<p>O.k... My daughter is intent on going to a boarding school, she would be a Freshman in 2009-2010. We are from a small town in Idaho and really know very little about this entire process. Since she has been on this web sight already, I thought I needed to get a feeling from others with experience what the heck we are getting our selves into. We are willing to make the sacrifce financially if this is really what she wants. Here are my concerns...
She has always been very bright, unfortunately school in Idaho is about filling in the blanks and not thinking, it has taken a lot for me to keep her intellect chllenged. She attends the "best" Idaho has to offer in a catholic school. She has danced forever and has a passion for this, she has even danced professionally with a ballet company here. She has been a girl scoutnow for 9 years ad has earned leadership and the highest level honors in scouting. She is actully growing a huge organic garden this summer with all fresh produce going to the food bank here. She is very sheltered however and not sophisticated in the least. Her g.p.a is only about a 3.7. G.P.A is not really stressed here as we only have one private high school and everyone gets in. I couldn't even find books on the ssat in our book store and had to order them. The test is offered here twice however in Nov, and Dec. I have been unable to find one elementary school in our area whom has ever sent a child off to boarding school. I feel that we are at a bit of a disadvantage. She has fallen in love with the Saint Pauls School web sight, but good grief 1100 applications and 120 or so acceptances. I would of course let her apply but lets be honest she is not from an elite middle school where she has been given the education she would need. She is self motivated and is attempting to teach herself Latin this summer. Where does she gets these ideas? Anyway, I would love to give her every advantage and I want her to succeed but where to go? The school web sights are all wonderful and the intensity of the kids is scaring the heck out of me. Where would you send the love of your life where she would be safe and could grow intellectually but would be looked after at least a little.
It should have a dance program and writing program and I guess now Latin. Anyway, I am happy for all the advice you can give. I realize she has almost no chance at many of these schools but we are willing to help her realize her dream in any way we can. Thank you agin for you input, I am trully grateful.</p>
<p>I think you would be surprised – kids like her who take the initiative, give back to the community and are willing to work hard are exactly the type of students that a school like St. Paul’s is looking for.</p>
<p>Just a few quick pieces of advice:</p>
<p>read this forum from the beginning, some of it is junk – but there is a lot of good info amidst the muck</p>
<p>make sure she applies to a number of schools – from those with a higher acceptance rate to the really top ones (like St. Paul’s)</p>
<p>Try and visit a boarding school in early fall, if possible to get a feel for boarding schools.</p>
<p>Sit down with her and your husband and try and get a clear picture of the finances of the experience. BS is very, very expensive – and they do expect you to pay more than most families are comfortable with (or even think they are able to pay). It is good to have this conversation upfront, before applications are sent out and admissions come in. If you can pay $50,000 a year for BS (that would be the cost of tuition, room/board, transportation, visits for parent’s day, incidentals, fees, books, etc) that is great – if not, financial aid has to be added into the equation when choosing schools. This is also the time to make sure that dad is on-board. Since it doesn’t sound like your family is familiar with BS, he might not truly understand the financial commitment – you don’t want him to bail at the end, after she is accepted.</p>
<p>Finally – both you and her need to look ahead to next year and make plans. Plans to visit BS and interview, plans to take the ssat, to get teacher recs, work hard on getting the best grades she can, working hard on her ECs, to complete her essays, etc. It can sneak up on you if you don’t think ahead.</p>
<p>Welcome to the Prep School Forum – you will find lots of help here!</p>
<p>check your pm</p>
<p>A couple of things: </p>
<p>It’s great that your daughter is self-motivated, an absolute hallmark for success in any boarding school. There may be some bumps along the way as she adjusts to the rigor of being around other very smart, focused and worldly kids, but it will all smooth out over freshman year and she will absolutely blossom. </p>
