<p>I am looking around for some really solid PG year programs for prep schools. My public highschool is just a bad match, but it wasn't possible to attend a BS before now. I am graduating a year early and currently taking 8 classes in this semester, 7 next to achieve this(so my PG year will be at the same time as my senior year had i not graduated), although i doubt that really affects anything. I should have straight A's for this year, but my school doesn't offer any AP classes and only a few honors (so i am only in Honors French 4, Honors English, should be in honors Bio but school refused to make another section to accommodate the amount of kids who qualified to take it). The only honors class im not taking (apart from bio b/c school refused to) thats offered is Honors Pre Calc (i am just in regular, but have an A). I would need at least 90 percent FA, unfortunately. Would Andover/Exeter be completely out of my reach because i am not in all honors courses? I have plently of ECs as well (clubs, equestrian team, other sports, volunteering, etc), and will have excellent teacher recs (not to sound presumptuous, i just know my teachers like me and i do well). I am also applying to Blair, maybe Taft, not sure of anywhere else that would suit my needs. So any suggestions would be very helpful! (Looking for lots of sciences to take, want to go to Cornell's CALS and major in Animal Science). Thanks!</p>
<p>I can’t comment on your chances since I don’t know your scores, grades, or other details. But I will recommend that you apply to several schools–maybe 7 or 8. If you need financial aid it is best to apply to more. I have heard that the PG year is one of the hardest years to get financial aid for. </p>
<p>One of my students applied to PG programs last year needing full aid. He had a single parent who is a school teacher, raising 3 kids on $35,000. He applied to 6 schools and did not get full financial aid at any of them. However, he is now attending one where they are requiring him to pay $13k, so they have taken out some loans.</p>
<p>I don’t want to scare you, but I think you should know that the aid piece will be the hardest. Apply to top schools like Andover that have plenty of aid, but also to less well known schools where you would be at the top of the applicant pool. I’m assuming you are a girl, which is a big plus. Good luck!</p>
<p>
Holy cow!!! I’m sure the PFS had pretty much a $0 for what the parent could pay. $13k is a huge amount based on the income. Of course, knowing it’s only for one year is a big difference than if the student was an incoming 9th grader…but still…</p>
<p>Typically PGs receiving significant financial aid are top athletes using the PG year to bolster their academics while giving themselves extra time to grow & fine tune athletic talent for Division 1 athletic competition.</p>
<p>Agree- it is going to be tough to get much $$$ unless you are an athlete with the potential for competing in college. Otherwise, I think you would have a great PG experience at Blair. There are PGs at Blair who are not athletes (a few).</p>
<p>Well, i play volleyball - though wasn’t varsity. And i have been on a varsity equestrian team for close to four years, which i plan to continue into college. Unfortunately it’s difficult to find schools who view this is as a sport (which seems silly, i put in close to 6 hours a week in ‘practices’ and for every show i spent 12 hrs, if not two days, in preparation and competing while any other athlete spends maybe 3 hours at a game) not just a “club”. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the input!</p>
<p>Also, this isn’t necessarily <em>athletic</em> per se, but i am really involved/interested in Art (studio, painting, and art history) So i can also make that contribution, as far as ECs go.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the all-girls schools? Many of them DO consider equestrain a “sport.”</p>
<p>Im looking at a few, actually. Many dont seem to have a very strong PG year, or only admit like 2 PGs a year which seems awfully competitive! I do get straight A’s, but its not the same as applying as a lowerclassmen i guess?</p>
<p>I’ve heard that Taft has a strong equestrian program. You can research schools that have equestrian and a PG year. I think I’ve read that it is hard to get fa for equestrian because most schools won’t fund the boarding of your horse. Experienced people please chime in. </p>
<p>Blair is a great school with many horse farms in the surrounding area. However, I don’t think they have an equestrian program. You would have to ask about this and volleyball. They do have some interesting science offerings like biotechnology and marine science. </p>
<p>I think newyorker22 has a good suggestion that it would be good to apply to some schools at which you are at the top of the applicant pool. </p>
<p>It might not be the right school for you at all, but you might look at the Millbrook School. They have a zoo with students taking care of the animals. You might find this interesting. It is a small school. I have no idea how strong their sciences are, but they might have enough to enrich you for one year. I don’t think they have a PG year, but maybe they might take you as a 12th grader? I’m just tossing out ideas.</p>
<p>A zoo? Ah, that’s interesting! I will take a look. I was accepted into Taft when i was applying to prep schools back in 8th grade, and have a sibling who graduated last year, so it shouldn’t be too, too much of a reach? From what i know, Blair has a team as long as there are enough students interested. So its not a formal sport, but is offered if enough interest is expressed on a yearly basis. I am also looking into Loomis ( as well as Blair, Taft, Andover), and i believe they have a team…thought i saw somewhere that we were competing against them this year on a few occasions. </p>
