<p>We are starting later than most in this process because BS was not previously being considered for DD. I found BS a review site and thank God CC, but I am overwhelmed by the number of schools available and the many things each one has to offer. Prestige names would be icing on the cake but what I need is a great education for my child in a place that she loves and a school that is FA friendly to HI families with college tuition commitments for 2 others starting 13/14. My DD SSAT results will most likely be <85% but she usually gets A's (and 2 B+). She has been doing community service for more than 3 yrs, is involved in a fair amount of EC including a less popular sport. So far, we have seen two schools and plan to visit about 5 more. Which ones would be realistic choices for her. I don't mind applying to a few more even if I have not seen them. She really want to go and I don’t want her to end up with all disappointments M10 because I failed to plan realistically.</p>
<p>Take a look at this thread
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1130908-hidden-gems-lesser-known-prep-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1130908-hidden-gems-lesser-known-prep-schools.html</a></p>
<p>and search for “prep schools with good financial aid” threads</p>
<p>Thank you so much</p>
<p>Our story from two years ago…may be worth reading for initial list of “to consider” schools vs. “to apply” list.</p>
<p>The tricky part for you guys at this late hour is squeezing interviews in. May want to consider schools with rolling deadlines…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/1174214-one-family-s-bs-search-application-process-start-finish.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-parents/1174214-one-family-s-bs-search-application-process-start-finish.html</a></p>
<p>Yes, you can see which schools have rolling deadlines by consulting Boarding School Review. Another option, if it is realistic for you, would be to work with an educational consultant - a good one can save you much time. They may also be best able to help you with how to handle getting interviews this late in the process. Good luck to you and your DD. I know most schools will be a long flight from you, but visits are essential.</p>
<p>Re: rolling admission, don’t I have to apply by Jan 15 to qualify for FA? I was put in contact with a consultant, just hoping they can help us.</p>
<p>Great book called “Secondary Schools” I believe, by Petersons, gives you a great list of all secondary schools and all these greats stats about them. Available at Barnes and Nobke and on the Petersons website I believe.</p>
<p>@Danlincou,
At the risk of overly stressing yourself out to make the deadlines, is it URGENT for your daughter to start BS this fall? Does she have a good fall-back option for school if it does not work out for this fall? It’s late in the game, but still very do-able. Our family didn’t start until after Xmas because of short-notice job move. DS made the application deadlines, but it was VERY VERY stressful.</p>
<p>@2kidsnoanswers,
I initially read “HI” as “Hawaii”, but now I think the OP means “high income”</p>
<p>Danlicou, most schools look at the whole picture. As with the FAFSA (for those familiar with the college FA process), the PFS has space to list other tuition-paying situations. Once you narrow down your choices a bit, clicking around on many of the schools’ websites’ FA sections will often bring you to a calculator or a chart with income distributions. You’ll see they tend to list family size… and they are only guidelines, averages or examples of recent years, so… YMMV</p>
<p>@GMT - LOL, yes, you are right - I too read “HI” and immediately started thinking of Hawaii. </p>
<p>@Danlincou, as you are working with a consultant, I am sure they can answer these sorts of questions and, more to the point, steer you to the best list of schools for your particular situation and DC. GMT has a good point, though, in thinking broadly if there are other acceptable paths besides boarding school next fall.</p>
<p>Yes I did mean high income, not Hawaii. I just contacted, but have not heard from the consultant yet. We have not selected any options as DD has her sights on BS and the day schools are clearly out of our price range. If this doesn’t workout we’ll leave her at the local HS and go thru the process again next year. My concerns are that some of the good matches did not show high financial award averages. Overall I need to do my best to keep the stress down as a great portion of it is happening during the holidays.</p>
<p>Take everything with a grain of salt. I, too, considered average FA award when selecting schools, but because a certain school was so appealing to my D, I let her apply even though the average award was about half of the most generous schools. I even kept prepping her to be prepared to not be able to go because of insufficient funds.</p>
<p>In the end, that school, whose endowment is a tiny fraction of the big names, gave her a most generous FA package, far above their average (she needed almost a full ride).</p>
<p>Another school which advertises their “commitment” to providing funds for every admitted student and has an endowment many times over the first school, admitted her but put her on a FA wait list. </p>
<p>So you just never know how the statistics are going to shake down in your particular case. Some schools give public access to their FA breakdown, so you can check out the income spread and sometimes even the average award for different income brackets. Just take it all with a grain of salt and apply to schools with a variety of characteristics and statistics.</p>
<p>Another thing, when you find a school that your D really gets excited about, it will increase the possibility of a good FA package. I really think that’s what happened with my D, she loved everything about that school and I’m sure it came through in her interview. She didn’t have to fudge or think creatively when asked what her first choice was or whether she was sure she wanted to go there.</p>
<p>Having a “hook” that matches a particular school can only help too.</p>