<p>It would be great to develop a sincere interest. However, I think developing something to set him apart will be important to getting him into a school with aid.</p>
<p>Also consider that some schools like Culver Academies, Mercersburg, Episcopal HS, Baylor and McCallie (sorry for the Eastern orientation) have some merit scholarship money, too, that might go hand-in-hand with FA. You'll want to research that. Also, see if there are any summer programs that have scholarship assistance. It may be too late, but there are also the college-sponsored SAT programs for 7th and 8th grades: check that out as it will help in terms of SSAT prep and might also open some doors...if your child is decent at standardized test-taking.</p>
<p>suze -- the problem is that he is so young to develop a passion -- and it isn't something you can invent for the application process. right now, his passion is the environment/sustainablity/the outdoors/service to others. I don't see him developing another passion in the next 12 months (and if he did -- I don't see him doing much with it in the short time before he would apply).</p>
<p>I have seen some schools on his list with merit scholarships -- and he would apply, but my guess is that the competition for those scholarships is even more fierce than for admissions, so it isn't something he could count on.</p>
<p>D'yer -- as far as summer programs, he does do those. the summers after 4th and 5th grade he spent three to four weeks at scout camp. last summer he went to Civil Air Patrol summer encampment and a selective program they offer, he also attended CTD in Chicago and took a class in Architecture and math, he also attended the junior leadership training that the scouts has and went to a national order of the arrow (scouts honor society) conference. this summer he will be going back to CTD, going to Europe for 2 weeks with his school on a touring/language program, going to scout camp and he is applying for some other programs. He has been lucky to get plenty of FA and scholarships to enable him to do so much.</p>
<p>I am not sure how the summer programs would help with SSAT prep -- but he will be taking the class on writing at CTD this summer to help improve his writing.</p>
<p>I second Culver Academies. I have a friend that just started this year and absolutely loves it. She said that there is a strong academic environment, yet everyone is pleasant and aren't cut throat. Also, ( I only know based on this one friend who is not a urm or from a under represented state) Culver Academies seems to give good financial aid.</p>
<p>well -- culver may be great for some kids, but it really doesn't meet what he is looking for. he doesn't want any military influence (he has had experience with Civil Air Patrol and is not interested), it has too many kids (774), the average class size is 16 (he is looking for 14 or below since that means that some classes are larger and some are smaller). too high of a student/teacher ratio (1:8 -- he is looking for 1:6 or lower) and it doesn't have a focus on the outdoors/environment/sustainability.</p>
<p>while he could overlook one or two minor factors -- I think that Culver would not be a good match for a number of reasons. I know they give good FA, I wish it was a good match!</p>
<p>I'd take a closer look at Culver Academies. Yes, it has that military flavor, but it's a far cry from military academies. You may be surprised if you dig a little there. The people I know who have gone there are not "military academy" people and, as best I can recall, none of them even considered any other military academies. Like I said above, be flexible.</p>
<p>Just as you're hopeful some schools will look REALLY closely at your child and find your child to be an attractive fit...you should be willing to look as closely at the schools to find a good fit. Don't get overworked by statistics. You've got a 7th grader telling you that class size ratios aren't within his parameters...and you've got to help loosen him up a little or be willing to look beyond the numbers (again, just as you hope the schools will look beyond your economic numbers).</p>
<p>No offense, but you have really set the standards high. I don't know of any school that's going to meet those expectations AND give ~140,000 in total aid. Even Exeter's humanities classes have 15-20 students around the table (the figure may be different, but I just talked to a student and she said that they're def bigger than the figure..I think they count private music lessons, etc. in the averages..)..</p>
<p>Are you quite sure, blairt? Because they made a very big point about how they never had more that fifteen students at a Harkness table on my tour.</p>
