<p>As I said on a previous thread, I am not visiting any of the schools I'm applying to (my parents' won't let me-- their logic is to go after I get accepted) So, I'm really having trouble deciding what schools to apply to. They all seem similar on paper, and I don't think facts really can tell me too much. </p>
<p>So...can somebody help me here? Thanks!</p>
<p>Yes, unfortunately visiting the schools before applying just isn’t an option for some applicants. I suggest you make a list of what characteristics of a school are important/attractive to you, then make an Excel spreadsheet and check off which schools best fulfill your criteria.</p>
<p>Some characteristics to consider:</p>
<p>number of students:<br>
large (200+ kids per grade), medium (~150 kids per grade). small (<100 kids per grade)</p>
<p>setting:<br>
urban, suburban, rural</p>
<p>geographical location:<br>
New England, Mid Atlantic, South, West, study abroad?</p>
<p>sex:<br>
single sex, coed</p>
<p>religious affiliation:
denominational v. secular</p>
<p>academic rigor:<br>
intensely competitive or moderate (look at average SSAT scores)</p>
<p>financing:
cost of tuition+fees; likehood of finacial aid (can my family afford it)</p>
<p>dress code:
casual vs. formal</p>
<p>student demographics:
%International students; racial diversity; %Financial Aid (will I fit in here?)</p>
<p>Extracurricular offerings:
Athletics, drama, etc.</p>
<p>Curriculum:
IB offered?, strengths in any particular discipline</p>
<p>Admission selectivity:
Very difficult (<20% accepted), Moderate</p>
<p>%Boarding
Mostly boarding students; a good mix of Day & Boarding</p>
<p>Contact the admissions office for each school and see if they can put you in touch with a student who might be able to answer some of your questions. Don’t know if they’d do this - but it’s worth a try!</p>
<p>Also, if there’s a particular course of activity you’re interested in, you might try contacting the teacher or coach to ask them any questions you might have.</p>
<p>You can also check out Facebook to get a better sense of the school. And definitely do a search on this forum to see what other people have said about the school!</p>