<p>
</p>
<p>newyorker22 (or someone else who is an adcom or a consultant), do you have an answer for me?</p>
<p>We visited many schools and chose to apply to a wide variety of schools because we were looking for FA as well. Our son preferred the small schools to the large and in the end we did get a few offers despite the economy…
Someone mentioned Lawrence. Our son is a good student and we did not find the program challenging and too many day students for my sons liking. As for Brooks, we found it was good for science but not necessarily for other programs. I must say though that almost all the schools, whether those often mentioned like Exeter and Groton, or those less mentioned like SMS and Middlesex, all had something to offer. I know it gets said again and again but finding the right fit is important. In the end for our son it was SMS for the great atmosphere (happy students) and the academics (all the teachers we met were fantastic). Friends at Taft are happy so that is another one to look at…</p>
<p>cdnhockeymom, AndoverWarrior6 mentioned in an earlier post that he was accepted by Middlesex and Groton with FA but waitlisted by Brooks and Governors. It sounds like your experience was different. Did Brooks and Lawrence offer you as competitive FA pakages as schools like Groton and Middlesex?</p>
<p>What about Loomis, along with Choate? Though there are many day students, it is a larger school, so number of boarders is good and there is a lot going on. I am not so sure about some such Holderness, Lawrence, Tabor offering enough academically and in the school environment for your son. It sounds like he is academically qualified for the top schools, but you are being realistic that he may not be lucky enough to get in. At any school, you want to make sure the “academic” kids aren’t all day students or international, which can be tricky before he is actually admitted.</p>
<p>Just to add to the discussion. I went through this two years ago with my daughter. We were advised at that time to apply to ten schools. She ended up applying to eight. Was accepted to three with full financial aid, waitlisted at two, and rejected at three. Here’s the list. It shows that there is no such thing as a safety school.</p>
<p>Exeter - accepted (attends)
Lawrenceville - accepted
Hotchkiss - accepted </p>
<p>Andover - waitlisted
Groton - waitlisted</p>
<p>Deerfield - I don’t remember but I think she was rejected, not waitlisted
Choate - rejected
St. Paul’s - rejected</p>
<p>Based on my daughter’s experience I would never, ever suggest Choate as a safety. I agree with someone else earlier on this thread who said if you can apply to twenty, do so. I have another daughter applying to college this year, also needing financial aid, and her list has twenty colleges on it. Don’t even ask how we’re going to pay the application fees. (BTW: Boarding schools will waive the fees if you ask.)</p>
<p>Maybe the other schools just knew she was Exeter bound and thus didn’t want to disrupt their matriculation percentages by admitting her. </p>
<p>One of my friends from school is currently attending Princeton. During her admissions process she got into every single school except George Washington (rejected)…go figure.</p>
<p>UPDATE</p>
<p>We have finalized the list of schools that he will visit. Appointments are set and rooms booked. It’s twelve. That’s it…no more! I don’t think he can actually apply to all of them, even with fee waivers, not unless he started essays today. I think we have a good mix of schools and he would be honored to attend any of them. </p>
<p>NONE of these schools are “safeties.” He’ll do his best to present himself honestly and we’ll let the admissions committees determine which are matches and which are willing to give him such a gift.</p>
<p>PM me for “the list.”</p>
<p>I’m in league with PhotoOp. The more, the merrier. The more BS’s to which you apply, the greater the chance you’ll be accepted to one you like.</p>
<p>Needless to say, only apply to schools you would attend if accepted. Some, of course, you will like better than others. Still, don’t fall in love with any of them …other than the school which extends you an offer that you accept. </p>
<p>The drill here is sort of like courting before marriage. Dance with as many as you can. Look 'em all over, hug as many as you want, but love only that one who first proposes to you and whose proposal you accept. Falling in love with a school that doesn’t love you in return will bring you nothing but heartache and will be one big fat waste of time.</p>
<p>If you apply to alot of schools you could always use the common application on TABS website.</p>
<p>I know you already have your list of schools, but have you considered Westminster? If you liked Groton you might want to take a look at Westminster. Similar in size and values. My son applied to both Westminster and Groton as well as a few others. Westminster might be slightly less competitive.</p>
<p>As you do your school visits, your son’s preferences may emerge. He may develop a preference for a large or small school. For some boys, wearing a coat and tie becomes unappealing. He may prefer to go to a school without religious requirements. Anyway, bring along your maps and guidebooks in case strong preferences emerge. You might as well cancel schools that don’t meet the profile if he feels strongly, but then add a few that do meet the profile.</p>
<p>Most essays questions are similar or identical. It is likely that he can cover his essays with 4 or fewer.</p>