Ideal number of applications to boarding schools?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Hi,
I've been thinking whether to either apply to 5 or 10 boarding schools. My education consultant guy tells me to do 10 schools, but I really feel 10 schools is superficial. I'm applying as a 9th grader for sophomore and I'm international. Here are my shortlist of schools:
Andover
Milton
Deerfield
Groton
Exeter
St. Paul's
Hotchkiss
Middlesex
Lawrenceville
Cate
Thacher
St. Andrew's
Taft
Loomis Chaffee</p>

<p>I know it's a lot, so I really need an ideal list of boarding schools. I prefer a medium-sized to a larger school, very small schools (one grade having less than 100 people) are too boring. However, if it's a really nice small school, tell me. I dislike schools that are way too PREPPY, way too COCKY, and way too malicious whatever. I know many schools are like that, but I need to know the schools that are really "chill" but still elite and prestigious. I'll tell you my grades and ecs and all that if you guys need it. Which and how many schools should I apply too?</p>

<p>I already have a safety, which is my international school, it's a nice medium sized K-12 that dispatches students to many pretty good universities. That's why I have so many reaches. However, I wish to find a tougher school, which is the case with many of you.</p>

<p>Pros and Cons of each school would be DEEPLY oh so DEEPLY appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>heyy im an international too! mind pming me what school you're from? (i dunno you sound like a patriot student in my school) lol</p>

<p>10 isn't a bad number. i would suggest a little less than that though, because it is just STRESSING to keep track of 10 schools. i would suggest 8, just cuz im going for 8 LOL</p>

3

<p>thanks, but you know which schools should be in the 8?</p>

<p>ps i pmed you</p>

<p>lol it kinda looks like i pwned you</p>

4

<p>I was going for 8, then I realized "wow this is really hard to keep track of" so now I'm going for 4: Hotchkiss, Taft, Choate, and Loomis Chaffee. My favorite out of this list would have to be Hotchkiss, when I went to visit everyone was really nice, and it felt like a very welcoming environment. So Hotchkiss is my number 1, but I haven't seen any other schools on my list, so it might change. :)</p>

<p>I also know a lot of people at Loomis, but I don't like it as much because there are so many day students.
St. Paul's is quite "preppy" as far as I know, but that's what I've heard.</p>

<p>But if I chose like 5 out of your list I would choose:</p>

<p>Hotchkiss
Taft
Thacher
Exeter</p>

<p>Hope I helped :)</p>

5

<p>thanks guys, more and more feedback pleaseee~!</p>

<p>someone told me hotchkiss is a little snobbish and preppy.. is that true? and is it far into the country, so like there's deers and rabbits running around? not that i have something against rural schools, but i do have a forest allergy thing going on.</p>

<p>out of st. andrew's, taft, loomis, cate, thacher, lawrenceville, and middlesex, which would be your top or top 3?</p>

6

<p>My daughter applied to 3 Boarding Schools (plus a couple local schools.) I found the process challenging just to juggle those, so I would definately encourage you to reduce the number of applications you send to just the ones which you would be likely to be accepted and happy to attend.</p>

<p>My daughter is at St Andrew's School in Delaware. It is an excellent school and I could tell you more about it if you like, but I note that you are not interested in small schools. I should warn you then that there are less than 300 kids at SAS.</p>

<p>Good luck to you!</p>

7

<p>I agree with with Grejuni -- we applied to 4, and its very time consuming to get all the teacher recs together (and you don't want to bombard the teachers either), as well as different essays that both parents and students have to do. My S worked on his essays over the xmas break, but it was a real chore for him. Also, all the schools ask you at the interview which schools you are applying to, and if you apply for FA, it shows up on your application as well. My sense is schools would prefer that you've thought about and sorted through your top choices, so that that there is a good chance that you'll attend their school if accepted. I would recommend touring and seeing as many schools as you'd like (you can interview without applying), and then narrowing your choices from there.</p>

8

<p>Are you from Korea? I hear that it is very competitive if you are from Korea because a very high number apply, and most boarding schools limit the number of internationals from a country. If you are from an over-represented country, then you should take that into consideration when you make your applications. Perhaps that is why your ed consultant is recommending so many schools. </p>

<p>You should also ask your consultant to advise you on which schools are the best match for you. It doesn't take much talent to create a list of the top schools in the country, so I hope your consultant can provide services beyond that. </p>

<p>Are you athletic? If yes, what are your sports? This, plus any other special talents, should help narrow your list.</p>

9

<p>Um, I think it would be worthwhile to consider trimming the list.</p>

<p>Hotchkiss and Taft are both very nice. I've interviewed at both and really enjoyed the schools.</p>

