<p>Some of the information on boardingschoolreview is incorrect. Before you dismiss a school based on info from that website, you would be wise to check <a href="http://www.petersons.com%5B/url%5D">www.petersons.com</a> or contact the school. As it turns out, according to pertersons, the admit rate is 20% <a href="http://www.petersons.com/pschools/code/instVC.asp?inunid=668&sponsor=1%5B/url%5D">http://www.petersons.com/pschools/code/instVC.asp?inunid=668&sponsor=1</a></p>
<p>goaliedad:
Oops! I wrote the wrong thing. Actually I was asking the opposite. I was saying that Culver seems to have a much lower acceptance rate than the other schools hsmomstef gave websites to and wanted to know if there was something about admissions that made it equal to them. Either way, you answered the question lol. :]</p>
<p>I'm confused as to which websites to rely on...boardingschoolreview, petersons and schools.com all have different info. From what I've seen schools.com has the most correct info as far as tuition and stuff like that. Petersons states the acceptance rate as 20% while bsr has it at around 49 I believe...which seems to be most accurate?</p>
<p>I wanted to add that while you are correct about me being an easterner, I'm not sure where I'm from makes me more interested in bs; I once was discussing boarding schools with a friend in class and another student asked if it was the same place dogs were sent to train LOL</p>
<p>I know I have a lot of questions(sorry!) but since you all seem to know your stuff...does anyone have any helpful information/opinions on Dunn School?</p>
<p>I can't tell you which is a better indicator of statistics. BSR's are self-reported by the school. I cannot tell you how Peterson's determines their number. In any case, don't look at it like a "random chance" kind of thing. </p>
<p>The important question for any school - Do I fit the profile of what this school is looking for? If you do, you will be happy there and they will be more likely to accept you.</p>
<p>A little more from Culver's website:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Culver is a rigorous coeducational, college preparatory, boarding school. To be admitted, students need to have a demonstrated record of achievement that causes the admissions committee to be fairly certain they can be successful in our environment. Routinely, our students test in the 80th percentile or higher, are academically stable at their present school, are making essentially A's and B's, and do not have behavioral or discipline issues. </p>
<pre><code> Culver selects students who are capable of superior academic achievement in a competitive college preparatory, boarding school environment.
In this regard, Culver considers, among other things, evaluations from teachers, administrators, counselors and others, past record of behavior in academic and social settings, and interviews. As a result, Culver also evaluates, results of Culver entrance examination or other approved standardized tests, communication skills, and writing samples.
In addition, those students who display the necessary academic ability must manifest mature, responsible and self-disciplined behavior indicative of the ability to live independently in a competitive college preparatory, boarding school environment. In this regard, Culver considers, among other things, evaluations from teachers, administrators, counselors and others, past record of behavior in academic and social settings, and interviews.
</code></pre>
<p>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Note that nowhere in that section did they mention extracurriculars. It did give a general target for your academic performance, if that helps.</p>
<p>It is a different school from the others hsmomstef mentioned, so you need to look at the sites carefully and consider what is important to you and what type of environment feels right to you. So far, none of us here know enough about you to really help you much in making that call.</p>
<p>BTW, the girls side (traditonal prefect structure) of Culver is different from the boys side (military) althoug the educational part of the day is coed. I am guessing from the nature of your posts so far that you are a girl? (please don't be offended if I am wrong)</p>
<p>Yes, I'm a girl. When i first looked at Culver and saw military my thoughts were "no way!" but I do now understand that doesn't apply to the girls part lol. I will certainly start looking at this school more and have already asked to be sent more information</p>
<p>Wow, I just looked it up on mapquest and I better be sure of this school before I decide to apply/interview/visit/whatever as it is about a 15 hour drive =P unfortunatly this will be true for most schools</p>
<p>One other note about Culver that you should be aware of. They are a rolling admissions school and they do admit earlier in the year than traditional boarding schools. However, from anecdotal stories, I've heard that the FA offer can lag the admissions offer by a bit and they are still dealing with some FA cases later in the year than some other competitive boarding schools. I think this is more about the fact that they don't see themselves in the same competitive market as New England schools, so they operate on a different schedule (hence rolling admissions).</p>
<p>This is not unusual for boarding schools outside of the northeast and NY NJ PA areas. I also know Gilmour in Cleveland works the same way (not a school that should be on your list as their FA is not as available).</p>
<p>Going back to another item you mentioned, your psychologist suggested that boarding school may be a good thing for you. Are your parents on board with this idea? How do they feel and how committed to this idea do you think they are?</p>
<p>goaliedad is correct -- the schools I listed are tremendously different in terms of the environment you will experience. I cannot think of two schools that are more different than Culver and Scattergood Friends -- however, since you haven't given us much to go on regarding you interests or what you are looking for, I wanted to give you a wide spread of possibilities.</p>
<p>Since you are looking for FA, you will most likely want to apply to quite a few schools -- since there is no safety when you need FA.</p>
<p>I second goaliedad's question -- are you parents in support of this and are they willing to spend the money it will cost? Just a head's up -- even students who demonstrate that they will need full aid to attend a school won't get it (unless they had a special hook, like athletes). Most schools want to make sure that the family has a vested interest in the education and will expect a minimum of about $3000 towards tuition, room and board. On top of that, you would have medical insurance(sometimes), fees/books (sometimes) and transportation costs -- plus monthly living expenses. Compared to a public school education, boarding school will be costly even with excellent FA. my son is also applying and needs a ton of FA -- so I have really researched this information and talked to schools and parents. I will also tell you that close to full financial aid packages are usually reserved for familes that make less than $40,000, have 4+ members in their household and no assets (don't own their home). Families with more income and more assets will be expected to contribute more.</p>
