I was very disappointed on March 10. And dd was somewhat disappointed too for not being accepted by any of the well known schools that she also applied. But she was graciously accepted by two schools, North Country and Grier as a 9th grader.
Both offered offered truly generous FA. But Grier offered so much that it is affordable for me. Grier also cared her art enough to sort of recruit her based on her portfolio alone - which was why she applied in the first place and now I realize how naive I was that I didn’t realize how grateful it was then.
We have been re-studying the school, and love and gratitude for the school grows by hour. Based on our class visiting experience at a less rigorous school, I am confident that Grier will provide a good academic opportunity. Why shouldn’t it, with its great faculty, some of whom I stalked online, and so low teacher-to-student ratio?
Now we might have emotional crisis if she is pulled off by a WL school, which dd completely denounces any real possibility but I still can’t fully let go.
Glad to hear you are feeling the love and excited about the opportunity. I was wondering how your daughter was coping with the outcome of M10. I hadn’t heard of North Country so I looked at the website and it looked gorgeous, and has sheep! But Grier sounds like a good fit.
Spending one year at North Country would be amazing. But we really need more FA than usual maximum and they won’t know how much until May. It’s a very small school with 90 students total for entire 4~9th grades, so FA is more limited.
I delivered the news later that night, after she finished an evening class that was a 3 hours Physics lab. Prof. gave 90 minutes midterm in the lab session so she had to stay 30 minutes longer to finish the lab. It was 9PM and campus was dark. I was agitated and scared waiting in the parking lot so went to the classroom, she just came out. Looked like majority of classmates won’t be coming out within another 30 minutes. But both dd and her lab partner were smart and skilled. She was satisfied with both the midterm and lab. I broke the news to her immediately and she was pretty cool and said she isn’t surprised. She already knew result of few schools that sent her emails that she checked with her phone.
She knew the whole situation with homeschooling, ORM, no desirable sport and FA. Said she could spend more time on essays if she didn’t take 18 college units last semester, but she learned so much in that semester. Getting so many rejects/WL does hurt, but we had already decided that we would be happy with Grier or else she wouldn’t have applied.
She is headstrong and independent. She strongly wants boarding experience, but doesn’t think it will have huge impact on her college and/or future success. She was so confident that I was embarrassed.
My wife has been in her yoga/meditation retreat since 9th. She seems fine too, as she should with all the meditation she is having.
I think that quite often, we parents seem to have much more emotional investment in this process than the kids do…
I have no doubt, SculptorDad, that with a year of BS experience, your girl will have a better outcome nrext M10. I’m glad she will have the opportunity to attend Grier next year.
What an amazing and mature daughter you have! That is the kind of confidence that will take her far!
Thanks. Choosing Grier, if she does, will be four years. It will be really awkward and feel disloyal otherwise. If we really want next M10, we will somehow North Country work or homeschool another year.
If after revisit, she and you still love the school, then drop off from the wait lists she’s on and be done with the process. No looking back or second thoughts. Wouldn’t that be nice?
I’d never heard of Grier before, but I looked it up and it looks like a great school! Reminded me of Westover. Whatever you decide, your D will be just fine!
oh! Just recognized a Putney student in a North Country video. SculptorDad… I recall you saying your daughter is younger, yes? I suspect a year or two at JBS would assure other boarding schools that she is ready and will invest in her. Trust the process.
I hope she loves Grier, what an exciting opportunity!
@jdewey, we are seriously considering that. I have no doubt that a JBS will do better job presenting her to BS than I did. Thanks. It’s a difficult choice. We will think about it hard.
don’t be hard on yourself… if you think about it objectively, boarding schools know they have to be responsible for everyone they invite. The huge responsibility of managing of teenagers/young adults. I am sure it is extremely difficult to get schools to even consider a younger applicant, they don’t have a lot of incentive to risk that. That sounds painfully pragmatic to say that you, but I think it helps to not take it personally. Both of the schools you listed seem fantastic I hope you go to revisit. It will really help you to decide.
North Country means going into financial burden, although we could do it, and then risking another rejection across the board next M10. A year at JBS will increase the chance but I am … overall less confident. Although, the year will be priceless by itself, and she can come home and attend a community college for another year or two, or three until she goes to a 4-years university.