<p>Again, I hate to bash schools, but IMHO, Loomis Chaffee sucks. I interviewed there, and I was just overcome as why so many kids would like that school. Can someone please explain to me, what's so great about it that everybody likes? Too many day students, not a very pretty school, in a fairly ugly town, and academics are good but not like absolutely amazing.</p>

<p>Loomis Chaffee is probobly the most prestigious school I looked at. I mean, if you like Loomis, go for it.</p>

<p>Seriously, what's the deal with LC?</p>

10

<p>My son applied to six schools, which was a lot. Two reaches, two middle, two safety. He got waitlisted at his first choice reach (Thacher) but was subsequently admitted. This was followed by four completely fantastic, life-changing years. If you are serious about considering West Coast schools, PM me. Thacher has all the rigor and outcomes of the Exeters, Deerfields, Andovers and Grotons but it also has a warmth and modesty that are welcoming and transformational.</p>

11

<p>I personally wouldn't recommend Cate - you could take them off the list. It is small, isolated, and the grounds are pretty run down. I couldn't figure out why anyone would go there that got accepted to any other school. Thacher is pretty nice although it is very rural and you have to take care of a horse your first year there which could be fun but you should be aware of that requirement. Hotchkiss is remote! We couldn't even find a McDonald's nearby although we were told there was a Walmart (which usually has a McDonald's inside). But I didn't notice a "preppy" vibe at Hotchkiss, the kids were very nice and seemed ordinary enough. And Groton is tiny. And isolated. Andover's campus is gigantic. You'd really get some exercise there! They also have their own art museum which is pretty neat. Lawrenceville is breathtaking. It's just a few miles from Princeton and close to NYC. And Exeter - well Exeter is Exeter, you don't have to say anything else :) (Yes, I'm baised.)</p>

12

<p>My S is applying to seven schools but we're applying via a feeder so this will cut down on the workload considerably. Seven may seem like a lot but we're able to apply to schools with a wide range of characteristics and opportunities. Of course, there are some we favor more than others; can't wait til March so we'll know which ones to seriously consider.</p>

13

<p>thanks for the input guys.
nylecoj007, whats a feeder? you mean like a feeder school?
photoop, did you (or your S/D, srry if your a hser i couldn't tell from your writing if you were a parent or not) attend exeter? I'm not too sure whether to have Exeter in my list. I've heard it has a big emphasis on studying and that there's a lot of competition going on.</p>

<p>I have a major forest allergy thing going on, I go berserk and sneeze every few seconds or so.. it's painful really. So, I wouldn't really prefer the very rural schools too much.
Here's my shortened list from last time:
Andover
Deerfield
St. Paul's
Lawrencevile</p>

<p>Exeter?
Middlesex?
Cate?
Thacher?
St. Andrew's?
Taft?</p>

<p>The question-marked schools are the one's I'm not very sure on. Exeter I've told you. Middlesex? I've heard it's a friendly environment but about 300 kids total? That's tiny.
Cate? One of my best friends really really wanted to go there, was accepted, but couldn't go cuz of no dorm space (LOLZ?) that's why I'm still interested in cate. btw, he applied like at may or something, so really really really late.
Thacher? I may have a horse allergy and a forest allergy I definitely do, but I dunno if I'll have one at Ojai.
St. Andrew's? I dunno, I think it's a little too small for me. Grejuni, can you tell me what's really special about St. Andrew's?
Taft? I really don't know too much about this school, therefore I don't have that much interest in it. Can you guys tell me more about taft? </p>

<p>LOL yeah i live in korea, but I'm no average korean.. how'd you know I lived in Korea? anyways i (no offense to many koreans out there, I love you really) am no esl student or fob or have a korean accent.. i have an "amercan" acceint. as you can see, and i attend international, so technically i don't have a korean passport.. am i still considered korean to the schools? I really consider myself korean-american, but I'm no american either. I have a X passport (sorry, can't tell you but i have to tell you it's really random/interesting). I hold a X passport, speak english just like any other american, but i'm ethnically korean. would that be interesting to the schools?</p>

<p>I'm no athletic superstar, but I'm no slouch either. I play tennis (final cuts!! so mad) and I swim (i'm planning to tryout, everyone gets in but you gotta be good to go to other schools and stuff), and I'm also looking into soccer.</p>

<p>I've had high honors all through my middle school years, I'm doing really well in hs. I've had the Math, french, band, and PE award several times. I was also student of the month/week every year. I've been involved in student council for three years being reps. I've been in MUN for 3 years, and Speech & debate for two. I was also main typist for KMO, and GIN member this year... I was in both yearbook and newspaper last year. is this too much info for the admissions officers? but really, do officers have the time to even look through this..</p>

<p>i'm working on them ssats, such a pain. i took one for fun last year without studying at all, got a 70% in verbal.. not too good for math and reading. i hope i'll get a really good score.</p>

