soooo uh I was waitlisted at basically every school I applied to (PE, PEA, L’ville, DA, etc)
I have been considering applying late to Pomfret and/or Cushing. But even if I get in, I’m not too sure whether I’d go there because my town’s public high school is pretty good.
(although rankings aren’t usually accurate, Niche ranks it around the 250th in the US and 10th in my state. Approx 5 ish kids get into ivies each year, I think)
Anyways, does anyone here know much about Pomfret and Cushing?
And do ya’ll think going there vs my LPS is worth the 50, 60k a year?
Yes, my daughter is graduating from Cushing this year. I can’t speak for whether it is worth the money because that is subjective. I can say that they did an amazing job helping her grow, it is truly a place where everyone knows your name and the college counseling was outstanding. Lots of AP classes as well as leadership opportunities. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions.
If college acceptances are your only goal, you might as well stay at your LPS as nothing is guaranteed and you will get a lot of arguments either way about whether boarding school is helpful. If you are looking for a completely different experience than your LPS, a place where you live with your classmates and teachers, where you can fit in sports, arts and academics because of the way they are scheduled, where you will live more independently (but not necessarily with more freedom) than you would at home, then it would be worth considering going to boarding school. The problem with a late application this year is that it would mean you’d be attending a school that you’ve never even visited as it does not look like anyone will be returning to school this year (Cushing definitely won’t be back as Baker has just shut down all MA public and private schools for the remainder of the year).
Take the time to look at course catalogs, special programs, sports and clubs offered in BS and your LPS. Then focus on the ones you’d actually participate in (it’s great to see 100 clubs, but if only a few interest you the other 96 offerings are irrelevant) and see if you would be coming out ahead by going to BS. Maybe what you are really interested in is actually offered at your LPS and not Cushing or Pomfret.
Also, if you applied for 9th grade (and with the very real possibility of fall classes being online), it might be worth your while to at least start in LPS, do a bit more research, cast a wider net next year and reapply as a 10th grader or a repeat 9th.
Thanks Calimex and @Sarrip I’ll definitely dm if I have any questions
@vwlizard mah gods, no, college acceptance is by no means the reason I’m applying; did I come off that way? The reason I had mentioned the matriculation at my lps was to maybe help give yall a sense of the quality of my lps although thinking about it now, it didn’t really help.
Through this whole application process, I have been searching for that boarding school experience, as you’ve described. Even if I don’t apply late now, I would reapply next year, probably as a repeat 9th.
Actually, reapplying next year was originally my plan after m10 happened, but family stuff happened, and uh I’d prefer not to elaborate, but basically it’s best for everyone if I go to boarding school asap. I’m not that upset about that as I am really looking forward to boarding school and definitely love Cushing, Pomfret, as well as some others I’m applying to right now.
I guess the problem is I’m worried I’m making the wrong choice. What if boarding school isn’t for me? I’m kind of worried future me would regret this choice or something. If I reapply next year, I would have more options and have more time to think about this decision. Plus, I would get the chance to visit these schools.
Anyways sorry for the long rant, and thanks for all the advice:)
AHHHHHHHHHHH
okee update: I ended up applying and mah gods,
I got accepted at both crushing and pomfret, prolly go to pomfret altho I’m waiting on another school before making the decision
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
@Calliemomofgirls THANK YOUUUUUU
I see you everywhere, (hope that doesn’t sound creepy) and thanks for all the kind messages you post on cc. You’re so nice and honestly really motivational:)
@doodlebean8 You made my morning with your kind words. And it was a tough night so a sweet thought this morning went a long way. Can’t wait to hear where you end up!
@Sarrip Has experience with Cushing, so feel free to reach out to learn more. Sarrip’s kid is graduating this year and headed to a top Ivy, if I recall correctly (not that it matters… just mentioning it because sometimes people around here assume that if you don’t get into Groton, Andover, or Exeter, you’ll never get into a top college).
@CaliMex - Yes, I agree and Thank you. I am open to anyone who reaches out. I agree, Cushing is barely mentioned here but their college counseling was amazing and i believe the results that my daughter received were directly related to their focus, attention and study of each student and what is needed to provide them with a true and honest resume and list of EC’s. There was no need to embellish on the applications. She is attending Princeton but was also admitted to Yale, Brown, Swarthmore, NYU (full tuition scholarship) and other schools. She was wait listed at Barnard. We are very grateful.
My son likes Cushing. Do you know if they are back full time this Spring? Also, he is not very athletic, more of a debate kid. Will he be the odd guy there?
@cocoonondagahill Yes, they are back on campus and did an amazing job of keeping the campus Covid free last I heard. My daughter is a freshman in college this year so I don’t know the day to day. My daughter was not an athlete either but she found her best friends there. Cushing was by far the best choice for her. She was stretched and encouraged to get out of her little box. They focused on her strengths and encouraged her to step out and she grew. We were really pleased with the personalized attention she received while there. For us it was not about attending a school that would get her into a top college because honestly we knew that Cushing wasn’t one of the prep school Ivy’s but we wanted her to do well emotionally with being 5 hours away from home. We wanted her to do things that she loved like dance & theater and all of that happened. And more… good luck to your son.
Your comments are very reassuring. Thank you. So glad to hear that they did such a good job with Covid. We have similar goals for our kids. I need my son to find snd try new things. Thanks!
They also have amazing college counseling. When I told friends and other parents about our college planning journey they could not relate. It blew away my son’s blue ribbon school at home where I did all the work and had to figure everything out myself. I did very little in comparison and the attention and involvement that was awarded to us as parents was second to none. Feel free to search my name and follow our college journey. Feel free to message me if you want. Good luck.
Here is hoping he gets in! I really liked the Admissions Interviewer. He played basketball for my father’s alma mater. We are new to BS. We really want a smaller school environment where the teachers appreciate a kid who thinks outside of the box. Our son is very motivated to do well and has great grades at our charter school and his SSATs blew us away. We just would like to see him expand his interest (less video games may try squash or track or rowing…) The college counseling piece is important, and I am glad to hear that Cushing is so impressive. If he gets in, I would love to talk with you. Thanks for helping all of us anxious parents.
I’ll definitely dm if I have any questions