Info for Deerfield, anybody?
The only time boarding schools hit a wall with applicants was between the mid- late 60’s and Jimmy Carter’s last day in office. That was a time when many all boy schools became co-ed… and not by choice! Interesting tidbit: Many of the most popular/ prestigious schools today almost went under during this time but were saved by a coordinated effort - which included several ( core ) families who were able to offer guidance and raise whatever was necessary to keep the lights on.
This thread topic takes me back to a different time and how close many of these schools came to shutting their doors forever. It may not be enough for some people ( who need to know the numbers for whatever reason) but I think it’s safe to say that it’s a banner year every year for the Top 40. 
@ilovewaterpolo: I don’t think the Deerfield numbers have been posted yet, as all I could find were last year’s statistics. For reference, I will post the link here. 1900 applicants for a total of 180 openings, which translates to “15 percent” (their words not mine. I would have preferred to calculate by the number of those actually accepted, not open spots). http://deerfield.edu/scroll/2014/04/school-welcomes-the-15/
^ The link is stating, in an awkward way, that last year Deerfield accepted 285 students, which is 15% of 1900 applicants to fill those 180 spots.
Thanks @thelittleswimmer and @doschicos!
Lawrenceville’s yield is around 67%. Saw it on a brochure during my visit.
This is Groton info from let year’s cycle that I cam across and thought was interesting:
"There were 1,181 applications submitted in total this year, which was a 2 percent increase from last year’s 1,154. Similarly, there was a 3.5 percent increase from 142 admitted students in 2013 to 147 this year. Groton’s selectivity was a little over 12 percent.
The applications came from 22 states and 15 countries, 52 public schools, 87 private schools, and 8 parochial schools. The number of full paying U.S. applications has been fluctuating over the last three years: 352 in 2012, 337 in 2013, and 345 in 2014, as was the case for full pay international applications: 259 in 2012, 328 in 2013, and 318 in 2014.
Out of 518 applicants who requested Financial Aid, 50 were accepted, whereas 97 students out of 663 full-pay students were accepted."
This was the only place in all the info I came across while researching schools that specifically addressed the admit rate differences between FA and FP applicants
Thank you for the info. Impressive number of international FP applicants, almost 50-50%!
Since the accepted international students can’t be more than 15% or ~15 students, that leaves about 82 domestic FP accepted students out of 345 domestic FP applications. Thus, FA acceptance rate is < 10%, FP domestic acceptance rate is > 20%.
@paynforward The number was actually in the article I was cutting and pasting from, they accepted 38 international students out of the 147 overall admits, so actually more like 25%. I think its probably more like 15% for full pay domestic and slightly under 10% for FA. How about this: they had 228 applicants from the following 3 countries combined: China, Hong Kong, South Korea, so more than 20% of their completed applications come from those 3 countries. IT also said they admitted 14 Asians, obviously not all from those three countries which would put your odds of getting in from China, Hong Kong or South Korea close to 5%…
OK, then 59 FP domestic out of 345 applicants. = 17%. Thank you!
Deerfield says it received 1900 applications this year. No info on admit rate.
These statistics for Groton really make me wish that I was able to have been a full pay student…
@thelittleswimmer it certainly helps, but I don’t think those numbers are that different than I would have suspected. 17% of domestic applicants not requesting FA and 10% of those requesting FA. The person you really don’t want to be is the applicant from Asia where your chance is 5%….
Difficult admissions for all but helpful to have some numbers, at least for one school. Some group facs a little higher hurdle, but nonetheless, an acceptance is a real success for anyone who gets one.
Really interesting and yes, I guess it was what we had expected but didn’t have the actual numbers. In another thread from last year (of course I can’t remember which one) someone said that FP domestic applications have remained relatively flat over the past few years.
A handy chart for who gets financial aid by income and family contribution at a well known school. Additional information on the financial aid page with frequently asked questions www.groton.org/financial-aid/chart?rc=0
When I see charts like the above, I can’t help but wonder about the details of those receiving aid in the highest income bracket.
@doschicos I would imagine athletic recruits.
Doubtful. Prep school financial aid is primarily need-based. High income families who receive financial aid generally have high expenses, such as several children in college for whom they don’t receive aid. For a high income family to receive aid, they usually cannot have expenses such as private club memberships, boats, second homes, expensive vacations–in other words, their income and assets legitimately cannot cover the cost of tuition.
@payn4ward I don’t think thats right, prep schools are not giving out aid to athletic recruits unless those kids have need