Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Now that we've all gotten our results, is there anything you would have done differently? Apply to more schools? Not ask for Financial Aid? Start the process earlier? Interviewed better? Worked harder on application essays? </p>

<p>Can you guess the reasons why you were either accepted, waitlisted, or rejected?</p>

<p>I hope you will all reply--I think this will be a huge help to the kids applying next year!</p>

<p>I'll start. I wish I had applied to schools in WARMER places, like California. I am dreading leaving the sun and having months of dreary, gray days! I think the only reason why I was accepted is because of my interviews and recommendations. I don't have the stats the rest of you guys do, and I needed a lot of financial aid. I got waitlisted at Taft cuz of financial aid, but accepted at Lawrenceville, Blair, and Miss Porters.</p>

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<p>I would have applied to more schools that I really, really liked and not have gotten my hopes set on one school which ended up not working out.</p>

3

<p>I would have applied to Groton. It's a great school, and only learned about it's greatness after application deadlines, lol. I suggest to new aplicants to not limit themselves and to do serious research about all schools. And to keep your mind open to new possibilities, I had heard of Groton but never bothered to look into it.</p>

4

<p>I wouldn't have changed anything about my application process. I visited 7 schools, and only came out only REALLY liking two. Even though I was told to apply to more schools, including "safety" schools, by a secondary school advisor, i ignored this information and applied to the two schools i wanted to go to. I put a lot of effort in and studied hard for the SSATs. Even though my school was worried about my rejection, and so was everyone else, I just said whatever happens happens, I'm only applying to two. (my school is a junior boarding school and ends in 9th grade so) I got accepted to both, and since I really liked them both I didn't waste money on application fees nor was making a decision difficult.</p>

5

<p>I only applied to two schools as well. I think the only thing I might have done differently was prepare for my interviews a little more than I did..they turned out fine but I think that if I had prepared more, I would have been less nervous. For next year's students I would advise them to keep an open mind until you visit the school - you never really know what a school is like until you spend some time there!</p>

6

<p>I only applied to the two schools which I loved. I did everything the way I wanted. I worked hard on my essays, studied for my SSAT's, the intrview went well. I ended up accepted to Choice One with the aid I needed and waitlisted at Choice 2 because of FA.</p>

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<p>Top schools are always good. But it will be wise to consider the confidence level after entering the schools. If
I am not shiny as much as I have been in those top schools, it may not do any good for my college entrance due to not an excellent GPA, recom letters, and so forth. That is what my parents told me. They recommend a school that is not a really big shot but still reasonably good reputation. I did not like the idea, but I like that idea now because I do not have choice. I am waitlisted in those top schools, and I have to go to a different school from my first choice.
That is how I try to be satisfied with the reality.
If you can be a top student in the top school, that is good.
Otherwise, I'd better be a best student in the school that is reasonable good but not a top ranked school.</p>

8

<p>i wouldn't have applied to groton.
as a day student, i didn't know the
chances of me getting in were so
slim, and the eighth grade class is
big anyway. not that i don't like
the school, its just that its size
was probably why i was rejected.</p>

9

<p>The success really depends on luck! I had bad-lucks because a starnge people who are not nice and not friendly
interviewed me while much nicer and friendly people interview other students. Probably, that is why I am waitlisted in Groton and Andover. I got admitted from those schools that I interviewed with nice people.</p>

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<p>Can we get this made IMPORTANT and everything? It will be very helpful to next years applicants.</p>

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<p>Really work hard on your essays.
Study for the SSAT. MOst public Libraries have books on what to expect. (This really helped me)
Be prepared for the interview. Practice answering potential questions.
Dress appropriately and BE ON TIME! Being late shows irresponsibility.</p>

12

<p>I probably would've applied to more schools, actual safeties, or day schools.
Then I would've actually studied for the SSAT's. (More than that practice book they give)
And I'd visit more schools. I saw three, applied to two.</p>

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<p>I'm thinking there was a similar thread last year, I just can't find it...
I'm going to keep searching.</p>

14

<p>i would say i would have spent more time reviewing my essays and not gotten my hopes up too much for very competetive schools because that made rejection a lot harder. also make sure you are prepared well before the interviews.</p>

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<p>Another note... I'd actually make sure I knew which essays were which. (Actually, which anything was for which school.) </p>