<p>blairt -- your points are well taken...but when you mention setting the standards high I think I'm on the same page as you. However, just to be clear, hsmomstef, the point is that you can still find an excellent school that's a wonderful fit for your child -- which, to me, is the highest standard of all -- if you work hard. You'll want to find the school that's going to be excited to have your child...and, at the same time, will be the type of school your child will be thrilled to be at for 4 years. That's going to take a lot of work and setting rigid parameters -- and actually have your 7th grader dictate them to you -- is just going to make your job all the more difficult (if not impossible). Tell your son to lighten up on the statistical analysis. It's great that he knows he wants smaller groups, but there are more ways to tap into closeness than ratios sent to boardingschoolreview. Some large schools can do the best job of promoting close-knit groups with small dorms, advisee groups and through extracurricular activities. And you also need to ask if maybe your child won't benefit from being involved in larger communities via these smaller connecting groups -- instead of staying small across the board. Is the yearning for smaller and smaller an acute sense of self-awareness or is it a fear of larger groups or being lost? Anyway, finding the best fit means you're going to have to look deeper: at the schools and within your child.</p>
<p>The Culver Academies are superb re:financial aid, leadership, kindness,equestrian skills,pride and fitting in. Only the male side is military-but this is a gentleman"s military- this is not Valley Forge Military, the best and toughest in the nation- this is a family.</p>
<p>Blairt: Did you get my response? I am not computer literate, nor do I type well.</p>
<p>My greatest concern is that you avoid setting your son up for dissapointment. School "shopping" is indeed a whole different thing when you are looking to full pay and when you are looking for near full aid. I've done both.</p>
<p>ok -- I will have him take another look at Culver. Like I said before -- he had to come up with some numbers in order to narrow the field or we would be looking at 150+ schools. We are going to have to narrow it to just a few because of the cost of applications and we can probably only visit one area.</p>
<p>He is perfectly willing to be flexible, but on the other hand -- I don't want him to apply to a school just because it has good FA. I want it to be a good fit for him and I just don't see it at Culver, but I will do some more inquiring.</p>
<p>anyone actually know a culver student that could give me more insight?</p>
<p>Would an independent student whose main interest was in environmental sustainablity and social justice, not at all interested in any aspect of the military and a peace loving buddhist fit in at culver? the website provides very little info on the daily life, schedule, weekend activities, etc -- so it is hard to judge. We requested more info. It is just when I hear "military" I think of parading, uniforms, focus on specific ranks, etc. He has has that experience at Civil Air Patrol, so he knows what is involved, and he definitely does not want that at school.</p>
<p>Culver Academies is different from all other military academies with which Iam aqainted. I know a lot of military academies. Culver is a gentleman"s school with lots of arts, girls and concern for the environment with plenty of outdoor adventure.</p>
<p>kirmum -- I agree! I really don't want to set him up for a huge disappointment. I think what I need him to add to his list is the local public school and a local charter school. both send kid to the Ivys and have good academics (they just lack the nurturing community and small class size he is wanting). </p>
<p>What I need him to ask himself is "would I rather attend this BS or go to my local school". </p>
<p>Garrity -- that sounds different than what I would have gathered -- like I said, the website leaves alot of info out. Once he gets the info from culver, we will take a good look. He certainly is not opposed to discipline, leadership, and outdoor adventure (that is what he likes about CAP).</p>
<p>hsmom, I'm not sure how good that public school or even second tier boarding schools will look after he's seen SPS and Deerfield. I know with my daughter, there was no turning back. Not sure how you handle this, but I guess I'd start with practice SSATs to try to gauge where he will have a shot.</p>
<p>yes, my interviewer went there and she said the discussions weren't as intimate as they seem in the viewbooks, but they're still great (without a doubt)..but yes, 15-20.</p>
<p>he is mature enough to understand that what he wants and what he can have are two different things. Believe me -- he has had some tough times these past years and he has heard me talk to him brother about FA and college choices often enough. He understands that, not being an URM and bringing no recruitable talent to the school, there is just a chance that he will be admitted and get enough FA to attend. I will just keep reminding him.</p>
<p>He does sound mature. One of the children I'm working with through an organization has his heart set on a school I feel sure will not accept him with adequate aid. We are thinking of revising the policy on visits because of this. I think it's very hard for young teens who have always been best in their current environments to understand this is a whole new level of competition.</p>
<p>I appreciate the advice and I will make sure I keep emphasizing the odds. I do understand how kids can get their heart set on a school. I teach my kids to be flexible and realistic -- it is the overall goal that is important, not how they get their.</p>