<p>We live on the east coast and looked at a number of the usual suspects for our son (Exeter, Groton, Choate, St. George’s, St. Marks). Then, almost as a lark, we hopped on a plane and went across the country to visit Thacher in Ojai, California. I don’t think we were on the campus for more than 15 minutes before my son turned to me and said “this is the place I want to be.” Now, four years later, I’ve turned into a huge fan myself.</p>
<p>Thacher has all the rigor of the toughest New England schools, an admission’s rate under 19%, a greater than 85% yield, and amazing college placements. But that’s not what makes it special. It’s the way everyone treats one another that makes the School different. Unbelievably warm and supportive. There is a young lady being graduated this Spring (off to Dartmouth) who is from Idaho. She has flourished - a really great person. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t get overly stressed about your daughter’s GPA. If she has good teachers’ recommendations, good SSAT scores (anywhere from mid 80’s to 99), and a nice personality, she will find that Idaho residency will be a huge plus in her application to any boarding school. Just be sure to choose a place that offers more than great statistics. </p>
<p>Happy Hunting!</p>
<p>And, her extracurriculars and self-motivation sound great. Be sure her Girl Scout Troop leader gives her a personal recommendation. An extracurricular that is a great activity (my niece was involved), and happens to be one that looks good on an application.</p>
<p>Also, check out [TABS:</a> Top College-Prep Independent Boarding Schools Directory](<a href=“http://www.schools.com%5DTABS:”>http://www.schools.com) for their “myths about boarding school” article.</p>
<p>The process can seem daunting, but if you plan well, your family will be rewarded!</p>
<p>Welcome, and good luck.</p>
<p>It is by no means necessary to come from an elite middle school. Yes, there are those BS students who have attended very strong public and private middle schools - some of these are able to enter 9th grade at an accelerated level in some courses (especially in math and science). But many BS students have not had the opportunity to accelerate, etc. (my children attended a very small school - not elite - with no opportunities for acceleration). The BS are looking to create a diverse student body - diverse in terms of academic background, ECs, geography, etc. Being self-motivated and a good person seem to be two key criteria.</p>
<p>One area where the middle school background can be a factor is standardized testing. Students who have had more math, etc. in middle school obviously are better prepared for the math portion of the SSAT. Your daughter may need to do some SSAT prep in order to achieve to her potential on the SSAT. Then again, if she is someone who does quite well with standardized testing, she may not need much prep - other than working through practice tests to become familiar with the format and types of questions.</p>
<p>Also, St. Pauls has a reputation for having a strong dance program. Good luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>I think your daughter is at an advantage…she sounds like an excellent candidate for a school like St. Paul’s in general and, she’s from Idaho. Very helpful in the diversity department.
I don’t think any bs can really equal the rigor of her dance if she was truly at that high a level, but if she is looking to be more than a dancer alone, then it is an excellent option. SPS does have a very good dance program, but it probably won’t be the same as years of concentrated private dance lessons.</p>
<p>id616 - welcome. I’m glad your daughter got you to post as well. This is a great resource with a variety of adult and teenage poster who bring a broad range of experience and insight to this forum. I am a Choate alumni and currently have a kid who is in 9th grade there. My brother went to Deerfield and I know a little about some of the other schools, since we looked at them when my kid was applying.</p>
<p>I have a couple of observations. The fact that your daughter comes from a small town in Idaho is in some ways an advantage. Most BS are genuinely committed to creating a diverse student body and having some kids who don’t come from a traditional BS background. Moreover the fact that your daughter is independently pushing for this even though for her it is a very unusual and independent choice will be seen as a big plus. You guys actually have a unique and compelling story to tell the boarding schools you are applying to.</p>
