@siv, a couple of thoughts… if you don’t feel like your current school is a great fit for him, getting a scholarship isn’t going to make it a better fit. It might save you money if you don’t have other options, so if this is your concern, you may want to apply. And note when you would have to accept. (Day schools are often on an earlier cycle than BS, which is its own mess!)
It doesn’t sound like you are in a situation where you are deciding between a full scholarship and full pay. If you need $10,000 a year to make it work, apply for that. Most schools strive to have kids across the economic spectrum. It creates an awkward community when everyone is either well enough off to write that check or can’t afford it at all.
If you need $10,000 so that you don’t have to give up the country club membership, well that’s a different story. Donors aren’t funding scholarships for that reason. But they do want the school filled with kids who are going to make the most of the experience and realize it’s not all or nothing.
The fact that you can contribute something meaningful and are willing to do so matters. If you are really confused about this, you can raise it with the AO.
My very mature kid, who was turning 14 the summer before 9th grade, was waitlisted at every BS he applied to and it was suggested they reapply as a repeat 9th grader. They’re now thriving at a HADES school as a 16 year old 10th grader. Even though they have always been mature, it was amazing the difference that year made and I give credit to the AOs for realizing this.
Because of this experience, our younger kid who also has a summer BD is currently attending 9th grade at our LPS and applying as a repeat 9th grader for next year.
I agree with what you say, even if DS is given scholarship at current school what we want is different. What he needs is more academic challenge, more growth opportunity, something his current school slightly/maybe lacking.
He applied for 9th grade and was waitlisted, so he stayed home for a year and reapplied a year later to repeat 9th grade at which point he was admitted.
Another thought on age and grade to consider is that where you come from, do students typically start school at age 5 in grade 1? This is one way I see a child of your son’s age being in what you would consider grade 10 at such a young age. In the US they typically start at age 5 in Kindergarten then are in grade 1 at the age of 6 which leads the 14yo to be in grade 9 and not grade 10. Basically what I am saying is your grade 10 and our grade 10 may not actually be equivalent.
My son was a bit early going into kindergarten at the time because he was bored at home, we took him for evaluation and the admission thought he was “ready” for school. He is now in IB curriculum and is doing well. The reason why we think he is a good candidate for BS is that he’s doing well, the school is a great place but teachers keep changing(yes they also have great credentials) but we feel there’s more out there he can dig deeper if you know what I mean. I’ve been thinking maybe I should email each school on my list about this age requirement. Still thinking … and going through interviews.
Our plan is to keep going and see where he ends up, he has the current school as back up.
It’s definitely a good idea to check in with the schools. Perhaps there are some opportunities (though I think you’re not in the US) to attend some on site visits/tours. Perhaps when arranging them it could be ask to see if your son could meet with a group of 9th graders who would be his peers. Possibly even a zoom panel if visits aren’t possible. Getting a feel for age difference and maturity at that point might help. Remember it isn’t just your son trying to bridge the age gap but you have to figure out, can his peers relate to a kid 2 years younger than they are, too?
I went to PS and was a year and a half ahead of my classmates though most would never know it except my closest friends and even to this day people I meet think I’m younger than I actually am. Now my DS has always been tall and has had a deep voice. He participates in a sport at a level with kids 4-5 years older than he is and many adults have thought he is 4-5 years older than he is…until he does some completely “hair-brained-whatever” which actually shows his REAL age. So yes, these kids really can assimilate with the older more mature kids, BUT there are times to realize that they are the age they are and developmentally may be completely different at times, too. As we get older those age gaps get smaller but these guys are still very much children so even 2 years can make a world of difference even if they can act more mature in certain situations.
Your son is young and will be one of the youngest in 10th. There will be 19 year olds, even 20 year old post grads. Repeating a year actually would increase chances of getting in, as there are more spots for 9th grade. My daughter is at one on your list. She went as a repeat Junior. Was always one of the younger ones with a summer birthday. She loves being an older one now. If I remember correctly, the financial aid form has a spot where it asks you how much you think you can contribute. If you need a small amount to make it work I don’t think that would hurt the application. Good luck.