Seven Schools Where I Did NOT Apply, but Liked

Prep School Admissions
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So here’s some schools that I liked, but in the end chose not to submit an application.

  1. St. Andrews: My parents are Dead Poets Society freaks, the campus is gorgeous, but there’s only 315-320 students total. That’s about 1/2 of my current school, which already feels small to me. It’s within driving distance for my family, but it just didn’t make the cut. I go back & forth over whether I should’ve included this one.

  2. Hotchkiss: I had a nice interview with them, was very impressed with their debate program, but never had a chance to visit and I really only wanted to apply to schools where I at least experienced a few hours of the campus.

  3. NMH: If you are a serious women’s basketball recruit, this school has to be at the top of your list. The coach is amazing, dedicated, lives for the sport. Incredible coaching philosophy. They have some clubs with extremely passionate department heads.

  4. Brewster: Another great women’s basketball program. Extremely nice people in the athletic department. Very pretty campus, too.

  5. Tabor: Really nice admissions people. Another solid sports program. Marine studies is just not my cup of tea.

  6. Choate: The admissions people I met at a Ten Schools event spent awhile with me - they were very generous with their time and gave me lots of swag (pens, stickers, lip balm, etc.) Went back and forth on this one, too. Campus was nice but, I dunno, maybe I needed to spend more time in Wallingford. Wasn’t for me.

  7. Loomis: I wanted to say something about the admissions staff at Loomis. While I was waiting for an interview at the TSAO event, the Loomis admissions person knew I was a little lost, got up from her chair and pointed me in the right direction. She represented Loomis very well. For a time, I considered applying there just based on her warmth.

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@springfield18 I like your approach to this topic…I think if others continue in the same positive vein, it can be helpful to future applicants.

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@springfield18 We like the approach you had, here are the schools we didn’t apply.

  1. Hotchkiss: Amazing school, great campus, top tier academics but the fit wasn’t right for our DS.

  2. Andover: Campus was incredible, tour and interviews were some of the best, however, our DS felt the school was too big for his liking. After this visit, we restricted our search to schools with less than 700 students.

  3. Lawrenceville: If we have 1 regret it might be this school, the school was a bit larger then we would have liked but the admission and coaches we spoke with are among the nicest we’ve encountered in this journey. Our issue was the distance.

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MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I’m going to restrict this thread to be in line with the OP’s positive approach. The thread is not for schools you hated and so did not apply. If you want to add on, tell us the schools that you liked (and why), but in the end, opted not to apply (and why). Non-conforming posts will be deleted without comment.

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Thanks @skieurope That is what I was hoping for when I commented earlier. I think it can bring good perspective if presented appropriately!

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I’d like to add on!

  1. Mercersburg: Beautiful campus (one of the only BSes with a 360 virtual tour!) and wonderful school but ultimately I felt as though I didn't really gel with it and didn't want to fill out the SAO application.
  2. Brewster: Again, FANTASTIC school and the people I spoke to over the phone were very very kind, but I didn't particularly want to fill out the SAO (all my schools were on Gateway). I also wasn't a huge huge fan of the very sporty vibe, felt I wouldn't fit in. Living on Lake Winnipesaukee would have been really cool, though!
  3. St. Paul's: Honestly I'm so sad I didn't apply here. I love their need-blind? policy and they seem really good for full aid applicants. I've always heard how tight-knit the school is. I didn't apply because NH seemed really far (yet I applied to Exeter?)
  4. Middlesex: Another school I really struggle with not applying to. I received their course catalogue in the mail and they had so many really cool course offerings. It's artsy and cool and beautiful! Also, Concord, MA is a great location. I had a fee waiver, too. I don't know why I didn't apply. Just didn't feel a big pull towards it.
  5. Blair Academy: Another very pretty school, with a great atmosphere, but I chose not to apply because I didn't really want to live in New Jersey... not sure why lol
  6. Deerfield: Chose not to apply because I didn't want a super traditional vibe (God, I'm so hypocritical, cause I applied to Groton) and just wasn't a big fan of how regimented the school seemed. However, my cousin who goes there LOVES IT. Beautiful campus with fantastic student pride. Couldn't let Choate down, though.
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  1. middlesex - middlesex i never got to visit, and i felt like it wasn't right for me in a way, especially because i do swimming and violin. however, i really liked my interviewer, and was super sad not to apply, but in the end, i decided to stick to doing best on a few apps
  2. exeter - (i didn't visit exeter either) ok, don't get me wrong, exeter's great. i feel like in a way, it was ruined for me because of my interviewer. i had an in person interview in a place a few hours away from my home with an alumni, and while i was planning it with the exeter admissions team, they were nice and all. but the interviewer herself never responded to my emails, and she actually ended up emailing me the address of the place we'd meet up at three hours before the interview, when i actually had to leave. she was late, too, and i just didn't get a good vibe i guess. when researching more afterwards, i still didn't feel much of a connection, so i decided to withdraw.
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  1. Lawrenceville- I went to their summer program 2 years ago and I really liked it. I liked Harkness and House system, but I didn't apply cuz there is a large population of day students.
  2. SPS- There was a two-week phrase where I was obsessed with the school, and I even submitted an application on Gateway and everything, but it was just too far away because I have braces and my orthodontist is 4 hours away.
  3. Groton- I actually really like small schools, but I didn't apply because it started in 8th and was too far away
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It’s great reading @ your insights and experience…FWIW, we still regret not applying to Brentwood college school on Vancouver Island BC…it is so beautiful, with a great recreation program, healthy lifestyle, modern vibe…very forward looking in some ways, but also with traditions - like uniforms…great sports and magnificent setting It is just too far from home. But, such an amazing place.