<p>I just want you and your parents to be aware of the financial situation now -- so that you can have a good conversation and know what the possibilities are. if you parents tell you that they are not willing to pay any money towards boarding school, you will know up front that the option has been eliminated. If they say they will do what they can, they can start making plans as to how they might afford it.</p>
<p>another idea -- you should attend any visiting days at local boarding schools. Even if you are not interested in those boarding schools or they are more competitive than you will have a chance at, a visit locally will give you an idea of what a boarding school is like. It might also get your parents on board with the idea.</p>
<p>There are no local boarding schools or even private schools so unfortunatly that is not an option. </p>
<p>My parents...well they know the costs. There is a large possibility I would not be able to attend a bs simply because of the cost, even with financial aid and they want me to understand that but are still encouraging me to try and see what happens. I'm not sure if all schools are the same, but do they usually include the people you live with, as well as another parent that you don't live with/doesn't support you? The parent I live with is actually pretty upset about the fact that some schools do this, as she and the stepparent I live with make on average around the same as tuition for many schools(combined) while my other parent makes a significant amount more but would not be able to contribute much.</p>
<p>Not sure if i made it clear in the first part or not, but YES they are very on board with the bs option and are willing to do all they can to help</p>
<p>OK, if I remember an earlier post, you said you were about 15 hours from both Culver and the New England schools. About the only place I can think of that fits that description is in the Carolinas or Virginia. And yes, there are a couple of boarding schools in the region. Perhaps D'yer or another may chip in on this. </p>
<p>And even the NE schools and even Culver have admissions events scheduled in the south (although I think you may have missed the initial dates). Your family might want to consider attending one of these where you can get a better feel for the admissions people at these schools. </p>
<p>As to the financial aid issues with non-custodial parents and stepparents, it can vary from school to school and situation to situation. Given that it sounds like your residential family unit is on the short end of the financial stick, I can understand their concern. </p>
<p>The financial aid ramifications of your situation will vary with your non-resident parent's cooperation in the process. I don't know if there are any "issues" (you don't need to air your family's laundry here) going on here, but to the extent that your residential family has good documentation of the level of support from the other, it will help clarify things.</p>
<p>I think your parents probably have about the right attitude towards the whole affair, though. They do want to do the best that they can for you, but are giving you an understanding of some of the unpleasant possibilities. I think it is a credit to your maturity that they are so open about things.</p>
<p>If you want to do more research about how financial aid for boarding school works, you might scour SSS's website <a href="https://sss.ets.org/pfsHelpInfoHome.do%5B/url%5D">https://sss.ets.org/pfsHelpInfoHome.do</a> for information.</p>
<p>Now schools do often ask for information beyond what SSS requires. They all ask for tax returns for all parents involved. Beyond that I cannot say.</p>
<p>lol yes, you are correct about location. Although there are a few schools, the closest I have found are 4-5 hours away and I'm just not sure my parents would drive even that if it is for a school I'm not interested in at all.
I'll definently look into admissions events closer.
Although the other family provides little support to the one I live with, the situation with the other parent is that they are willing to help but their salaries do not reflect their debts and things of that nature. Because of this, the may be able to contribute even less than my residential family. I wasn't sure what was taken into consideration when giving fa and was relieved that basically everything is.
My parents are very open about the financial situation. Even though they will do everything possible, they don't want to get my hopes high. Not getting high hopes is difficult but I'm trying lol :]</p>
<p>It sounds like your parents are taking just the right approach -- it is the same one I am taking with my son. I will do everything in my power to make it possible, but I can make money appear where there isn't any. I will make the sacrifice, but I still have to eat and have a place to live. </p>
<p>You situation with your non-custodial parents will have to be dealt with on an individual basis with each school -- again, those know to give good FA would probably be the most helpful. Every school I have read about (and that is quite a few) requires information from both the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent. That information does not have to be shared with you or with the other parent -- and deductions are allowed for various expenses. But -- what it comes down to is that the school will expect both of your parents to contribute to your education to the best of their abilities and they have a formula that will be used to calculate that amount.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are taking the right approach -- apply to good schools that seem like a good fit, with good FA possiblities. Keep both parents on board with what is going on and reevaluate after acceptances come in.</p>
<p>Make sure that you visit boarding schools with both your mom and dad -- it is harder to "sell" someone on spending that money if they haven't seen a BS. maybe mom could take you to one or two schools and dad could take you to another couple of schools.</p>
<p>I will for sure be asking my mom to take me to a couple and my dad to others...they both need to be sold and that will be easier without the other around lol.</p>
<p>Also, does anyone have advice on visiting schools? Because of the distance my parents will not want to make 6+ trips of 10-15 hours each. Is visiting schools within a few hundred miles in the same couple days a good idea, or no?</p>
<p>When we were doing our school tours we sometimes visited 2 schools in a day by taking the first appointment at one and then the last appointment at another. This worked for us, but some people think it is too much to do in one day. I don't suggest doing more than 2 a day. Good luck!</p>
<p>Here's a thread that covers the question of multiple tours/interviews:</p>
<p>The answers by D'yer Maker stand out as being the most sensible.</p>