I'm getting excited...

Prep School Admissions
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<p>I'm so excited! I'm registering for the SSAT later today and hopefully planning my tours next week. I'm starting to realize that it's finally happening. All I need to do is to double check with my dad to make sure our financial situation is okay. </p>

<p>I'm not applying for financial aid, so hopefully that will increase of chances of getting accepted. I'm not counting on that to get in, since only 30 - 40% of the students are on financial aid, it's just that it's given me more confidence.</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure I've decided which schools I'm applying to. (I think I let you guys influence my decisions too much. lol) </p>

<p>My first choice is Andover. The competition seems so strong there, and that's what I like. There's so many study abroad opportunities, and many, many extracurriculars. Its close proximity to Boston is a plus too.</p>

<p>I have three other schools that I'm equally interested in. My first school is Groton. Early in my search for prep schools, I was quick to cross this school off my list because of its small size. After watching their video on schoolfair.tv, it quickly made me change my mind. I loved how it was so close knit. The academics seem amazing, as well as the athletics, especially the tennis team, which is something I'd like to continue at a school like Groton. </p>

<p>My second school out of the three I'm equally interested in St. Paul's. Their humanities and language programs seem great, but it's far from Boston, which is something that's important to me.</p>

<p>The third school is Exeter. The academics are some of the best in the world, as well as the other schools I'm applying to, but Exeter seems a bit too math and science oriented for me.</p>

<p>I want to apply to Choate and Deerfield, and I'm pretty sure I am. It's just that Deerfield seems a bit far from a large city, and I'd like to visit my family on school breaks and go into Boston on weekends or something, and it seems like that would be a problem since it's so far away. I also want to apply to Cate, but I'm not sure if I can get out to California or not. </p>

<p>Obviously, these decisions aren't final because I haven't been on the tours yet. </p>

<p>P.S. - I'm also looking for a safety/match or two. If anyone could recommend some that are within a decent range of a large city, that would be great.</p>

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<p>Andover, MA is not really that close to Boston. I wouldn't call it in close proximity, at least. Being close to Boston is important to you? In exeter we have amtrak service to north station which is pretty handy when I want to go home or something like that. 10 minute walk to station, then a little over an hour to get downtown. Then I just take the green line home :)</p>

<p>I didn't realize my school was that math and science oriented, good to know. We do have a nice new science building, I guess. </p>

<p>You also totally left out harkness! :D</p>

<p>Andover does have more of a little downtown-ish area to it than Exeter does, and I'll be the first to say I'm not a fan of Exeter's location. Andover is closer to Boston, but without a car, it might be just as far... Andover has commuter rail service, but I think you'll find that your weekends will be pretty occupied anyways. Still, whatever floats your boat.</p>

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<p>Groton is not really close to Boston either. Maybe 1 hour away, maybe 50 minutes. That's still close.</p>

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<p>
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Andover, MA is not really that close to Boston.

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</p>

<p>According to city-data.com, it's 23.5 miles from Boston. That's close enough for me. </p>

<p>Groton is about forty miles away from Boston. That's good enough, too.</p>

<p>When I say close, I mean close enough so I can easily go there on weekends.</p>

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<p>Good list, I think, and your reasons are really well-thought out. Its weird to think we might end up on the same swim team or something.</p>

<p>I'm getting excited too, but not for as good reasons-- my mum let me send in for info from my seven schools. Which, since my parents have basically said NO, is a fairly good sign. She also bought me a SSAT prep book a couple weeks ago. I think she started understanding my situation when I compared it to how she really wanted to go to Williams and Mary for college, but her parents wouldn't let her even though she was accepted. Kind of the same thing, IMO-- although I haven't been accpeted yet.</p>

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<p>JK, although not mutually exclusive, Andover and Groton, and even SPS are so vastly different it hardly makes sense. I see this quite often on CC, and I wonder if the students are really looking beyond "names". I'm not pointing the finger at you JK, however, your choices thus far are rather odd. The only thing they really have in common, are accept rates and matrics. Of course this is a consideration when applying, but they should not be the only reason. I can Groton, SGS, Middlesex, SPS, But I can't see Exeter, Andover with the smaller school group.</p>

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<p>JK, as for matches, check out Brooks, The Governors Academy, St. Mark's School, which by the way has a nice classics program. These schools fit the bill as far as proximity and they are all nice with regard to academics.</p>

