<p>If Loomis didn't have as many students, their acceptance rate would probably be significantly lower, IMO.</p>
<p>yes, that is why many schools do not want to increase the size. It is very difficult to maintain competitiveness with a big size unless they are top schools like Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, SPS. I am afraid that loomis will be another case of NMH. NMH acceptance rate is over 50% and they accept students year round without deadline. Groton, Middlesex, St. Mark's, Concord, St. Andrew's strategy is to keep the school small and competitive.</p>
<p>erkybk - I was going to ignore your comments, but since they are incorrect and misleading, I couldn't resist responding. It is ridiculous to judge a school on it's acceptance rate. In the real world (not on CC) alot of kids go to BS where they are looking for fit and NOT trying to get into a super selective school. We know people who have gone to Gunnery, Berkshire and Cheshire (to name a few). They are/have received fabulous educations and experiences. Believe it or not, they too can get into Ivies and top LaC's.</p>
<p>Your information about NMH is incorrect. In fact, there were people on this board that were waitlisted this past year and someone posted recently that when they called the school: they were told that there were no openings. </p>
<p>Your pompous, superior attitude is unkind and uncalled for. Do not belittle people who have made a different choice. Loomis is a great school with a great reputation as are a lot of other schools with highr admittance rates.</p>
<p>If I could just make a snarky comment here- after following these boards for a couple of years, I find that these "rankings" are often made up by young students who probably wouldn't have a shot at the "Top 10" on their own lists! My family's personal experience with Loomis Chaffee is that the honors and AP classes there are unbelievably rigorous and demanding. Even more so than at other more "prestigious" schools.</p>
<p>Yeah, I was the one who called about openings for NMH lol.</p>
<p>Warriorboy648, be lighter on erkybk. We all tend to look at the numbers and figures instead of seeing the real truth. Erkybk, warriorboy648 does have a point. Acceptance rates mean nothing whatsoever.</p>
<p>bumping. i need all info i can get</p>
<p>Agree with Biohelpmom. </p>
<p>Ranking is a number, acceptance rate is another number, SSAT, SAT, GPA... they are all numbers. Which is the most important ? Or you just judge the school by number ?</p>
<p>erky...Just saw this post. NMH's acceptance rate this year (while still much higher than Loomis') was in the mid 40's. They sometimes still have openings because they are selective and turn kids away even if it means they will not fill all of their openings. While they are not as prestigious (and I believe this has a lot to do with finances, age of the school, and the population they admitted in the early days when the "elite" schools only admitted wealthy white families...which affects current finances), their curriculum is every bit as rigorous and the education is top-notch. One of my son's friends was admitted to Loomis and NMH, but chose NMH simply because he and his family liked it better.</p>
<p>
[quote]
but chose NMH simply because he and his family liked it better.
[/quote]
This brings up a key point, IMO -- how does the school "feel" to you? Can you picture yourself there? All the mountains of data and statistics notwithstanding, you've got to visit if at all possible and check it our for yourself. What may be the top "ranked" school may, or may not be, the best place for you. Numbers aren't everything!</p>
<p>Every schools are different.
Why you want to go to BS?
What kind of person you are?
What kind of person you want to be?
What kind of person you want live with for the next four years?
What you want to learn from BS?
