a young age.</p>

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<p>hsmomstef: Glad I stumbled on this thread. My daughter, now 25, went to Westtown School in Chester County near Philadelphia, PA and adored it. She boarded grades 9 thru 12. Its a friends school, very high academics but minus the preppy feel of alot of places. Stress is on community service, respecting others, etc. Teachers are like family. All kinds of sports and clubs. Kids go on to all range of colleges, including Ivy League and top liberal arts. Best part is their upper school is 80-85% boarders, so lots going on during the weekends. They do have a lower and middle school, but much smaller than the upper school (which is about 425 kids) and you really don't see the little ones at all unless you choose to volunteer with them. They have a tremendous endowment and give FA as long as BOTH parents complete the aid forms, regardless of any divorce situation. Give it a look. Best thing I ever did for my kid, and I got NO aid due to an ex-spouse who wouldn't participate in the process. Still totally worth it. Good luck....</p>

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<p>I think St.Andrew's is a great school (there are many great schools!). St. Andrew's is 100% boarding and on the smaller side. The campus has 2500 acres of farmland and woodland. They are also on the water - can't remember now if it is a lake or small river - so the boathouse for crew are right there.
The headmaster believes that we are too focused on teaching to the test, the SAT score and that we should focus instead on a love of lifelong learning. It has been called in the past few years the best small boarding school in the country.<br>
And, it has a very nice endowment so I believe FA can be very good.</p>

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<p>The single most important consideration regarding boarding school admission is the maturity of the child. A child sent away too young may suffer more harm than good.</p>

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<p>If Fountain Valley appealed to him, he will probably find Thacher a good fit. It has a similar size student body with an extremely strong sense of community (honor code is so strong that students do not lock dorm doors and leave laptops and backpacks out with no concern). It has excellent academics and a very active outdoors program (daily horse program, frequent weekend backpacking, horsepacking and kayak trips, as well a longer trips for entire class years). Their endowment is large enough to support a good FA program, so definitely worth keeping on your list.</p>

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<p>St. Andrew"s School is definitely one of the very best schools in the country- but the student must be emotionally ready as well as intellectualy capable and motivated. The Groton School accepts grade 8 students- this school is an example only and does not meet your stated needs- many report unhappy, stressed out children. Please consider waiting a year.</p>

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<p>"he is in 7th grade now -- will apply for 9th grade next january"</p>

<p>No worries. The OP's son is looking for 9th grade entry without skipping 8th grade. They are just planning early.</p>

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<p>My mistake. Thank you.</p>

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<p>...I'd be flexible about some of those numerical values. They help, but...they still don't give you a good feel.</p>

<p>The one that stands out is the size. Even the biggest schools...at 1,000...aren't actually THAT huge. That's about 250 per grade. Versus 125 at a school with 500. Put in those terms and you're practically splitting hairs...especially since some larger schools (800 or so) can "play" small while delivering up some of the benefits that a larger community may offer.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>Grade 9 typically is smaller in number of students than grades 10-12. Another concern is whether or not a particular school allows PG"s to enroll.</p>