<p>Lately I've been wondering what people (like you) think the top BS's are. I'm looking to apply to a few next year, and I wan't to make sure I apply to good schools (on the east coast).I'm going to apply to 7 max. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>It's a matter of opinion, but I would say the top 7 (in no particular order) are:
Hotchkiss
Andover
Deerfield
Exeter
St. Pauls
(HADES)
+
Choate
Groton</p>
<p>dont forget lawrenceville</p>
<p>don't forget middlesex</p>
<p>Depends how much of a workload you want. I would say if you want a well known ("ivy league" of boarding): HADES. But if you don't go to an ivy league for college, your life isn't going to be ruined, just like if you don't go to an "ivy league of boarding" you still have a good chance at a good college. I think that just becuase some schools (such as HADES) Lawrencville, ect.. are more selective, well-known and harder workload, it doesn't mean you would not be happy any where else. So pretty much here is my list:
If you want alot of work (and hey, maybe not even be so happy if the only reason your going is because the schools are well known):
Exeter
Andover
SPS
Hotchkiss
Deerfield</p>
<p>If you want a good school, and yes, you will still have a place in life if you don't graduate from a HADES school, (also these schools are smaller), but not quite as popular (though still VERY popular):
Loomis
Taft
Groton
Milton
Choate</p>
<p>(I am applying to Loomis, Taft, and Exeter, a sprinkle of both categories)</p>
<p>I may have left out a few that others will/have posted that I just am not as familiar with. I bet they are also very good schools though.</p>
<p>Bump..... thanks for all of the replies so far. I think I'm going to apply to 2/3 HADES schools (maybe Exeter, Hotchkiss, and Deerfield). And maybe Choate and Taft. Can anyone tell me more about Groton? I've breifly looked into the school and I noticed it has a very nice campus. Is it a strong athletic, academic, arts, etc. school? Thanks!</p>
<p>P.S. I am 100% open to taking on a large work load.... as long as I get into one of my desired schools. :-)</p>
<p>Um.. I don't know all that much on Groton, so i'm not a super-reliable source. i know that Groton has 1 characteristic that stands out in particular: it's a tiny school, so i guess that establishes a really strong sense of community? it's like, really strong academically yet it has that "supportive" feel lots of big schools lack? sort of. anywayyys !</p>
<p>i hope i helped, haha. :P & yay, exeter, hotchkiss & deerfield! <3 could you say why you picked taft, though ? i know close to nothing about taft..</p>
<p>I think Taft is a really nice school, and my uncle is an alumni. So that kind of helps.</p>
<p>I visited taft, they are really friendly. The admissions director was really cool and during my interview he took me out into the hall to see the students passing from one class to another. My tour guide was also really nice (and talkative!). It's a small campus but the academics seem very good as well as the sports. The one thing that may turn some people off (it has made a slight effect on my decision) is the music program is not quite as extensive as I had hoped :( well if you aren't into music, I think it is a great school.</p>
<p>Northfield Mount Hermon if you can handle the workload.</p>
<p>It also offers more structure (required study halls, check ins) then some of the others (exeter DA etc)</p>
<p>bump..........</p>
<p>Artsy schools: Interlochen & Idyllwild & I've heard good things about Loomis..</p>
<p>Academic schools (?): HADES + Choate + Lawrenceville + Groton
Then come Milton, Middlesex and Peddie..
TSAO (ten schools association) is made out of prestigious boarding schools, so look them up on wiki..</p>
<p>I'm clueless when it comes to athletics, so shoot me. :)
Good luck! I'm applying next year, too :D (class of 2014!)</p>
<p>DiveAlive: Loomis is a great school but I wouldn't categorize it as artsy. It definitely is not as lacking as Taft though. It has a good solid music program but that is not their focus (chorus, band, orchestra, jazz band, chamber ensembles, a cappella groups, private lessons, 3 large drama productions, .....)</p>
<p>@ DiveAlive: what schools are you thinking about applying to?</p>
<p>@ starz: oh hehe, i'm aware art isn't their focus, i just heard they were academic/artsy, rather than athletic? this is unsubstantiated, though </p>
<p>@ latin: hotchkiss, loomis, a/e</p>
<p>i'm thinking about deerfield, SPS, blair, choate & l'ville. lool, too many, right? :P what about you?</p>
<p>Ya lol.... 18 essays later. Good luck!</p>
<p>Haha, I'm only applying to 4. I'm exciiiited. 3 top boarding schools, 1 up and coming. Yay!</p>
<p>here are the rankings, with each line of schools a notch below the others:
HADES, Groton, Choate
Lawrenceville, St. Marks, St. Georges
Taft, Middlesex
Suffield, Loomis,Blair, Milton, Millbrook and a few others
the rest</p>