<p>Benley’s right. Looking at just the paper profile, mamalion’s D has better “stats” than my son and he was accepted to Exeter with full aid. Who knows exactly what they are looking for? Maybe it’s just a certain “spark” that comes across in the interview? A niche that they need to fill.</p>
<p>Don’t get me wrong. I know that for some schools, FA plays a big part. As a matter of fact, the lovely lady at NMH called me and TOLD me that if we didn’t need aid, he would have had a real acceptance letter instead of a theoretical one.</p>
<p>At Groton, Exeter, Andover, Deerfield and SPS, I would guess that yield actually has more to do with it than FA. Actually, a combination. They want to be sure that the kids to whom they dedicate FA funds to will take them up on it. They aren’t using those dollars as a recruiting tool the way some of the others schools do simply because they don’t need to. They are already getting the very brightest and the best in their applicant pool. </p>
<p>I don’t think for a minute that Exeter (or Groton or SPS or Andover or Hotchkiss or L’ville) was particularly impressed with my son’s GPA or SSAT scores. Those numbers are pretty much the norm. It’s kind of what they expect and they see them all the time. I do think that the other schools to which he applied WERE impressed by them simply because they don’t see them quite as often. Three of those schools offered him TONS of FA. (It is a form of recruitment.)</p>
<p>He’s not an athlete. He’s not an URM. He’s had very little opportunity to compete in any kind of academic setting. The only awards he has received are from CTY. He sings, he acts. What “got him in”? No clue except that he really loves talking about ideas and Exeter is, as they say in their viewbook, “a school of conversations.”</p>
<p>My DD applied through ABC and was accepted at 3 schools and waitlisted at 2. Of the 3, we know 2 FA results, one school was 86% FA and the other was 87%. We are just waiting for the other school FA results so we can choose. We have to choose and leave a deposit/contract by Friday, March 19.</p>
<p>Neatoburrito- are you or your husband a teacher of any sort? I’ve noticed that the schools are sympathetic to parents who work in the academic fields. Just a thought…</p>
<p>Why do you think NMH does that, though (admit w/o fa?) Wouldn’t it make them look better numbers-wise (i.e. increased selectivity) if the just didn’t admit kids who they couldn’t give fa to? That’s what the other schools do.</p>
<p>yeah Neato, how did you make all your safties say “yes”? What happened to the “Taft effect” (?)? When they asked what other schools you applied to, did you just say <em>causally</em> that you were applying to Exeter, Groton and SPS - just for fun or something? ;)</p>
<p>Our daughter had very similar stats to Neato’s son (99% SSAT; great recommendations; great kid with a deep and interesting resume) and received very similar results: 4 accepts (SPS, SMS, Brooks and Tabor), 2WLs (Exeter and Groton), and a denial (Andover). Unlike most folks on this thread, we’ll be full pay. I share this rather personal information with y’all as it shows that competition is fierce even amongst full payers.
I for one am putting the rejections (because WL is essentially R for us) in the past and figuring they were the hand of God or what you will, helping to direct us where we need be going.</p>
<p>This conversation has been very helpful to my understanding of BS. When my D made her very articulate proposal for going to BS, I was not inclined to support her. She was the driving force. IMO, BS are committed to producing a certain type of student outcome. . . hence, the desire for “fit” and certain kinds of “conversation.” They are committed to academics, but how that connects to innovation, creation, originality, etc is just not so clear. The space for diversity of race, class, and religion is limited. Just think about quotas for Asian Americans vs legacy admits. </p>
<p>I tried to explain to her the need for intellectual freedom, space for exploration, and other bohemian concepts, but she prevailed, smart cookie that she is. In the end, I’m not so eager for her to find a fit at 13. My first take may have been best.</p>
<p>@Keylyme - I don’t know if NMH puts applicants like my son into the “admitted” category. The letter (and phone call) that we received stated that he was “admissable” and that IF we could find funding on our own that he would receive the official offer of admission, otherwise, he would be put on the WL. I don’t know if it is a FA WL or a general WL. I was told that not all the kids in his situation were given this option so in a way, it’s a ranked FA WL.</p>
<p>Trust me, if son did not have an option for next year, I would know A LOT more about this NMH is a great school and he would have loved to attended.</p>