<p>However, I’m going to be dead honest with you and warn you that some of the concerns you’ve expressed are valid. If her current public school is not challenging, you need to worry both about how well she has been prepared for BS and also whether she will be up to the demanding work load. I think for you guys how she does on the SSAT’s may be a pretty big issue. If she tests well, it should give both you and the schools you are applying to greater confidence that she has the capacity to do well at BS. She may still have a tougher transition than a kid who’s been at a top private school, but I think that after the first year those differences are going to even out. If her SSAT’s are low, I think there will obviously be greater concern about whether she can handle the work. However, I also need to be honest with you and admit I know nothing about the public school system in Idaho in general, much less the school system in your district and I probably suffer from a fairly typical east coast bias when it comes to other areas of the country. (My wife, who grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas has on occasion accused me of this).</p>
<p>Also, it sounds like this will be a big change for her socially and she will certainly be surrounded by some kids who come from very different backgrounds. Here, I think the most important factor is how well developed your daughter’s social skills are. If she’s naturally friendly, outgoing and confident I don’t think you have too much to worry about. Although BS has the reputation of being filled with nothing but rich, snotty kids, depending on the school, a lot of kids will be getting some kind of financial aid. Also, financial differences tend to be less obvious while at school. Everyone’s living in the same dorms, going to the same classes and eating the same food. While at school, the day to day life of a billionaire’s son isn’t much different than a kid who’s on full financial aid. It’s only when they talk about their home life, vacations, etc. where these differences become apparent.</p>
<p>Also, because most boarding schools have at least a couple of hundred kids, she will tend to find a group that’s she’s comfortable with, and these kids will become her friends. Also, because these kids are living with each other 24 hours a day 7 days a week, they really do get to know one another as people, rather than as a stereotype like the spoiled rich kid or the “hick” from Idaho.</p>
<p>Finally, I think most people on this board would agree that you shouldn’t let the fact that you come from a non-traditional background stop you. It will definitely be harder for you and for your daughter, but I think you’d be surprised about how many schools will treat your interest with enthusiasm rather than disdain. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>As I said before many times, the surest way not to get in to St. Paul’s is not to apply. There is no magic about the process–if your daughter can articulate why she loves the place, and how she proposes to benefit from being there she has the same chance as any one else who can do this. St. Paul’s has need blind admissions and generous financial aid so assume that if she applies she will seriously looked at. </p>
<p>Leaves the issue of 'fit" both academic and spiritual which is important. With what little you have told us, it would seem that your daughter would be comfortable at places which are relatively close and nurturing rather than competitive, and that her interests are dance, languages, humanities. Without knowing anything else about her my list of schools would be St. Paul’s, Hotchkiss, Peddie, St. Andrews-Sewanee ( a miniature Oxford on the Cumberland plateau) and Shattuck St. Mary in Minnesota. ( which was founded by the same person as who founded St. Paul’s). All these schools would have the kind of community and academic stretch she is probably looking for. </p>
<p>I would caution you, being new to the site, to protect your daughter’s identity a bit on a public forum. There cannot be that many girls from Iowa applying to any one school and while all the schools will play it straight up, no school will make an offer if they think you are treating them as a safety school.Read the cautionary statement at the head of the discussions. Good luck.</p>
<p>good luck! and like paleozoic said, the surest way not to get in is to not apply.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for all the information and help, I think we know how to proceed and we should not count anything out at this time and I am looking forward to finding out about all these other schools that were mentioned, my overall impression is there is a flavour for everyone and once we get a list and can visit it will become obvious which school will fit my daughter best. Thanks for helping a newbie to boarding school life. We are going to give this a go!</p>
<p>BLAIR ACADEMY</p>
<p>Take a good look at Blair Academy in your search…very nuruturing, community service oriented - great facilities, arts, theatre, dance, sports and academics in a close knit family setting where they really care about your child, their individuality and success. Good luck!</p>
<p>Has your daughter ever been away from home for a summer camp or program? You might consider finding something like that for her this summer to gauge how well she might adapt to the residential aspect of a b.s. Look at the summer program thread.</p>
