<p>I’d say it was dumb luck. But, actually, as I think back, HE knew it was a fit right away. Then I took control of the process and figured if he liked THAT school then he needed to check out ABCDE Schools…and things derailed from there. That one was sort of forgotten in the process by the distraction, and the viewbooks and the talk on here, etc. I was all but embarrassed to disclose here that that was one of his options. So it was dumb luck that we kept it in the mix.</p>
<p>Great posts, DM, learning a lot…</p>
<p>I have to say this is a very tough crowd here on the prep school forum. At the risk of being unpopular, I think mhmm had a point when she said that schools differ in acadmic rigor and some may serve the needs of some students better than others. Now whether SPS and NMH’s differences are that clear cut is an issue debatable, but I think in a way her opinior has been taken out of context and blown out of proportion. And, as always, some would question whether she was a bitter parent whose kids had a failed attempt in getting into certain schools, or her intention was to belittle those not attending the top schools, which is just sad. Can we please just focus on the opinions presented instead of going after the person who expressed those opinions?</p>
<p>I believe that in the BS world, some schools are better equipped for academic learning than others for students who are significantly more intelligent and motivated than many of their peers to the extent that their local public school or even day private schools are holding them back and they wish to take challenges in a more stimulating environment like a top BS. What top BS’s have that lower tiered schools don’t are the more resources (because of their size of endowment and alum donations) and strong peers (as they are more selective). That, to me, means a better learning environment. Of course, there are other factors that make a better learning environment, and when we discuss them in relation to one’s individual learning style, there could be a whole range of matrix. However, resources, faculty and peers are very, if not most, important factors BS parents/students are pursuing that they are likely not be able to find in their local options. </p>
<p>Now two things I need to clarify. First, the “top” schools are not be all end all. There are other schools that can do as good or a better job for certain individuals. One needs to figue out what one needs from their BS experience, and I believe that’s mhmm’s point - don’t just apply to a bunch of schools so you can land “something”. And I believe that’s also where she was a little insensitive. There are indeed kids who don’t have viable local options and/or need substantial FA, in which case they just have to apply to a whole range of schools and see which door opens for them. Not everyone has a good public or day school as thier “safety” or “backup”. Secondly, when I say “top” schools, I don’t mean HADES or even GLADCHEMMS. Those acronymies should be considered generic terms to represent a group of schools that have long history/traditions, bigger endowment, provide education of excellent qualities, relatively more selective and have established reputations in the industry, although they are often taken literally. </p>
<p>As for “brand” vs “fit”, I understand DM’s point and I think it makes sense, but I would take the reputation of a school into consideration when I make BS or college choices as well. The prestige or reputation is there for some reasons even some of the resons are not good. Brands do open doors -as long as we don’t take the brand as the most important or the only criterion in selecting our schools. The good news is that prestigious schools come in all flavors - different sizes, locations, and styles. I would hope to find a relative fit among them, if possible.</p>
<p>Just my 2c. I do know there’re a lot of biased personal opinions. Now fire up.</p>
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</p>
<p>You aren’t serious are you?</p>
<p>Given the rise in applications - any “advantage” those schools might have had once in terms of elite student bodies is now gone as high performing applicants are now being spread throughout the system.</p>
<p>And I can tell you that even in the old days that was more myth than reality predicated on the concentration of wealth, not brain power.</p>
<p>DAndrew:</p>
<p>Good summary and discussion of the various issues!</p>
<p>The internet has allowed my family access to a wealth of information that would otherwise be unavailable to us regarding boarding schools, information that only those already in the boarding school and private school culture previously had access to. My children are not in a pre-prep with a placement counselor, there is no group like ABC or Prep for Prep advocating for them. Nobody is going to recruit in our district. And because I grew up in the south, not even realizing that private boarding schools even existed, much less having had relatives and friends who attended them, I have relied on people on this board for information. </p>
<p>I am grateful for that.</p>
<p>What we need to understand is that there is still a divide. There is a thread on the main forum regarding summer programs. I read it and couldn’t help thinking, “I hope these kids realize how lucky they are to be in a position where they just get to decide what to do this summer, that it’s not a struggle for their families to pay tuition and associated costs for even the most modest enrichment.”</p>
