<p>What is the significance of Taft over enrolling this years class to those of us applying for 2011 admission? Does it mean they will take fewer students or is it just a signal that there is more interest in Taft?</p>
<p>It depends on what grades / gender are over-enrolled. If they over-enrolled 9th grade boarding girls, for example, there would be fewer beds for incoming 10th graders, making admissions harder for that category.</p>
<p>chicknbrothel -wondering why you have a poor opinion of Taft? It has come highly recommended to us by 2 sets of friends who have children attending - you can PM me if you feel more comfortable -I am always looking for additonal input.</p>
<p>Exie–we didnt look at Taft & now I am happy…it is so much like DA it would have been a hard choice for me and D. Around 600 seems like the perfect size for bs for our girls. DA wont increase number and are actually on a decrease due to the 2013 bubble of high yield. The set their limit in terms of can all the students and adults sit down at meals. I think this year, 64 table of 11, or something close.</p>
<p>Not sure there’s a greater interest in Taft per se. They may have accepted more than usual. All the BSs are reporting last year as a banner year in terms of # of applicants. Interest appears to be up across the board.</p>
<p>Taft is a hot school now. Especially in the Northeast.</p>
<p>Having just gone thru the process, all the schools in the NE are hot.</p>
<p>Okay, why are BS’s so “hot” now? Let me suggest an answer: the economy is bad and many fear that it will get worse. If times get tougher, there will be fewer good jobs. As a rule, the best jobs go to the best educated and the best prepared. BS’s help kids become the best educated and best prepared. Therefore, send your children to top prep schools, if you can.</p>
<p>As CCers here say BS is not for everyone. If parents rush to send their kids to BS hoping for a miracle, they may be digging a financial hole for themselves.</p>
<p>So if (as pulsar hints) the rush to BS’s these days is not, or should not be, triggered by the idea that BS is a good financial investment in the long run, why the stampede?</p>
<p>Taft has always been a terrific school. The Admission process is not a perfect science and believe and certainly not sure, relies a lot on past experience. There is so much to consider it can be mind boggling. To accept a certain number from larger applicant pools, expect a certain number of rejections and to end up with a target number, give or take 2-5, 5-10 depending on each school is not easy. I’m aware of situations with respect to over enrolling but considering the source at times, I’m reluctant to feed more for the rumor mills. I do know where 1 or 2 dinning tables have been added and not exactly in the dinning room. Regardless, everyone is happy and the school is surviving. Granted, the incoming 10th grade applicants were whittled down and probably only a few if any incoming 11th graders for Fall 2011 will get accepted. As for Taft, I suspect the same but I’m confident will persevere without a hitch. The Fall Freshmen class will probably be as it always has been and maybe the Fall '11 Sophomores might be decreased but having said that these schools are very capable of dealing and going forward with this issue. I certainly would not let it stop one from applying. Parents can always ask tactfully what the status is, it’s a fair question when visiting. A little overbooking is not going to be noticeable, undoubtedly only increase that Rhino spirit.</p>
<p>Notwithstanding the rudeness of Pulsar to D’yer (talk about a gulf in credibility), I do think stampedes can be overrated. But I agree with Toombs generally; parents are paying ever more attention to what is absolutely core to their lives and legacy: leaving behind children who can handle themselves in a world that is coming apart bit by bit. What for us growing up was a somewhat predictable future that was tough, but relatively safe, is now a future where our governments, institutions, rules and resources are actually beginning to break. There is nothing a parent can do right now for a child better than “training” them to be well educated, nimble of mind, tough, resourceful and independent. Boarding School is one of the best ways to accomplish this. Now, more than ever, such an advantage is critical, the financial investment well spent. Demand for Taft and boarding schools generally will remain high.</p>
<p>You’re on to someting there toombs. The way I look at it is 4 years in BS + 4 years for undergraduate + 2 years of grad school = enough time for the ecomony to (hopefully) recover and place my kids in a better job market. Hopefully, they’ll be cloistered within an ivory tower while the storm passes by. Yeah, I know, wishful thinking but one can hope. More than likely, they’ll emerge to find rubble and be the ones to rebuild. And it WILL be those with the characteristics that TacherParent listed who will be doing the rebuilding. I hope they are up for the challenge.</p>
<p>…then there is the overall state of public education forcing parents out, but that’s a different post.</p>
<p>I will second what Thacherparent says. We attended many revisits last spring and while having one-on-one conversations with admissions officers, I asked about the increase in applications and enrollments. </p>
<p>All stated it was a flight to quality with public schools cutting back on services, extra-curriculars, teachers, etc. and folks wanting the best opportunity for their kids in tough economic times. </p>
<p>Also, many schools indicated that they strategically looked to increase enrollment slightly - say 10-15 extra students by maximizing space. Bring in an extra 15 full pays would generate an extra $600k with very little additional overhead. Most costs are fixed. For a school with 600 kids, it also would have no discernible impact on the quality of academics or class size.</p>
<p>Taft just added another huge wing to the dining hall so there are three. Didn’t seem crowded even with parents on campus and eating meals with students. Being at capacity in this economy is a good thing.</p>
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<p>Taft has already stated that applications were up. Given that it’s not one of those coveted HADES schools (cough, cough) that’s pretty significant. And given that yields in general at all schools are trending higher than expected, it says something as well.</p>
<p>AlexzMom,</p>
<p>Me too. If D had applied to Deerfield I think we would have been torn about the decision. On the other hand, we’d have met on the boards and since I have family near year I would have used them as an excuse so our daughters could meet before hand.</p>
<p>I think they landed at the perfect places. I love Exeter, I do. But after my daughter interviewed at Taft even I wanted a do-over. (So did my hubby and he’s not a BS grad).</p>
<p>Glad to know we are kindred spirits! (and glad Neato’s son is doing so well at my alma mater)</p>
<p>@doschicos… actually, 600 kids = 150 per class… if you have read Malcolm Gladwell’s book “The Tipping Point”, when groups get larger than 150, you start to lose cohesion… maybe that handful of kids is the tipping point and WILL make a difference. Don’t be so quick to say that there is no impact.</p>
<p>There are subgroups. Malcolm Gladwell is a very interesting theorist and an extremely acute observer and I enjoy much of his writing, but he is not the final authority on anything. When a groups exceeds 150, subgroups are more likely to form. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it allows for specialization. It deepens the gene pool, so to speak.</p>
<p>Not versed on Gladwell’s theories, but many schools (PEA, Andover, Deerfield, Choate) get well above 150 per grade. I’ll read up on his theories but does this really apply to a boarding school setting anyway? They live together 24/7. Also, unlike public school, there is much less grade specific grouping. Kids tend to mingle across grades quite a bit.</p>
<p>I’ll stick by my no discernible impact. : ) Especially when the alternative may be cutting back on services in some manner.</p>