<p>id
One bit of advice. People on here “rate the schools” (as do rating agencies) based on the IVY acceptance rate. Some of these schools are very competitive within the school (forced by parents, students and the school) to get into the Ivys. (one student was bragging how she only got 5 hours of sleep per night). Other schools send their kids to both the Ivys and the top small liberal art schools - or the dance or music colleges. You need to decide what you and your daughter want. Peterson’s or an independent counselor can help you in this.</p>
<p>Some of the ratings are by APs offered. More and more schools are not offering APs now in leu of more in depth classes (eg deerfield and exeter) cf [Welcome</a> to Excellence without AP](<a href=“http://excellencewithoutap.org/]Welcome”>http://excellencewithoutap.org/)</p>
<p>My daughter loves to dance. We used that for our search. (We also used looked for schools that used the Harkness table). One of the “top” schools, exeter, had a great teacher; but the dance studio was in an attic with roof support columns scattered through out the dance floor.</p>
<p>Finally, find students (both from here and some of the guides) to email and talk to about their school.</p>
<p>Right…you can’t really judge a school based solely on the Ivy matriculation. There are many schools that are just as academically rigorous but don’t attract a student body composed largely of students (and parents) whose main goal in life is to attend an Ivy.</p>
<p>id616,</p>
<p>Your daughter is the poster child of boarding school admissions. She is everything that could go right and everything that could go wrong during admissions.</p>
<p>Firstly, a little about myself. I attend Phillips Exeter Academy, and have just finished my lower year (10th grade). I was new to the school this year, and remember the application process well.</p>
<p>I say your daughter is the poster child because she is an example of what boarding schools are looking for. Someone who has initiative, someone who is academically inclined, someone with diversity, someone with strong extracurriculars, and if she goes through the application process well, then I have no doubts that she will get in most schools.</p>
<p>However, if she goes through the application process poorly, then that’s when problems may arise. </p>
<p>Right now, from my perspective, it is important to get her SSAT scores competitive, try get her to score in the 90 percentile by winter. It is quite easy to do. I went from 87 percentile to 99 percentile in 3 months, but all I did was work on vocabulary and focus on making fewer mistakes in the math section (on the actual test I scored in the 91 percentile in vocabulary, 95 percentile in math and 99 percentile in reading comprehension, showing that there is room for error)</p>
<p>But during the real application process, I have only one piece of advice: BE GENUINE. There is nothing more important for your daughter than to be herself. Schools want to know about her, and make sure she gets her character across. During the interview, she should relax and be genuine and say what she really believes. For her essays, make sure she writes about an experience or something of value to her. They need to reveal something about her character, essays do not necessarily wonderfully written, but candid. </p>
<p>That is all my advice, and I hope that she does well. Oh and when you decide to make your list of boarding school, please do consider Exeter. I think she would do fantastically here.</p>
<p>The interviews and essays are crucial in my opinion. Practice interviewing her and also when you are scheduling interviews put her least favourite boarding schools first so she can be used to interviewing by the time her favurite boarding schools come around. As for the essay, she has plenty of ammunition such as Idaho and dancing. She’ll be great!</p>
<p>EDIT: Don’t worry too much about SSATs. I didn’t study for them at all, as Australian schools had school exams during the only time you can take them in Austraia etc, and got 99% but still got waitlisted at Exeter. Once you get 90% its touch and go I think.</p>
<p>I had a lot of trouble with interviews. Just remember they want to get to know YOU, so dont pretend to be into sports if you arent athletic or art if you really like science. They want diversity! They dont want a bunch of “x’s”- they want some “y’s” and “o’s” and “b’s”! Show them who you are! Also dont necessarily judge on prestige, judge on fit. If Big-Prestigious-Guaranteed-Ivy-Legue-Admission school has a great reputation but just isnt up your ally but Less-Well-Know-But-Still-Good-Matriculation-And-Academics school fits you better- go for it! You’ll thrive better there.</p>
<p>I was from a town of 400. Spent 5 great years at St. Paul’s.</p>