<p>them essays.. should i start them RIGHT now? or concentrate on ssats?</p>

<p>thanks so much, i know this is so much info to analyze.</p>

<p>ONE BIG QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS: if you're doing so well at your school, why go all the way to an elite, prestigious boarding school where practically all of the kids are like or above you? </p>

<p>again, thanks so much.</p>

14

<p>hey guys,</p>

<p>when i ask teachers for recs, don't they just have to do it once and photocopy it? i really dont want to make my teachers write something 5x times... i sure wouldn't.</p>

15

<p>Yeah, I think they have to handwrite all of them. At least, that's the impression I got.</p>

<p>A good school for you might be Choate or Westminster. Both are a little less foresty.</p>

<p>Choate is very competative, but you may enjoy it. Westminster is also competative, but not like choate. Westy is also small, I think like 400 kids.</p>

<p>Taft is a really cool school. It's pretty laid back compared to other schools. Good athletics, good academics. Pretty campus.</p>

16

<p>Teachers can photocopy the recommendations. Most of the schools you have on your list use the same recommendation forms. You should give them the envelopes (with postage). Teachers can also type out the questions part and then do the check boxes on the back and attach them. Then they can just print out the typed part for each rec and the check boxes are no big deal. Most times, schools would like original signatures from teachers.</p>

<p>Yes, your unique sounding citizenship/background may help/make you stand out. Each school is different, but many (most I think) consider you international if they need to count you int he student visa total. </p>

<p>Deerfield is known as one of the more preppy schools. It's one of our favorites, but it is preppy. </p>

<p>You might consider NMH. Right now, your top 4 list is pretty much all reaches. While I agree to narrow it down from 9, you need to have a diverse list in terms of how selective they are.</p>

17

<p>St. Pauls and Deerfield are somewhat rural. You should investigate whether or not they would cause your allergies to be a problem. </p>

<p>If swimming is important to you, then Taft and St. Pauls might not be good choices. Taft does not have a swimming pool at all. I read on this forum that St. Pauls has a pool but does not have a competitive swim team. You should research this because I might not be correct. I suspect that all your schools will offer tennis and soccer at a few levels. Your other ec's look good. If MUN and debate are important to you, be sure that the schools you select offer it.</p>

<p>Boarding schools you might consider that are not rural include Milton (only half boarding), Loomis (only 60% boarding), the Hill, Choate and Peddie. I am guessing that Andover and Lawrenceville will not be a problem unless any exposure to trees creates allergies. </p>

<p>When my son applied a few years ago, all the schools accepted the recommendation forms here TABS:</a> How to Apply. You should compare this form to the one provided by your selected schools. Most likely it is identical. As a result, you can just ask your teacher to fill it out once and make copies.</p>

18

<p>thank you all!
whoa, taft not having a swimming pool at all? that's.. absurd. I'm pretty sure St. Paul has a competitive swim team, being such a big school and all it's very unlikely that they don't.
I'm a boarder, so 50% of day students in Milton might be a problem. Since day students have such a different schedule from boarders (in terms of sleeping, eating, etc), the day students may have more perks? i'm not too sure on that.</p>

<p>I'm still wondering about Middlesex and Hotchkiss... any input/advice on those schools?
My friend goes to deerfield and she says it's so far out in the country that there's no service for cellphones... is it that rural!?</p>

<p>St. Andrew's, Taft, or Loomis, Cate, and Thacher. Which would be your top?</p>

19

<p>
[quote]
I'm pretty sure St. Paul has a competitive swim team, being such a big school and all it's very unlikely that they don't.

[/quote]

A very quick look on the SPS web site and you will find that Burb Parent is correct, no swim team - although they have a beautiful pool.<br>
St</a>. Paul's School ~ Team Pages</p>

<p>Hotchkiss is WAYYY more rural than Deerfield. There is cell service at Deerfield. Not sure who your freind has for service, but I have not heard of any that does not come in there. Hotchkiss is a couple of HOURS away from a mall. It is truly in the middle of nowhere. Deerfield is about 20 minutes from a small-ish mall and 30-40 from a large one. </p>

<p>I would recommend making a list of the things that are important to you and then, going to the school's web sites and seeing which ones offer them. Swimming is a perfect example, 2 minutes on the SPS site and you would know that they do not have a team.</p>

20

<p>Good advice from all here. Do NOT just assume a school will have something you want just because it is a larger school. No swim team at St. Paul's is a perfect example. There are only about 20 boarding schools in the New England area that do have swim teams (of course, there are MANY other good schools throughout the country that also do, but our family is in the NE area so that was our focus).</p>

<p>Use this link to do a search for specific things that you want, then confirm them on the web site of the individual school.</p>

<p>TABS:</a> School Finder - Advanced Search</p>

<p>(St. Paul's does have a pool, and one SPS parent told me that they were considering adding a swim team, but I don't know if/when that will become a reality).</p>