<p>And I wouldn't leave my applications for so late. They were postmarked the last day they could be postmarked.</p>

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<p>yes, this reminds me, START EARLY! Never say, "Oh, I have plenty of time, " because time flies! Start everything as soon as possible! You can't imagine how tedious it was to write all 5 essays all in one night in addition to a ton of school homework!</p>

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<p>Linda, I think you may be referring to this thread:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/345048-advice-incoming-boarding-school-applicants.html?%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/345048-advice-incoming-boarding-school-applicants.html?&lt;/a> </p>

<p>I hope more kids respond to this thread--all of this is valuable information for next year's candidates!</p>

18

<p>hmm, let's see. I mean, I was ultimately really happy with the results of this process but there were definitely a lot of things I would've done differently.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Do more research about the schools early on. I wasted SO much time doing a whole application for SPS only to go to my interview and have them tell me
that unless I applied down a grade (something I just wasn't going to do) I pretty much had 0 chance of getting accepted as a new 11th grader since they only had about 3 girl spots and they liked to give them to local kids from the public high school. I also didn't look at too many schools, which ended up being ok, but like maybe I missed something I could've loved?</p></li>
<li><p>That leads to scheduling your tours/interviews early. My earliest interview/tours were the second week in December, my latest was less than 10 days from when the applications were due (and thus after I had written all the essays/gotten all the recommendations...such a waste of time for sps!). I mean, those were the earliest I could get by the time I convinced my parents I really was serious about applying, but going earlier and thus having a better understanding for/more time for my essays would've been SO helpful.</p></li>
<li><p>NEVER HAVE INTERVIEWS REALLY EARLY IN THE MORNING!! I had to wake up at like 5:30am to get to one of my interviews and it was just a bad situation, I wasn't awake enough to properly function and it was clearly my worst interview of the 3 I did. Also, most schools set this up already, but definitely have the tour before the interview it gets you more relaxed and supplies you with good questions to ask and/or things to talk about with your interviewer.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>However, despite these regrets I also think there were definitely things I did right:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>The number one thing that I am the most grateful of is the fact that I didn't tell (and still haven't made an official announcement) anyone that I was applying out. This has always given me the option of staying at my current school and is really allowing me to make my own choice. I don't have to tell anyone where I got rejected/accepted. And if I decide not to go there won't be any rumors (like "she didn't really get in, so she HAD to stay") or any hurt feelings. It's made for a much more relaxed process in the long run.</p></li>
<li><p>I only applied to 3 schools and I didn't consider any of them "safetys". All the schools I was applying to I would be 100% happy to attend. I mean, of course I had the added benefit of already going to a really wonderful school so it wouldn't have been too big of a deal if I didn't get in anywhere, but I honestly think applying to less schools is a good thing. I don't know if you've noticed a lot of times when kids apply to a bunch of schools with one as a clear "favorite" they only get into that school, because its clear that they WANT to be there. If you don't really WANT to be at a school, don't apply there. It'll only take away from the time and effort you're able to put into your other applications.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't stress! I mean, of course study for the SSATs and whatnot, but like don't try to memorize interview questions or develop a "hook" just to get into boarding school. I mean, be yourself! If you pretend to be someone you're not, even if you do get in to the school, "you" didn't really get in, the person you're pretending to be did. And while "they" might be happy there, "you" might not. Boarding school isn't the only thing there is in life. I know plenty of people who've transfered out of boarding school into regular old public school and love it there WAY more than they ever loved boarding school. Keeping everything in perspective is the most important thing.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Anyways, congratulations to everyone who got in! Best of luck to those who decide to reapply next year! I know at my current prep school at least, there are a bunch of kids who got in on their second year applying, it shows that perseverance, dedication, commitment and the fact that you really WANT to be there. Best of luck to everyone!</p>

19

<p>First, I will apply more schools and try more top schools such as choate, groton, deerfield .....</p>

<p>Second, I will still apply for safety schools but save my energy and time, just use common application forms for safety schools and spend more time focus on the essay for top schools.</p>

<p>Third, open my eyes, look at other schools maybe not in NE or not so famous. </p>

<p>Last, spend more time with my recommendations. Talk with my teachers and let them know how and why I consider about BS.</p>

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<p>PS: one more, my parents said they will re-consider about FA. They said they might made some mistakes.</p>