I am very jealous of those lucky enough to have a placement director to help with the BS search and decision making. Our LPS has nothing of the kind. The HS guidance office is limited to handing out brochures for the local state schools and community colleges.
We have had to figure it all out on our own.
Kudos to us, @Korab1! We pioneered our way through this process, unassisted, and boy, how much have we learned…hopefully we will inspire others in our areas to do the same and look to us for guidance and break down the barriers and misguided notions our communities have regarding BS! And no matter what happens next week, we should be proud of the journey we’ve traveled and all we’ve accomplished to get to that point and be especially proud of our kids, who followed their hearts for something they truly wanted regardless of the naysayers surrounding them. Cheers!!!
@buuzn03 Cheers to you! I don’t know that we will be trailblazers for our region - time will tell in that regard - we will settle for having successfully negotiated the path and an acceptance at one or more of his schools.
Regardless of the outcome, the exercise has its benefits. I have definitely seen growth and focus and maturity in my son through this process. And the time I have been able to spend with him through the research, school visits and the application process has been enjoyable. He has opened my eyes to his budding perspective and maturity!
@Korab1 ditto!! And that in itself is a definite win! We are pulling for ya! Good luck!
@buuzn03 pulling for you as well! 7 more long days!
I am sorry. I am getting tired of waiting. My husband says we are not allowed to talk about the topic at all at this point. He is right but it is hard.
@sadieshadow Nah - don’t listen to him. Come over to the CC side. We have cookies!
@sadieshadow …your husband needs to talk to mine. He said he just wants this to be over so we gave a different topic to discuss. Lol. Luckily, maybe son left this morning for a French competition and my husband will be leaving early tomorrow to pick him up and go to their playoff games … I can talk about it all I want with whomever will listen!! (And most of those will be too polite to tell me to shut up) :))
Just got an email from Suffield saying that they have also had over 1000 applications for around 120 openings - yikes!
@sadieshadow and @buuzn03, I may be in your husbands’ camp. Last year I pulled out of CC for a few days around M10. I just couldn’t take everyone’s emotions and anxieties. It just gets too crazy at one point. It was better for me to focus on my kid, my family, and myself and celebrate or regret in private. But, you may find that CC companionship and camaraderie works better for you. Either way, do what it takes to remain sane in the next week! Good luck!
I think I would be in better shape were it not for the fiercely competitive admissions season we had back home for day schools. I always was a believer in N-8 schools and counseled everyone not to worry about having to apply to high school as an 8th grader–I stressed that your child will end up at the school right for him/her and I really believed that. Then–seeing the top student(s) (in particular boys) denied admission to top schools, I am a bit disheartened. My daughter graduated only 7 years ago and this was not the situation. This year may be an aberration locally but it is of concern. Yes there are alternative schools for the students who were denied admission to TT (“top tier”) schools and probably those might be all said perfect fits. I just feel badly that the choice wasn’t there and I can’t explain why other than that the numbers have gotten worse over time–more qualified applicants for the (?) same number of spots. Since day school decisions came out a few weeks ago I just have had too much time to build up anxiety.
I don’t think kids at our school have heard from LDSs; they may all stick to the M10 schedule around here. It sounds like the kids are not talking about school decisions at all at school. I mentioned to DS this morning about deciding how he wants to handle next Friday (such as can we open emails/check portals while he is at school), since I didn’t want to bring this up next week, and now I’m trying to resist bringing it up AT ALL. The weekend will go fast, and then it’s really 4 more days. I’m trying to fill my time to avoid any mental down time. I’ll try to stay away from this board next week but will not be successful.
@sadieshadow , I was a bit disheartened that my top student was denied to “TT” and it lasted for many months. But now both I and DD consider that her “alternative” BS a perfect fit! One thing that is never short at her school is academic challenges. In practical senses, she is enjoying “being academically strong” and will enjoy better college admission chance later.
So sculptordad. With decades of experience as an adolescent psychiatrist in this go big (read TT) or go home culture I agree 100 percent. A major reason we chose bs was what we perceived as the special opportunity to thread the needle and find an academically rigorous and developmentally appropriate school culture. My son is at the top of his class and we did NOT apply to one Hades school. We just knew that was not our or his scene!
Bloom Where You’re Planted is what I tell my girls. There are so many considerations that go into Admissions, only a small part is top grades and standardized scores. The schools are building a class, and they are building a diverse community. Whichever opportunity comes your way, embrace it. Students make the school not the other way around.
@sadieshadow – one of the differences today vs 7 years ago is the economy. My son was at a private school that had been around for 77 years. It went under 8 years ago. We had about 10+ parents that made 7 digit incomes in 2006 and 2007 but when 2008 - 2009 hit they could not bale out the school. We had tons of layoff where I worked. I had friends in 2009 and 2010 that both husband and wife were out of work.
The population that can send their child to BS is doing very well. The market is up almost 400% in 9 years. That is pretty dramatic
I agree with @preppedparent’s advice, and I think that schools are pretty good at knowing what kind of soil they have and what plants will thrive and bloom there. It also sounds to me like @sadieshadow , without knowing all the details, you’ve been very intentional in finding the right “garden”.
In the midst of M10 anxiety, a few of us around here are elated to get our kids back for Spring Break! :D/ Momentous times either way!!! 
I picked my kid up on Thursday-- so happy to have her home – and she leaves tomorrow morning – Westover’s vocal ensembles and the handbell ensemble are headed to Italy for a 12 day concert tour, performing in some glorious places. She’ll be gone most of spring break, but I can’t help but celebrate, because-- my goodness, a few years ago I could never have predicted my girl having such incredible opportunities and experiences! For any of you who are second-guessing yourselves about this whole idea as you await decisions: BS was the best choice we ever made.
My fingers are crossed for all of you anxious parents to receive good news on Friday! Do some deep breathing now and then… it really does help! 
Thank you @GoatMama & @cameo43 … I think this forum gets my angst out so I can talk about “normal” things at home with my family. I know DS will end up where he should and everything works out for a reason. I think knowing the anxiety and laying awake wondering if I killed my kid’s chances with the way I may have answered an interview question ( 8-| ) are normal. This makes these feelings easier to deal with somehow. Wherever we end up, I know it’s meant to be and is just a small stretch of our incredible life journey. Good luck to everyone waiting! I hope you are able to find peace…or at least good wine in the next few days!