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<p>JK, if you are really interested in tennis, the school to go to in the ISL is Milton. They are by far the best at tennis.</p>

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<p>Yeah, but Jonathan, absolute distance doesn't matter... unless you're practicing for the Boston marathon, you have to get there somehow. And that means contending with the saturday schedule(s) and any sports you do. So yeah, you have commuter rail access, but how often will you get to use it? If you want to be as competitive as you can be, how much time will you have to go into Boston every weekend? What about extracurriculars that have meetings and things on weekends--debate's DANEIS meets on sundays, and again, sports on saturday. Stuff like that.</p>

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<p>
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I can Groton, SGS, Middlesex, SPS, But I can't see Exeter, Andover with the smaller school group.

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<p>School size isn't really that important to me. Being in a small school has its advantages, but so does being in a large school.</p>

<p>
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JK, as for matches, check out Brooks, The Governors Academy, St. Mark's School, which by the way has a nice classics program. These schools fit the bill as far as proximity and they are all nice with regard to academics.

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</p>

<p>Thank you. I will check those out.</p>

<p>
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JK, if you are really interested in tennis, the school to go to in the ISL is Milton. They are by far the best at tennis.

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<p>I'm really interested in tennis, but I just started and I'm sure I won't be nearly as good as the new england kids who have been doing it since they were four. It's something I would like to continue doing, though. :)</p>

<p>
[quote]
Yeah, but Jonathan, absolute distance doesn't matter... unless you're practicing for the Boston marathon, you have to get there somehow. And that means contending with the saturday schedule(s) and any sports you do. So yeah, you have commuter rail access, but how often will you get to use it? If you want to be as competitive as you can be, how much time will you have to go into Boston every weekend? What about extracurriculars that have meetings and things on weekends--debate's DANEIS meets on sundays, and again, sports on saturday. Stuff like that.

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<p>I understand what you're saying. Is there a train that goes from Deerfield to Boston?</p>

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<p>Yipes, truthfully , you'll barely get to Boston from Groton, Andover, etc. Forget about Deerfield, it will be very difficult. Hartford would be doable.</p>

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<p>JK, size sets the tone of the school, imo.</p>

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<p>Jk, you'll be so busy with sports, EC's and class (maybe ), that traveling to Boston will be a treat rather than a normal occurrence. If your lucky, your BF will live in Boston, that way during open weekends you'll have a good chance to visit B.</p>

<p>Maybe I'm totally off base, but the first thing my d/family decided on was the size of the school.</p>

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<p>Size matters more to some than others. </p>

<p>How long do you think I should plan to stay out there? Choate's pretty close to Hartford, and that's really the only school that is. I'd hate to not apply to that school just because I can't visit it.</p>

<p>So... assume I want to have a tour and interview at SPS, Exeter, Andover, Groton, Deerfield, and another school in the MA-NH area. How long should I plan to stay out there?</p>

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<p>Jk, We did 5 schools in four days. If you have the time, schedule one per day. Remember, schools will be scheduling other students, so plan in advance. I do not recommend 2 schools per day. You'll be fried! We were exhausted</p>

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<p>JK, deerfield is also close to Hartford. You would actually fly into Hartford for Deerfield.</p>

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<p>Isn't Loomis close to Hartford? Like less than 30 minutes away close?</p>

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<p>So if I wanted to do all these schools in one trip, do you recommend I fly into Hartford and rent a car, then just drive to the schools?</p>

<p>I don't have fall break at my school, so do you think I should wait till Christmas break? (If they still have interviews then)</p>

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<p>I don't know about the other places but I know that I interviewed at Exeter after xmas break--sometime in January. </p>

<p>Do you get any thanksgiving break? It'd be a shame if you couldn't prejudice yourself towards the prettier ones by seeing them in the fall with the nice foliage... :)</p>

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<p>Here's how I would make the trip. First fly into Hartford, visit Choate and Deer. Head off to the Boston area, maybe stay in Waltham at the double tree suites. From this base, you can visit all the Boston area schools. Maybe even day trips to exeter and sps. Or leave the B area and head to NH for the finale. Remember, while in Hartford you have many schools to visit. This is also true from Boston. You do not want to stay in Boston. This would be a major hassle. Again, from Waltham (double tree suites ), you have easy access to the HWY. School such as SMS, Groton, Middlesex, Brooks, Andover, lawrence are all doable from Waltham.</p>