Or, simply just want more chance into Ivies?</p>
<p>These were the questions I asked my son before he make decision. I'm not 100% sure if the decision was correct or not, but so far, seems he is on the right track. I'm happy about that.</p>
<p>Ranking is only for reference !</p>
<p>I've interviewed there already. Honestly, as someone who was there all day, I can tell you that it's not as nice as your mind may have it. The classes are kind of large compared to others, and they showed us their NEW dorms and NEW classrooms. I've seen nicer buildings at schools that were 60 years old! Seriously, you have got to see their NEW science building to understand what I mean. Also, there is no dress code, which I dislike. I saw some students that looked like they just got out of bed wearing what they had on. Their college matriculation data isn't super impressive either. And, my final complaint for this school, the day population is much to high. </p>
<p>Really, get a look before you go on about how great it is. I'm not like a prep school expert or anything, but let me tell you, LC is nothing to get all excited about.</p>
<p>Actually I heard the same thing......</p>
<p>Oh dear... I can't decide whether or not I should seriously be considering it or not. Does anybody else have any input?</p>
<p>Honestly -- you need to do the research, visit the school, and make up your own mind! Loomis may be a good fit for you, or it may not. The same can be said of every other BS. It doesn't make any sense to judge a place on the reactions of someone else.</p>
<p>As a current senior at Loomis, I can tell you all that this place is truly amazing.</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure that those statistics from boarding school review that someone quoted earlier are quite outdated. The day student percentage is closer to 35% and is getting lower, the acceptance rate is also getting lower each year, the average class size is around 12 and I'm certain the average SSAT is higher.</p>
<p>Our brilliant new head of school, Dr. Sheila Culbert from Dartmouth, has a very passionate desire to improve every aspect of Loomis. I predict that with her drive we will see considerable leaps for our school over the next few years. She is truly a very strong asset for Loomis' future.</p>
<p>To Musicallylatin, our music program is very strong and gets better and better every year. We are actually in the process of building a brand new amazing music and performing arts center that will open in a year or two. Do you have any specific questions regarding music groups/courses/requirements?</p>
<p>To bs_hopeful, I get the feeling that you may have seen the school in the worst of circumstances--bad weather and timing, happened to see only the very few large classes we have, saw students during a spirit day or after staying up late to complete an assignment, etc.--but if Loomis is not the school for you, I respect your decision. I'm sure many applicants may have felt the exact opposite thing after visiting Loomis.</p>
<p>If anyone wants to get a good feel for the school, I would recommend touring and revisiting. It's really the best way to decide whether or not you can see yourself at a school for the next few years.</p>
<p>Again, if anyone has specific questions, feel free to ask me!</p>
<p>LCPelican -- While Loomis is a wonderful school, a quick look at the Loomis website <a href="https://www.loomischaffee.org/podium/default.aspx?t=43518&rc=1%5B/url%5D">https://www.loomischaffee.org/podium/default.aspx?t=43518&rc=1</a> confirms boardingschoolreview numbers for SAT averages of 1710-2100 for the 25-75% range. The 78% SSAT average on boardingschoolreview seems in line with this SAT range. According to the Loomis website, the school is 55% boarding and 45% day (400 boarders, 325 day students and 725 in total). If the numbers Loomis places on its website are incorrect, you might want to let the school know.</p>
<p>I apologize for the mistake but the numbers do not speak volumes about the quality of Loomis and our unique character.</p>
<p>With regards to the boarder/day issue, many students here see our composition as an asset rather than a disadvantage. During the school day we have all the advantages of a 'big' school but when dusk falls we still maintain a very tight smaller community of boarding students. We can draw from the resources of students living anywhere from West Hartford, CT to Wellington, New Zealand. Day students also usually stay late after school and sleep over in the rooms of boarders. </p>
<p>Boarders do not lose anything from having a notable day student population; we still offer an incredible boarding experience. The same website you referenced said that our residential faculty-to-student ratio is 4:1, which is lower than the ratio at many of our peer schools. I could regale hundreds of amazing moments of dorm life throughout my past few years at Loomis.</p>
<p>PLEASE keep in mind when considering ANY school that image is not everything. I chose Loomis over schools such as Hotchkiss and Taft because it was right for me. For example, there is a fantastic support system that makes it virtually impossible for anyone to "fall through the cracks" academically, socially, etc. Sure, our dress code may be less strict (you cannot wear anything with hoods, sweats/ sweatshirt-material, denim, and boys have to wear collared shirts), but it does not mean that you are going to get a lower-level education, or a workload lacking rigor... </p>
<p>The point I'm trying to get at is when you are looking at schools, try to look beyond the name, endowment, and/or how many generations of people in your family have gone there... Imagine yourself there, and if you think you would be truly happy there even if the school didn't have a name like "Exeter" or "Andover". The same goes for athletics. A school could have an amazing hockey program, but everything else about it may be wrong for you. Would you still be happy if you broke your arm or tore a ligament and couldn't play anything for the whole school year?</p>
<p>Great post LoomisStudent002. That's exactly what a lot of us parents say on here a lot. Name is not everything and I like your idea of taking it away - is it still the right place for you? That's what's important.</p>
<p>How big of a workload is there at Loomis? While I do want to be challenged, I also want a social life too.</p>