<p>Where might i look that i would be a top applicant? Clearly schools not in Andover’s tier, but how much below? I got into MPS, Taft, Holderness (the only oens i applied to) back in 8th grade, if that helps…</p>
<p>Those are wonderful acceptances. Sorry, I don’t know enough to make suggestions. Because you have been through the admissions cycle before and your sister did as well, you are more experienced than the average applicant. You have good ideas about what you want. </p>
<p>You can also try schools with large endowments that guarantee to meet fa need for accepted applicants, such as Andover. </p>
<p>If you have questions on Blair, feel free to pm me or ask here. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Blair is probably my top choice right now, i am looking more for a smaller environment than Andover would offer, and mostly i want to take courses (APs, arts, and sciences) that my public school does not offer to prepare for colleges. (it has four art courses, and only the basics for science). From your experience, what are Blair’s AP sciences like? (Specifically i am interested in Bio themed) And just the general atmosphere? I always get the feeling from SPS, Andover, etc that it’s all about highgeared academic competition…I want to learn, not being stressed into topping everyone else, you know? I still have to set up an appointment, so of course i will eventually see for myself but tours aren’t always the most accurate way of feeling a school…</p>
<p>Thanks for everyones help!</p>
<p>A great time to visit Blair is on Peddie Day, Sat. November 8th. You will see some of the school spirit! The day even includes tailgate parties with alums. The majority of students take academics seriously, but it is not a hyper-competitive environment. Blair has some similarities with Taft because the current Headmaster and his wife both came from Taft. The 6 point grading system is the same (Andover uses it too), and there are some other similarities like Advisor selection by students. Anyway, the school is a strong community. Because the majority of faculty live on campus, there are ties that develop with the students. </p>
<p>Have you already had Chemistry, Biology and Physics? Blair has a requirement that you have to take these before you can take an AP science. You should ask Blair about this if you have not taken all 3 sciences. As a result, I have had no direct experience with their AP sciences yet. I have met a number of the science teachers, and they are a talented & well-regarded group. They have more than enough science courses to excite you during your year <a href=“http://www.blair.edu/Academics/documents/Course_List_0809.pdf[/url]”>http://www.blair.edu/Academics/documents/Course_List_0809.pdf</a>.</p>
<p>You should make your appointments soon, or you may have to visit during a school day in the winter. </p>
<p>Good luck with your plans!</p>
<p>Oh i didn’t know Peddie was their rival, that would be an interesting day to visit..
Yes, i took physics freshmen year, then chemistry, and this year i am taking Bio. You choose your own advisor? How does this work when you come as a new student, i assume they assign you one and then you can switch..?</p>
<p>At Blair, you have an assigned Monitor who watches over your academic life. You pick whom would like to be your Advisor during the first 2 months of school. You have to ask the faculty member, who may feel he/she has enough Advisees, so it is not guaranteed that you can have your first choice. Some students even have the Headmaster as an Advisor. You might want to select a science teacher whom you like. The role of Advisor goes beyond your academic life. Your Advisor can become your friend, advocate and mentor.</p>
<p>Re: Blair and equestrian. Lou Dobbs’ daughters (twins) went to Blair and were gone half the time at equestrian events. They competed nationally. They did it outside of Blair, though.</p>
<p>Ohh, that’s an interesting way of doing it. Sounds pretty effective. Thanks for the info on the equestrian stuff, MOWC, if i get accepted i will take a look at the barns around there and see what teams are available if nothing school sponsored looks good! Northfield Mount Hermon also seems to have plenty of sciences available, but i have only heard of it in passing. Does anyone know how it ranks (academically as well as admission rates) compared to anywhere else?</p>
<p>You might find this thread re: NMH useful…</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/496052-nmh-prediction.html?highlight=prediction[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/496052-nmh-prediction.html?highlight=prediction</a></p>
<p>I’m late in replying to this post, but Linda made a point about my comment about the student I know who didn’t get full aid to a PG year. Yes, his parents expected contribution was $0, but none of this 6 schools he applied to were able to give them that. The one he attends gave him the largest award they give to a PG–which was something like $25,000, requiring him to pay $13,000. The other 5 award packages were similar or worse.</p>
<p>I think the rules for financial aid are very different for PG than for the underclassmen. I’m just learning about it myself. Although I asked Exeter and their free tution for those making under $75k is valid for PG’s as well.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>