@Happytimes2001 Yes, they do think it’s a straight path to the IVY’s. But, knowing better, I know that I will have to distinguish myself among my classmates to get those IVY spots, and I don’t think I can do that at the school they want for me.
applier1 You can’t expect to go Ivy anymore. There are just too many variables. If your parents were better informed they’d realize that. You should try to carve out areas of interest and see how the schools you were accepted to fit into those interests.
Tell them this story: We have a friend who was a pediatric brain surgeon. It’s not what he wanted to do but his immigrant parents insisted. First they wanted him to go to Med school so he went, then a specialization and on and on. He found himself at 35 saddened by his life. He hated telling parents sad news and his career wasn’t going where he wanted. He quit ( and does not work in the medical field at all). I wonder if his parents ever though about the implications of all that work and hardship for nothing. He’s a doctor alright. But, he also lost the opportunity to live out his life on his terms. That’s sad.
My children will follow their dreams. My job as a parent is to help them explore all of the facets of their interests. Just as I explored mine. I can point out the positive and the negative but I cannot chose. Nor would I want to.
@applier1 I think that if you show your parents the college matriculation data from each of these schools they will see that each is similar in the percentage of students that they place in top colleges. If that is their criteria, that should do the trick. It is also true that it will be a challenge to be among the top students at all of these schools.
@applier1 will likely enjoy the same benefit from his hook getting college as he did getting into boarding school so where he goes really doesn’t matter too much.
I’ve seen a lot of kids with some amazing hooks throughout the years . I’ve also witnessed kids abandon their hooks ( before college ) because they’re miserable in the wrong BS environment, too . Call me crazy but…
You’re the one going @applier1 not your parents and you shouldn’t need a power point presentation to state the obvious. Your parents are making a poor decision ( or a lousy ultimatum ) based on a false premise. Period.
I’m a past parent of two former “Top” BS kids and one " HG " kid. I’m also a former Trustee at my BS ( along with other former Trustees at their BSs like my husband, father in-law, some sibs, father, grandfather and some uncles- over a span of many, many years ). I’m a 3G BS alum and my husband is a 2G. You want to talk BS shop? Come to my house on Thanksgiving or Christmas! We’re already gearing up for some 5Gs on my side of the family!
Hopefully, I’ll be dead by then… 
The “best” BS simply does not exist. There is no such thing as a BS Hierarchy. That’s just ridiculous and all the young alums in my family would tell you the same thing , too- after they pat you on your head and gently mock you. But here’s the really unfortunate thing: Some people just don’t get that until they get there and it’s too late. IDK about you but I wouldn’t want to be that kid or family…
Here’s the bottomline: If you think you can thrive and be happy at Andover - GO! But at least be smart about it and compare it to at least one other school.
@applier1: The worst case of buyer’s remorse I’ve ever seen on CC is this:
Have your parents read this thread. There is absolutely no guarantee of Ivy results from any boarding school and, as others have said, it is probably harder to land at an acronym college from the competitive BS pools. Your parents don’t want to be the poster in the thread I’ve linked and no kid deserves that pointless stress.
Sorry to hear your plight, @applier1, a good problem though it may be. As others have suggested, I advise making your case with as many facts as you can, relying on the factors that matter to you and the factors that matter to them. Our child drove our process, and we certainly favor that approach, but I can also understand how different parents, and particularly parents from a different culture, could take a different view of how to handle the situation. Perhaps you can reach a short-term compromise and hold on to at least one other school for a while longer, while letting the non-contenders drop, and while you discuss and assess (hopefully after revisiting them) the remaining two.
@ChoatieMom . Everyone should read that thread.
^^ Agreed. That thread makes me sad. The parent observes that the daughter “LOVES her boarding school” and the reason for the buyer’s remorse is primarily about college admissions???
Yep.
Warning: That thread is painful to wade through. Not for the faint of heart,
@applier1 my heart goes out to you. You’ve been accepted to very prestigious schools. DS applied to three of them. As far as academic success, they are very evenly matched, especially PA and MX. But…OA is four times the size of MX. Would you feel comfortable not knowing everyone on campus, including faculty? Would you rather be in a more intimate setting where everyone knows you? Do you prefer being right in the edge of town or would you rather your school be in a more secluded/self-contained environment? Is your dorm setup important to you? From what I remember MX had all forms in each dorm, so there were experienced kids around the newer ones. These are things you may want to bring up to your parents.
We told DS if he had multiple choices, we would have the final say. BUT…that being said…YOU have to live there, YOU have to thrive, YOU have to adjust.
I’m not a very good communicator…especially in possible conflicting situations. So, I write. Maybe, it would be beneficial for you to write down your thoughts of each school. Why you prefer one over the other. Why you feel one may be more suited to your personality than the other. Why you feel that revisit day should be done at all schools before a decision is made. Maybe if they can just read your well-thought out pleas, they’ll be more open to the school you feel most comfortable with. And who knows, revisits may change their (or even your) mind.
Here’s my confession. One year ago, DS had two very similar schools at the top of his list. They were both the same size, secluded, chapel oriented, has the ECs and sports he wanted and were both academically vigorous. One of these schools is much better known as a “prestigious” school. Had DS gotten into his #1 ranked school (he was WLd) in addition to his #2 ranked school, we probably would’ve chosen the #1 school because of its “branding”. Almost a year later (although it didn’t take that long at all), we are more than sure what a mistake that would’ve been for DS and his personality. I thank God every day that didn’t happen, because if I had been the cause for DS to live in a wrong fit school, I’d beat myself up about it forever.
DS is at the perfect place for him. I hope with some communication and compromise, your family can find the perfect place for you from the choices you’ve been given. As DS just stated (he’s home for break and looking over my shoulder) the differences in those schools academics is like splitting hairs. It is the other things about the school that will make real difference to you.
Good luck and hugs! Even parents can have tunnel vision sometimes!!!
Andover, Deerfield, Choate & Middlesex.
OP: Do you have a preference ? What are your thoughts about each school ?
I do not know whether or not this is accurate, but on another thread a student claimed that Middlesex empties out on the weekends ? If so, then may not be a great choice for an International student.
(Although I wish someone would comment on this statement as MX, I believe, has Saturday morning classes & that should cut down on students leaving for the rest of a shortened weekend.)
I don’t know anyone else who considers Choate to be less prestigious than Andover
Andover is a great school, and I’m very excited, but I think that I’d be able to distinguish myself among other students in other schools where kids are not AS competitive as Andover. Still, I’ll go to the revisit day and check out the environment… maybe I’ll be surprised. I mean, if I knew I was the smartest kid out there, I’d choose Andover in a heartbeat, but because that’s not true, I’m still indecisive. @Publisher
I’m not sure that statement is valid. As I’ve said many times, I do not believe that the Andover environment induces undue competitiveness per se; Some Andover students are uber-competitive; some Andover parents instill this anxiety in their kids. But the same can be said for Choate, IMO.
@skieurope you’re right… this is why I want to go to the re-visit day to get a feel of the school for myself.
@applier1: What do you want or expect from your boarding school experience ?
You really should visit with your parents as Deerfield is quite different than Andover, for example, yet both are very prestigious schools.
You don’t have a school on your list with “more” or “less” competitive student pools, @applier1. You will not have an “easier” time at any one of them.
Aw, come on, @CaliMex, there must be SOMEone… 
@Publisher I want a place where I will grow academically but personally too; I want to enjoy my high school experience and learn more about myself.