<p>Let’s all take it easy. Mhmm has always been very helpful to me and I appreciate it. I just think there is a lack of understanding about how real the crisis is for some kids. And I agree that it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for a very strong applicant who doesn’t need FA and has very good local options to apply to both NMH and SPS. Perhaps mhmm assumed that the poster in question came from those circumstances and not one as DAndrew described above or Perwinkle did in post #55. It’s an honest mistake and one that I don’t believe deserves the venom that was directed her way.</p>
<p>Could this discussion transfer itself to a new thread? It’s not really related to the OP’s question. (posting at the same time as Neatoburrito. I was referring to the discussion of the merits of different schools.)</p>
<p>To return to the OP, </p>
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</p>
<p>The Freshmen of the fall of 2008 are the Juniors of spring, 2011. By this summer, 75% of the students enrolled in the fall of 2008 will have graduated. Next year, all of the students, except for repeaters, will have enrolled after the fall of 2008. </p>
<p>If schools budgeted $X for financial aid in March of 2008, by December of 2008, many were faced with $(X + N) (N= increased financial aid to enrolled students). I assume that $X was the sustainable share from the endowment for financial aid. I would assume that $(X + N) would not be sustainable over the long term, barring extraordinary donations from alums. So, the question is, are the schools now returning to $X? Or are they returning to a lower level? </p>
<p>It could be that schools are being very cautious about yield, and the overall FA obligation. I agree with D’Yer Maker, that some spots may open up with FA, if the schools were conservative in their estimates. Some spots may also open up for full-pay students, if some parents decide they can’t stretch the family budget.</p>
<p>Yes, the schools will have graduated out all the students who may have been “budget busters.” However, they are now operating on possibly lower “draws” from their endowment for the next couple of years as they most likely all go on a rolling 3-5 year average of the endowment principal. Most take 3-5%. Some policies do not have that % nailed down. So, if on the good years of averages they were taking 3 and on the not-so-good years they take 5, it could equal out. </p>
<p>So, back to the question…is it a trend that will turn around in a year or two maybe? Or it is more likely to stick?</p>
<p>I think the budget busters are also this year’s crop of existing parents who didn’t need FA in the past. Schools always anticipate a certain percentage of their population needing FA. Even with the forward averaging of endowment funds (that perhaps didn’t anticipate Mr. Toad’s wild ride in the stock market) it doesn’t anticipate that a parent who once was a Full Pay and donated substantial amounts to the annual fund might now need assistance. Even so - the schools are still reporting upwards of 50-70% full pay constituents so I think this year FP has an edge in an otherwise level playing field.</p>
<p>I think the trend will turn back around in 2-3 years when the current crop of students matriculates.</p>
<p>But I also think that until April 10th, it’s too early to tell. What appears to be happening is that boarding schools - some of whom filled to capacity - are being more conservative with yield and placing students who would have - last year - been accepted - on the waiting list. That just stretches out the agony. But I suspect we’ll see students stuck in limbo getting offers in a few weeks.</p>
<p>I also think - given previous year’s waitlist - more students are applying to a broader category of schools. It can not be discounted that the “human” response to having a applicant apply whose sibling is another school is to assume the sibling will enroll at said school. (Adcoms don’t share notes about who they are taking). Or – if FA is involved – to show preference for first-time families in order to spread the wealth.</p>
<p>One note - it’s not entirely fair to say students of means have more options at home or more choices. Here, the economy has decimated budgets of private schools and also public schools in well heeled neighborhoods. Parents are up in arms - can’t afford Private school tuition anymore, move students back to their home districts only to find those are being hit even harder. Budget cuts in the hundreds of millions of dollars to schools means teacher layoffs, etc. I have friends who are teacher who are in their third districts in five years facing layoffs for the third time because of budget cuts.</p>
<p>Where limited resources used to be a euphemism for “urban” it’s now spreading across the country in huge waves. So I think parents who would not have normally considered BS to be an option, are now flooding the applicant pool. To be honest - the elite options nearby aren’t viable options so one could say we were part of that mass exodus last year.</p>
<p>This has been a rough year compared to last year so I think 3 years max, we’ll see things level out.</p>
<p>Hope this isn’t too far off topic but please bear in mind that the wait list exists to help the school, not to help the student.</p>
<p>I see BS admission a “mini-me” of private college admission, and slightly delayed, only to make it predictable…</p>