@SculptorDad What is it that you think/expect to get from the BS your daughter would get in after a year of JBS that she wouldn’t get from Grier? (Not a rhetoric question)
@panpacific, the biggest one would be another M10 since it is a JBS. Next one will be that she will be 9th grade again on 2017 as a 14 yo student, better prepared for selective opportunities during high school as well as college admission. Finally, North Country sounds like a unique experience that is different from what she will get in other boarding schools.
@SculptorDad , Depending on which path your daughter takes, you may want to look into Bard College at Simon’s Rock. It is a college that starts two years early. A brilliant young family member had a good experience there.
@twinsmama, We have looked at various early college options including Bard. We will continue to think about it. Thanks.
@SculptorDad we are also using the “love the school that loves you” talking point in our home. Ds was waitlisted at one school and we want to just accept to the other school and remove him from the waiting list at the first one. I looked up North Country and Grier. They both look amazing! NC looks quite idyllic (did you tour there?) but I think it would be nice for your dd to be with the girls at Grier, with her class for 4 yrs straight. I know that she has not been in a regular school for year over year because the regular schools couldn’t meet her needs, and she would now have the opportunity for long term connections with girls around her age that she did not have at the local CCs.
It sounds like she would be able to apply for 9th grade again next year because of her age. It seems like next year would then be even more expensive because she would need to travel for interviews and visits all over again? For my ds, going through the app process again next year would be a big downside. He really just wants to enjoy next year. But your dd may feel differently. Congratulations to you and your dd, and good luck in your decision!
Hi @SculptorDad- I’m not terribly familiar with NC but I did attend JBS and so did my kids. Yes, JBS is an amazing/unique experience and you and your daughter will have to go through another M10, but this time you’ll be doing it with an expert Secondary School Placement team who will guide your family every step of the way… which is priceless.
If your daughter decides to attend JBS as a Seventh Former this Fall, I’m completely confident NC will do a proper assessment before SS admissions. In fact, I can assure you it will begin immediately ( fun- right?) because her future classmates are close to finalizing their SS lists now and they’re prepped and ready to hit the ground running for interviews and apps next Fall.
FWIW- It is possible that you may not like all the SS recommendations a JBS gives you but please know that you and your daughter will be in very good hands. If your daughter does attend JBS, I advise you to listen to everything they have to say… because they’ve been at this for a really longtime and know what they’re doing. JBSs have very strong relationships with all the SSs ( some for over 100 years ) and know and understand each school very well. They will take a look at her results this cycle and break it down for you once they get to know your daughter a little better. But make no mistake… they’ll start immediately so get ready.
Just a word of caution: Some of the schools she applied to last year won’t make the new list this year so prepare yourself. I’ve known JBS parents who have pushed back, ignored really sound advice and regretted it. That doesn’t mean you can’t apply to some of the same schools for Round Two ( with or without the Placement Team’s blessing ) … but I would strongly encourage you to clear your head and start over with an open mind.
One real advantage that JBS students have is the boarding experience they have before entering SS. They know the drill and can handle any workload. These kids also have the skills to navigate any SS environment/scene with ease. Remember: All Secondary Schools are wonderful and the academics are truly amazing but culture at these schools vary and depending on the school- not always in the best way. Given what I’ve read about your daughter and considering her age, I think a JBS will provide you with the guidance you need in this critical area while offering her a superb launch pad for a successful SS career.
The only downside I can think of is that she’ll still need FA for SS and she’ll be in the very competitive JBS applicant pool applying for Fourth Form. That’s something to think about because there will be kids from NC and other JBSs seeking aid, too… and many of them have been in a BS setting since Primes or boarders since Fifth Form. In other words, your daughter will be competing against other kids who also require FA but have already demonstrated a commitment to BS, received aid and have thrived in that environment longer. Hardly fatal but when a bunch of kids from JBS apply to the same SS seeking aid… the veterans usually win because they’re not only truly qualified- they’re battletested.
I hope that made sense… I haven’t had my second cup of coffee yet.
Anyway- maybe something to think about and weigh before making your final decision. I would also encourage you to call the JBS with any SS admission questions you might have now.
And don’t worry about calling them now about this stuff. They get it. This is a little different than a newly accepted Third Form parent torching a SS College Office about colleges admissions on M14. I’m sure they’ll give you all the answers/help you need so your family can make the best decision . 
Also- I know you applied to one other JBS… Have you looked at others?
I’m sure you’ve already checked this out but just in case anyone else is interested : http://www.jbsa.org/