<p>Since I was waitlisted at my first choice for applying in 9th grade, would I be better off holding off going to my second choice and reapplying to my first choice for 10th grade? Does anyone know if its less competitive for admission in 10th over the 9th grade, or is the opposite?</p>
<p>I think it's definately more competitive in 9th grade admission..but I dont really know the case for reapplying.
can i ask what schools were they? first&second choice?
good luck with your decision =)</p>
<p>there are definitely less spots open in 10th grade, but I don't know that the same amount of people apply for 10th grade. Also, It is more difficult to receive FA applying for 10th grade. If you needed significant FA, I would think about going to your second choice. Try revisiting and getting a better feel for the schools. Maybe you will like Choice 2 better.</p>
<p>Generally, it's around the same for all grades. It depends on the school, though.</p>
<p>i have talked to admission officers and they have said it is easier to get into 9th grade, than 10th. This is only because there are less spots open for 10th grade so there is more competition. But still 9th grade is hard to get into.</p>
<p>I applied for 10th grade and got into Lawrenceville, Blair, and Miss Porters with FA. :)</p>
<p>GoSPS, there are also less people that apply for 10th grade.</p>
<p>As I was told for my S, admission to 10th is based first on attrition. Since the school is full, the only way anyone new gets admitted as a 10th grader is because someone else leaves, making room. 9th is usually better because class size expands for 9th and it makes many new slots available to newcomers.</p>
<p>It really depends on the school. Most of the schools we visited (12) said that they admist between 20-40% of the total class in the 10th grade (so attrition doesn't really play into it much).<br>
Possibly for the day schools it might be different (your S is at a day school right HopefulDad?).<br>
Of course the one school we didn't ask, turns out they had an unexpectedly large 9th grade yeild last year, leaving fewer openings than usual for 10th grade (found that out later).</p>
<p>I think that although there may be less students applying for 10th grade there may be more than you think because remember there are a few private schools out there that go through 9th grade (ex: Cardigan Mountain School and many day schools) and so those students are coming from a private school background and are likely to be looking at private schools to continue their education.</p>
<p>My son's school admits around 100 for ninth grade and then adds to each grade.</p>
<p>Linda, yes it is a large private day school. Most schools in our area expand considerably for 6th and 9th grade and then only admit people into the other grades when someone doesn't return the next year. Another consideration of waiting until 10th is that if your child has to move from a middle school to a high school for 9th grade he is less likely to then want to change again for 10th grade. That is the case with ours. It is amazing how much interest in private schools has icnreased over the past 20 years but the schools have not expended that much. I guess the cost of building facilities for what may be a short increase in demand doesn't warrant the expansion. This has resulted in an all out battle for the openings and some parents are just going crazy trying to get their kids in the schools. I wish I had started him off at an earlier age; I say the earlier the better for many reasons..</p>
<p>Its a bigger pool of students when applying as a 9th grader but they will select less students when applying as 10th graders. I think it is a wash. These schools maintain the same ratios whether is 9th or 10th grade acceptances. </p>
<p>I would not know what to do in your situation. </p>
<p>Is it a big separation between how you like #1 school and #2 school? If its closer, I would seriously consider then accepting school #2. If it is a big separation I might wait for next year and apply again. There are some risks involved in the sense that you might not be selected the second time around and then lose on whatever 2nd school would have offered to you.</p>
<p>Tough choice/decision.</p>
<p>How about telling all this to school #1 and get a recommendation from them?</p>
<p>To the OP -</p>
<p>It looks like you are admitted to Choate and Lawrenceville, waitlisted at Exeter. If that is the case, revisit C and L and attend the one you like better,unless you don't end up still liking them. Plan to stay for your high school years. Those are very fine schools, great options to have. I don't think it's worth tossing them out on the hope that you will get into E next year.</p>
<p>I concur with the advice offered by Inquiring mind. Revisit the schools where you have been offered admission and see which school is the best fit from that pool. Choate and Exeter are similar schools in many ways, and I can't see pinning your hopes on one particular school next year. For any school, admissions is about putting together a class, and unless you are a shoo-in legacy candidate, there is no certainty about the outcome.</p>
<p>Thanks very much for all the advice. I am planning to revisit schools, and even starting to think that Choate may be best for me afterall -- it's much closer to my hometown. I loved Choate when I went for my interview (and really loved Lawrenceville too); so you are right -- I can't go wrong either way.</p>
<p>One thing that Loomis told us - since high schools in CT start at 9th grade, they take the majority of their DAY students as 9th graders - very few day student openings after that and not as many apply for the whole changing schools reason. Boarding however, if different as many come from Jr Preps that go to 9th and/or from other states where the schools might go until 9th.</p>