<p>Agree, DAndrew, nice summary and I appreciate your level headedness and consistent request to stop the venom and unnecessary bashing.</p>
<p>To get back to the original point: I don’t remember so many waitlist limboed kids before. I remember in previous years hearing of kids who only applied to super- selective schools losing out, and the advice on the board was to apply more broadly the next year. This year, we see on this board well-qualified kids (at least as described by their loving parents :)) who did just that—applied to schools with a range of selectivity—but who still ended up with no options other than to wait. I am really hoping that the total number of applications increased more than the total number of applicants, so yield may be down a bit, and the patient wl kids will be rewarded.</p>
<p>In terms of trends and the reliance on the waitlist – which, as ops aptly points out, is a device that schools employ for their benefit – consider these anecdotes from the college admission realm:</p>
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</p>
<p>(She posted that a couple hours ago, as Oberlin is putting its decisions in the mail.)</p>
<p>Source: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12279196-post81.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/12279196-post81.html</a></p>
<p>And then, along those same lines, there’s this from Bowdoin:</p>
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</p>
<p>Source: [230</a> places taken in Class of 2015 after College accepts 45 in ED II - The Bowdoin Orient](<a href=“http://orient.bowdoin.edu/orient/article.php?date=2011-02-25§ion=1&id=5]230”>http://orient.bowdoin.edu/orient/article.php?date=2011-02-25§ion=1&id=5)</p>
<p>[Behind</a> The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR](<a href=“Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR”>Behind The Scenes: How Do You Get Into Amherst? : NPR)</p>
<p>This piece from NPR Morning Edition is a must listen to about college admissions and how the process works, at least at Amherst, but is instructive for those seeking boarding school admissions. Near the end the Dean of Admissions says </p>
<p>Mr. PARKER: There is going to come a point where it’s going to be very close to, you know, closing your eyes and doing that, because we’re exhausting the meaningful criteria to separate John from Mary. For that group, it’s effectively a lottery. It really is.</p>
<p>SMITH: Parker concedes it’s a disturbing notion to many high achievers, but in an odd way he hopes it may also be a kind of relief to kids to know that the decision is a little random and not a referendum on their worth. It’s kind of like that old break-up line: it’s not you, it’s me.</p>
<p>Mr. PARKER: Yes, indeed. There are years that it’s great to be a runner and there are years that it’s great to be a lacrosse player, and there are years that it’s great to play the piccolo and there are years that it’s great to play the piano. But the candidate doesn’t know that.</p>
<p>SMITH: Parker will spend most of the next month trying to reassure kids a rejection is not the end of the world.</p>
<p>The process is extremely subject. At the beginning they wl a young man with stellar academic credentials but he, and others they discuss, was “missing that je ne sais quoi.”</p>
<p>Nice! @D’yer Maker and @emdee</p>
<p>Your links in posts#94 and #95 should be posted to new threads and required reading at the start of the admissions cycles this fall.</p>
<p>There’s this really surprising sequence in the Amherst video that emdee linked to. Tom Parker, the Dean of Admissions is in the conference room with his deputies and assistants and there’s a candidate that he goes to bat for. He badly wants this applicant. But the others shoot him down, and they quickly move on to the next file. All he says at that point is that he thinks that decision was a mistake. And then on to the next file.</p>
<p>That was the Dean of Admissions. In the room. And even he didn’t have enough clout to get the applicant in. And let’s face it…if he wanted that applicant to be admitted, I’m pretty confident that that applicant was 100% qualified to be an Amherst student. For whatever reason that applicant just didn’t tickle the funny bones of the entire group.</p>
<p>It really is a crap shoot. And you can feel pretty good about things and even have your interviewer on your side…and it just depends on what side of the bed a bunch of strangers got up on that morning.</p>
<p>That reminds of the story of the traveling AO who confessed after getting food poisoning at the local diner he nixed every application from that town.</p>
<p>I’m fairly new to the world of BS. My daughter is a third year at a HADES school. She loves it. My son applied with similar qualifications and was w/l to most of the schools, even her’s.</p>
<p>Personally, I feel the high rate of applications of very qualified candidates is a function of the economy and the realization on the part of many parents/students to hold on to upper middle class status will require more than it did before. A college education is now required to merely enter the middle class. This puts a bottom up pressure on BS applications. They are seen as a significant leg-up in the increasingly competitive world.</p>
<p>Tigerdad,</p>
<p>Will your son reapply next year? Just curious, because we were a tad discouraged by son’s rejections and WL’s. Don’t see how his stats would change that much next year.</p>