<p>@Benley, I don’t know if I would really say that my son had any safety schools because of the FA angle. He was only offered a spot at one of the top schools (Exeter). I think it’s probably due to a number of factors (FA being just one of them). But looking back, and extracting myself from the whole situation, it is clearer that Exeter was, in fact, the school where he had the most fun on his tour and where he connected the most with the students. It’s where he felt MOST “normal” as he says. So why Exeter and none of the other top schools? It all just must have fit. Maybe they had more of a need for a humanities centered kid (who could also survive Exeter math), who would be active in theatre and music and debate. Applicants with those qualities are probably a dime a dozen at SPS, Groton and Andover; whereas every math genius on the planet applies to Exeter. Who knows? I think he would do well at any of the schools to which he applied and any of the schools to which he was accepted. It’s up to him at this point.</p>
<p>@mamalion - interesting. The “need for intellectual freedom” and “space for exploration” are the two biggest reasons my son pursued BS. It appears as though your daughter has good guidance and options at home. Be thankful for that. She’s lucky to have you.</p>
<p>Clarification to Benley - It’s “Tufts Effect” and I did NOT coin that term - I actually hate it :)</p>
<p>I was very concerned about yield management with the nonHADES schools. Now, I realize that I should have been more concerned at the HADES schools! </p>
<p>And yes, not only did my son tell them at interviews which schools he was looking at when asked, he used the common SSAT app for L’ville, NMH, Blair, and Kent. Also, it is my understanding that they can see all the schools that were sent the PFS. </p>
<p>It is my understanding that all schools knew to which schools he had applied.</p>
<p>neato…when this happened to our son four years ago, NMH called and sent us a letter explaining that he was admitted but without fa. They asked if we would still like them to send my son the admission packet and encouraged us to reapply the following year. We spoke with my son and he did want the packet (knowing full well he could not go that year). They did send the full packet, so I think he was counted as an acceptance. Maybe they do it differently now.</p>
I guess you are right. Often times a rejection or WL from a HADES school while being accepted to another is explained away by “fit” consideration and/or the super competitiveness of the process. They must be very careful in managing their “yield” by not giving an acceptance without believing there’s a good chance the student will attend. With the lower tiered schools, however, their focus is to recruite strong students instead of worrying about yield.</p>
<p>But you still did a good job in secruing acceptances and FA from most of the less selective schools you applied to with clearly vey strong stats good enough for top schools.</p>
<p>Well we found out yesterday one of the three schools my DD was accepted to waitlisted her for FA. So we got 3 acceptances, 2 of those were with FA where we pay less than our EFC, and both were very similar ($400 difference).</p>
<p>The school my DD is choosing was her 3rd choice (out of 5), but we both feel it’s a really good fit for her. Since she’s just starting middle school she still needs after care and this school told me to call about getting a portion of that reduced as well, so I will be calling tomorrow about that.</p>
<p>This year’s compitation is fearce. Some the the facts for 2010 Applications we received in the mail are:</p>
<p>Groton: 1000 (applications), for only 82 Seats (for 9, 10, 11 gr)
Taft: 1500 (applications), for only 160 Seats (for 9, 10, 11 gr)
Milton: 1000 (applications), for only 150 Seats (for 9, 10, 11 gr)
St Paul: 1300 (applications), for only 185 Seats (for 9, 10, 11 gr)
Hotchkiss:1600 (applications), for only 210 Seats (for 9, 10, 11 gr) students on FA dropped to 27% for 2010.</p>
<p>The fact of the matter is schools received more application during 2010 than any other year. Therefore the admit percent rate dropped at every school. FA has become a more scarce resource. </p>
<p>Appreciate it some of you can post similar facts you received in the mail too for other schools. Gives us a sense on what is going on for 2010 application.</p>
<p>School typically offer FA based on parent financial statement (PFS). However, most schools do also offer merit scholarships. FA is typically offered between 50-75% based on family PFS. Some schools throw in merit scholarship if you kid is brilliant and meets certain scholarship criteria. This bumps the full aid to 85-95%. Schools like Exeter state they offer close to 100% FA if your family income is less then I believe $75K. This year FA is become a scared resource.</p>
<p>We applied to 13 schools, Received Acceptance to 6, Waitlisted to 5, Rejected by 2 schools, Received FA and merit scholarship from three schools. Waitlisted on FA for 1 school. Rejected FA from 2 school.</p>
<p>newebs, no offense, but with an 82% SSAT earning a merit based scholarship is not that common. Does your kid have other outstanding qualifications? What school is this? (it wont hurt to disclose the school name at this point will it?)</p>
NMH is a great school and he would have loved to attended.</p>