Question About "legacy" applicants

<p>Sue, I like what you said. And this is a great place to vent! I’m sympathetic to the Exeter not accepteds, because although not a legacy/sib my daughter is practically perfect in every other way ;), but didn’t get in 3 years ago!</p>

<p>Okay, so my interest is piqued. What other schools make the “courtesy” call for legacies and/or siblings? Specifically, does anyone know if Deerfield makes calls for siblings? If you don’t hear anything is that “good” news? I was just at DA on Sunday and spoke to an AO, but never thought to ask if they make the courtesy calls.</p>

<p>Neato Burrito and others, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you on March 10. I do like the phrase, “Love the school that loves you” that has been going around. This is a crazy & wacky game, and as ExieMit always states, it all depends on the year, and the application pool. I tip my hat to you all…At least we all have a place to convene, with those that get it. We will all be here hunkered down tomorrow. For those of you that are waiting, don’t bother trying to sleep tonight. Eat the junk food and watch the show you have DVR’d but have yet to watch.</p>

<p>Hang in there, folks! </p>

<p>To the big brothers who posted - all I can say is, your sisters are way ahead of the game already to have brothers like you - just keep doing what you’re doing.</p>

<p>JoExeter, definitely do NOT blame yourself. You are not responsible for your sister’s denial nor would you be able to take the credit had she gotten in! She was evaluated on her own merits. I’m sorry that she and so many other promising applicants have been turned down. I feel for the kids and their families.</p>

<p>Kittykat. Sorry that you are in the same boat. Definitely disappointing. Let’s hope we all get at least one bit of good news tomorrow…</p>

<p>goodchoices, how is your h handling this?</p>

<p>Goodchoices, that just doesn’t seem right to me. I think the school owes you more of an explanation. It may help for futures applications (to whatever).</p>

<p>Catg, we are both trying ro be adults about this so that we can be supportive of our child (dad’s school WAS her first choice), but I don’t think DH will be conducting anymore interviews and the pipeline of alumni giving from our family will stop. </p>

<p>Baystateresident, I agree. I think this was handled poorly. I am just taking it as God’s way of telling us this wasn’t a good fit.</p>

<p>Gc - Fit or not, it doesnt sound like the school handled this at all well. Grin and bear it for your kid though. I hope the day brings in positive results to you and everyone else who is waiting for those envelopes.</p>

<p>Goodchoices, handling this disappointment with such grace sends a powerful message to your child. I gave up alumni interviewing for my top university after I saw many years of admissions results- top students with in-depth passions, amazing committed volunteer records, amazing grades and scores etc. turned down for students who could best be described as jerks with other hooks (wealth, athletic recruit etc). I couldn’t stand it any more. My own children did not/will not be applying to my alma mater because of it.</p>

<p>There are a lot of alum in the same boat and I will confess I did think about burning down the campus a few times – even though my daughter had ranked them at the bottom. When I asked how many calls the DOA was making it was close to 100. I’m not sure I’m going to interview because frankly, I don’t know what the “heck” they are looking for any more. I mean - really. They just waitlisted or turned down two of my favorite CC kids.</p>

<p>Still - the school that “loved” my child has really “loved” my child and rallied around her in a way that my alma mater wouldn’t or couldn’t. Even the Exeter DOA told me it was a fabulous catch for us (and he was right).</p>

<p>So when a door closes, sometimes it’s because a better door is waiting. When I saw how much more warm my D’s current school climate is compared to my own experience, I told the Adcom I wanted a do-over.</p>

<p>Good luck with the other decisions. And yes, it makes it hard to “write that check”. But I have the satisfaction of knowing my D’s new school is getting a whole lot more of my support and there are several classmates whose children are on campus with mine.</p>

<p>Karma is a “you know what.” :-)</p>

<p>I’ve always thought that Exeter and Andover were very similar (big, ultra-challenging, super smart students, broad mix of athletics, arts, extracurriculars and academics), and that getting into one or the other for a qualified student was luck of the draw. But my daughter (at A) has had significant interactions with Exeter students (a recent gathering of interest groups from the two schools), and she was struck by how different they are. More structure, in some cases not as much freedom for better or worse. My impression is that Exeter more specialized in the kind of student who will thrive, whereas a kid who is, say, fabulous and passionate about his/her written work, and ok at class participation, could do great at Andover or many other schools but NOT at Exeter. Maybe it’s harder for Exeter admissions officers to make a case for siblings and legacies sometimes, because there are cases when a smart terrific kid just isn’t going to fit (whereas the fit at other schools is more flexible, somehow). Really just my musing, I don’t know a thing about it…</p>

<p>Our daughter was accepted to Exeter- our son is currently a prep . Sorry for everyone about the bad news with your children. We are cautiously excited- by that I mean, I already have one child across the country and am freaking out a bit about sending a second. I immediately started looking at career opportunities in the New England area.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>My mantra for the day. Thanks Exie.</p>

<p>Thanks, Exie, for reminding us that other opportunities in BS (or in our case, possibly staying at school at home) can turn out well, if not better. It is a life lesson. Today has already had its highs and lows for us (we have two kids applying) and there’s more to come. Your comments are just what I needed to hear this am.</p>

<p>Good news everyone! My sister got into Choate with a scholarship. It’s not exeter, but at least I know she has some opportunities of her own!</p>

<p>Great news, joexeter5. Congratulations to your sister. There is always much in these decisions that seems to not make sense, and yet, it does usually work out one way or another.</p>

<p>It might be better than Exeter ;-)</p>

<p>Joe, GREAT News!!! Your parents are going to be doing some juggling, but I bet in the end you’ll come to find that you’re both in the right place.</p>