I’m a long time lurker and have just signed up because I would love some support/encouragement. My son was accepted at several “prestigious” schools and one rather unheard of school. His heart is at the unheard of school and we support him fully. However, the boarding school world is so full of name dropping and posturing and it would be so lovely to hear from people who have also taken the road less traveled. I made a similar choice a million years ago and it has served me well, but, parental and societal doubt keeps creeping up on me. We need to sign by Friday and would love some BTDT’s. Many thanks in advance!
Daughter is now a Senior.
Thanks. I know that SAS is considered a hidden gem, but in my world, it is by no means “unheard of” like the school mine will choose to attend. I’ve been part of the boarding school world for 25+ years (besides attending, I work at one), and even I’d never heard of the school he’s going to!! 
Don’t worry about the “name.” The question to ask yourself is which school will give him the best experience. Of course, it’s impossible to really know, but that’s still the question. My daughter is debating between a “prestigious” school and a “rather unheard of” school. For most of the process, she’s been leaning toward the “unheard of,” which has been hard to explain to nosy relatives (particularly older ones, who I think are more hung up on the “name” issue). But in the last few days, she’s starting to actually critically examine whether the “prestigious” school might actually be the better choice for her because of the additional resources and unique experiences that the more “prestigious” school can offer. It’s not a criticism of the “unheard of” school at all, and we love a lot of things about that school. But sometimes larger endowments, larger student bodies, larger networks of parents/alumni can make a difference in the experience itself – for her, in terms of more travel and innovative curriculum opportunities.
So in other words, if you do go with the “prestigious” school, do it because it offers him something of substantive value that he can’t get otherwise, not because of the “name” and what other people think. But don’t hesitate to pick the “unheard of” school if you think that he’ll be better served there.
@CindyLWho: Was just sharing as an example of taking a road less traveled…even though it is still a fairly well traveled one.
Thanks @SevenDad !
Glad someone else brought that up. I never understood the labeling of St. Andrews as a “hidden gem.” A gem maybe, but it is a very well known school among those who apply to BS… I think Taft made that hidden gem list as well - that too left me scratching my head. I think I was a “lurker” when that list was started many moons ago and no one else thought it odd.
@CindyLWho My DD just made her decision last night. She had five acceptances (4 to ACRONYM) and chose Cate over Exeter. I don’t know how “hidden” Cate is (especially here, where the CA schools seem to be gaining some traction) but it was still hard to turn down Exeter. Our family is not especially concerned with “prestige”, but we definitely felt it was expected that she would attend Exeter from well meaning friends and family. I think a lot of that has a lot to do with the brand name recognition and reputation that Exeter is somehow the “best”. I’m not sure if our situation qualifies as "road less travelled"or not. We are thrilled just to have had some acceptances in hand!
Mine made his final decision this morning. Unheard of school, it is! Relieved and thrilled that he chose the place that felt right, rather than the one that sounded right.
I keep almost accidentally flagging instead of liking posts… congrats!!
Congrats on your choices!! Hurray!
@stargirl3 DD accepted for 11th grade, so wouldn’t have helped you even if we had chosen Exeter!
Sending out best wishes to everyone still deciding and waiting for spots to open up on the waitlist
@ CindyLWho…maybe he will put it on the map
For anyone else who may, in the future, consider the “road less traveled”, here’s an interesting thing we figured out during our soul searching (pertains to @soxmom’s post about opportunities). As we looked at his potential classes over the next four years, we found that “unheard of school” actually offered more opportunities for exploration. Although the more prestigious schools had ‘x * infinity’ AP classes and electives, the reality was that you can only take a certain number of them. Between requirements, schedules, pre-reqs etc, the more prestigious schools offered less choice. Small size can offer a lot of flexibility. Of course, he’s not there yet, so we’ll see if it pans out in reality, but we’re all feeling really good about his choice.
This all is just a precursor to the college decision too. Many people get hung up on college brand names when there are many, many schools out there that offer different experiences that might be as good or better than the “famous” one!
You have been a part of the BS community for over 25 years. You went to BS. You even work at one. And if you ask, who else will answer? Just kidding…
I guess your son made a great choice. It is right, if not brave, to choose the school that felt right ,not the one that sounded right.
We took the “Road Less Travelled”. Our child attends Portsmouth Abbey School and couldn’t be happier. She was accepted to other “name” schools but felt the fit was better at the Abbey. We have no regrets. She is very happy there. We would make the same choice if we had to do it over again.