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  1. Middlesex: What’s not to like about Middlesex? Beautiful campus. Friendly, laid-back vibe. Helpful staff. Great sports program. (I want to play LAX at Middlesex, LOL.) Great English/Language Arts program! I’m a mom, but I think I’m always going to feel like this is “the girl that got away,” LOL.

  2. Deerfield: I think I felt like I could take or leave Deefield until I saw the athletics facilities. Holy schamoly! Where do I start? The new rowing tank for crew? The squash courts? The swimming pool!!! And not to mention, the theatre, the art program and exhibits, the maker’s space…um. I think I even took pics of the quotes on the wall. I was speechless. The dorms are pretty nice, as well. Deerfield is just a beautiful place. All the same, DC was not feelin’ it. For one thing, my DC is not an athlete. For another, my DC is not easily impressed. I think someone said Deerfield felt too regimented for their tastes? I think my DC would say the same. That bell tone and the “stampede” after lunch was a bit unnerving. I was in love with Deerfield but I couldn’t sell it to my child. As they say, You can’t win 'em all." {{{shrug}}}

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I liked almost all the schools I visited and many more I only read about, but didn’t apply to any. I was 40 years too late! :))

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@twinsmama …like they say “youth is wasted on the young”…let’s start a boarding school for our retirement- no grades or tests, however. Take the best from the schools and create something for us :bz

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Seriously…I would have liked to go to high school at a country club!!

My current 8th grader is in a bit of a different boat than most of these high achievers and ended up applying to only one LDS, but here are our thoughts on the schools where he didn’t apply:

  1. FORMAN - Forman seems to be the state of the art for kids like DS with significant, diagnosed LDs. The campus is lovely (even though I almost died of hypothermia on the longest tour ever on the coldest day), and the faculty and programming seem top-notch. One of our tour guides was an extremely impressive young man from China who was an accomplished artist. However, DS has functioned quite well in a “regular” K-8 school in a mainstream setting with academic support, and the consensus of his teachers and advisors was that Forman was more than he needed, and he’d do fine in a different setting. Plus, as a boarder he’d have to give up full season hockey, and Forman fields only one hockey team for all levels, including kids who have never played. That was a non-starter.
  2. CHESHIRE - We looked at Cheshire for DS to be a day student and take advantage of its relative proximity and the well-publicized learning center. We were pleasantly surprised with the faculty when we attended an open house, lovely and compact campus, and the college matriculation list. But we weren’t “wowed” by anything in particular, and other than the IB program (irrelevant for DS), course offerings seemed a bit limited, and we were surprised that (per their number) only about 10% of the student body uses the learning center, which is a lot less than at DS 1’s school and generally what i’ve heard elsewhere. The tour guides were not memorable and I feel like they glossed over some important info and didn’t have good answers. Also, we were told there are Saturday classes, and it just doesn’t work for us to commute to school some or all Saturdays for the next 4 years (unless DS absolutely loved it, which he didn’t).
  3. SALISBURY - DS1’s school, which we and he love in every way for him, and it’s always been in the back of my mind that it would be nice for the boys to attend BS together. However, we ended up not seriously considering BS for DS2 (other than Forman), partly because of hockey and partly because he seems very “young” for the environment. DS1 is a “regular” aged sophomore (I.e., at least 1-2 years younger than most of his teammates and a year younger than many classmates) but has been able to navigate social issues, peer pressure, drug/alcohol issues, etc. I don’t think DS2 is equipped for that; I feel like we’d be throwing him to the lions. Having not yet hit puberty, even 3rds hockey would be a stretch for him. If he wanted to attend BS later on, Salisbury would be top of the list.
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  1. Cate- It seems like such a nice school! Quite small but beautiful environment. I didn't apply to any CA schools and greatly regret this. I was going to apply this year but considering the fact, they probably don't accept many incoming sophomores, I guess I didn't have a chance anyway.
  2. Blair- Has a specialized robotics program! I honestly wanted to apply here and plus my teacher used to teach there but I made this realization way late in the application process, like in January. I could have used my SAO app but prob would have been unable to schedule an interview.
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I’m bumping for all the new applicants/parents doing fresh research who might’ve missed this. Lots of great insights from everyone.