<p>S-St. Pauls School</p>
<p>yes, these schools are so completely different. that is one of the problems with people asking what are good schools, it really is what are good schools for this particular student.</p>
<p>drnancie, your assessment is correct. So many good school's to choose from, it's finding what fit's best for the student regardless of the name. So far, if my memory serves me correctly, you and Claudia, seem to understand the most. Of course your previous experience helps.</p>
<p>I get the feeling that many of the students on this board pick a variety of very different schools to apply to based upon reputation and the websites/printed materials/statistics about the school.</p>
<p>I think that it is OK to start looking to both urban/rural, big/small, etc. schools early on in the process. You may find yourself indifferent about rural/urban because you are a homebody who isn't likely to leave campus. In fact, students should visit serveral types during the fall well before application deadlines (if at all possible) and spend a day there to get a feel for the pace of life, and other intangibles that may make you realize that you like or don't like this or that type of environment.</p>
<p>In our situation, my daughter applied to 3 VERY different schools. As things worked out, she ended up at (from our 1st week's reporting) at the correct place. We can look back and say, yes this is much better than that having checked out a variety of schools.</p>
<p>If all the schools you visit are very similar to each other, you may not know what you are missing.</p>
<p>My advice, visit as many schools as you have reasonable time to do early in the year - you can even interview if it is convenient, and spend you winter (or for Claudia summer) holidays filling out applications for just the ones that "feel" right.</p>
<p>everyone's saying like 5! but how do you cut schools out of a search? I have like 30 to choose from.</p>
<p>When the time comes to do the applications you will not want to apply to 30. At this stage, I think it is OK to look at 30 and then start to narrow it down as your priorities become apparent.</p>
<p>no offense but that was soooo vauge! What do you mean my priorities? I know what I want but i'm scared to cut a school off my list in case I get rejected but that school would have accepted me. Also I can't afford to apply to 30 schools, I'm international so my application fee is always $ 100+ I want to spend maximum $1000 on the application fee.</p>
<p>At most $1000??? For applications alone!!!!!</p>
<p>In regards to what prepparent said, I think I have to defend myself and the other "name-recogination hogs". I do, however, think that he's exactly right about some of us, and it's a very valid point.</p>
<p>I do have a rather diverse list (Exeter, Hotchkiss, Deerfield, Peddie, Choate) and yes, all of their "names" do appeal to me, but its more than that. I can imagine myself at all of those schools-- I see that they could be my home, not just a name on a college application. I also realize (contrary to those that accuse us of just looking at the prestige) that they all have a different feel. Exeter is urban, Deerfield is out in the middle of nowhere. Peddie is in New Jersey, Deerfield is in MA. Some are smaller. Some are huge. But when I read their literature, look at their websites, read these bulletin boards, I find myself nodding and thinking I would be happy there. </p>
<p>Those of us that look for THE schools, we're putting just as much thought in it as the rest of everybody. We just want the best education we can get, and these schools, we assume, will challenge us and intrigue us the most.</p>
<p>I agree with Sonja</p>
<p>Sonja- That was very nice, i also agree. But, i do believe, Prepparent is a Father (am i correct?), not as you state a she.</p>
<p>Really? Wow, that just changed my whole perspective. :-O</p>
<p>And thank you both.</p>
<p>Sonja, yes I'm male. Hey, I'm not sure what I said to maybe offend you, but it was not pointed at you.</p>
<p>No, I wasn't offended at all... I just wanted to say that to clear a few things up... about me at least.</p>
<p>Sonja, how carefully have you researched? Exeter urban? In reality, most 14 year olds are just stuck on the name. Lucky all of the name preps are pretty great places. However, the more careful you are about selection the happier you'll be. Good luck.</p>
<p>sonja, how does your perspective change now that you realize I'm a male?</p>
<p>haha I thought you were a woman, too, until you told me what your name was. lol.</p>
<p>JK, putting my name out in the public is not what I had in mind when I send people PM's. Not Cool!</p>
<p>Sorry... edited.. :)</p>
<p>Could you please reply to my PM's?</p>
<p>Tommeister- I know this is delayed but is that a lot to spend? How much are you spending? Wait your application fee is like half or less than mine, mine is $ 100 per school at least because i'm Canadian</p>