<p>@2010,
Yeah, but the average SSAT score of an admitted student at Taft is 82%. They don’t get as many qualified applicants as schools like Exeter and Andover do. You see, the acceptance rate can be helpful in determining selectivity, but one thing which helps determine selectivity is knowing the acceptance rate of applicants who have the academic qualifications. On the Andover website they said that around 3/4 of their applicants are “academically qualified”. So what’s actually useful to us who are “academically qualified” is the acceptance rate of academically qualified applicants. At Andover it’s 26% which basically makes it kind of random. But at Taft I assume it’s MUCH higher because Taft isn’t as well known as Andover and I doubt receives as many applicants who are “academically qualified”.</p>
<p>I would actually think that there would be MORE academically qualified students applying to taft. Their standards might be slightly lower than Andover, and students sometimes apply to both schools, so an academically qualified student at Taft may not be at Andover.</p>
<p>IDK, I hate looking at acceptance rates, they never tell the whole truth.</p>
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<p>This is very true. Something like 2/3 of kids at the top schools apply for FA but usually only 1/3 of students receive FA. Of course, some schools (E and A come to mind) have many more on aid. Then there are day students vs boarders, girls vs boys, sporty vs arty, etc.</p>
<p>If I learned anything at all last year, it’s not too look to closely at admissions rates. Unless a school admits over 40% and you have an ssat 20 points higher than average, there’s still a better chance of being denied than admitted.</p>
<p>Wow, I go to sleep and this thread multiplies overnight!</p>
<p>@2010 hopeful: Interesting you note that some people get a “cold” vibe from PEA. Wonder why that is? And if it is common enough, do you think the PEA people even care that they are giving off that vibe? Or maybe that is the vibe they are trying to give off?</p>
<p>Personally, I am charmed by warmth. Especially if I am going to relinquish my child into your care for 4 years…but as you noted (and as I noted with my “sneaker” story), it’s largely subjective.</p>
<p>@2010,
Oh no, I mean that there were less academically qualified students applying to Taft. </p>
<p>@netoburrito,
Yes that’s true, but if you apply to a lot of schools, chances are that you will be accepted at least one place. Not saying it’s guaranteed, but hopefully it will work out for you.</p>
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<p>Sigh. The majority of the schools on your list should count as reaches for anyone. If a school with selective admissions has an SSAT of “only” 82%, that should tell you that the SSAT is not the only factor they use to judge applicants. </p>
<p>In addition, I have the strong impression that many applicants apply to more than one school. That means the schools “share” the applicant pool. </p>
<p>And, as an aside, Taft is very well known.</p>
<p>@ifax: I wonder if you’re saying that you intuit a better match between yourself and Groton than between yourself and Exeter/Andover? </p>
<p>Based solely on my son’s experience --and, I think, Neato’s–Groton is harder to get into than Exeter, if only because Groton is much smaller and, as they state on their admissions page, students in need of FA are accepted at a lower rate–Exeter is able to provide more of an even playing field. </p>
<p>I think the point that everyone is trying to make here is that, while your stats may put you in the applicant pool for all of the schools (and if you have the stats for Groton, you have the stats for Exeter), everything beyond the “qualified candidate” match makes all of these schools a reach. But if you sense that Groton/Middlesex are better fits for you than Exeter/Andover, and you still feel that way after your interviews, then you may be on to something. Anyway, best of luck this fall!</p>
<p>
This is probably me just coming to defend my new school, but here it goes. When I went to Exeter, I didn’t get any cold vibe at all. I think what 2010hopeful was just using PEA as an example and what she said could apply to all boarding schools. I do think PEA cares very much about the “vibe” their giving off and my interviewer and tourguide both attribute the envrioment and atmosphere of the school as what drew them to Exeter. I really don’t think that the cold vibe that some applicants feel is the vibe that Exeter or any other school for that matter is trying to give off.</p>
<p>Yeah, I agree. I personally loved all of the schools I visited and they all had nice atmospheres. I just used PEA as an example, people could get a cold vibe from any school. It really comes down to your tour guide and interviewer. If you don’t connect with either of them, then it may seem that the environment in not suited for you, making you feel as if the environment in “cold”. </p>
<p>@urbanflop: BTW, I’m a guy… haha</p>
<p>Wow wasn’t expecting this many responses. Sorry if my post was kind of stupid. But when I say a school is a “reach” I mean that you have no chance in hell, but you’re filling out an application. Maybe that’s not the best way of saying it, but sorry if I wasn’t clear. Lol reading my posts I feel kind of stupid. A</p>
<p>@classicalmama,
Well most of the adults in my life think that Middlesex is the perfect fit for me and Groton, Milton, and Deerfield are also good fits. But I’m not sure. I’m touring Andover in a six days and to be honest at this point I would rather go to Andover over the smaller schools. But to be honest I probably won’t have a ton of choices over top tier schools. I’m guessing that I’ll be waitlisted at most top schools and admitted to at the most two or three top tier schools. And thanks.</p>
<p>Ifax you will learn a lot this year and it will be interesting to check back in with you. But you could learn from last year too - not everyone gets admitted, even with great scores! I had 99% SSAT, straight As at a well known and respected school in all honors classes, travel sports at the highest level, school government and involved in other ECs at a senior level, truly meaningful community service for the past 5 years so not just for applications and even a PT job as well. I had GREAT recs (one school even told me one rec was the best they had received), strong essays (again, based on comments from an AD) and terrific interviews. Oh and I needed FA (not full though). I am just saying it is a crapshoot and plenty of guys don’t get in even though they could. Don’t be overconfident that even 1 of these schools will take you (see the Tufts effect for Taft for example as all the schools will know all the schools to which you are applying).</p>
<p>@crar24,
I know a girl who was just like you and got denied from Msex, Groton, and Milton. Now even wailisted, just denied. It’s a crapshot and it just depends on what they need that year. And I’m not ridiculously over qualified. I took the SSAT last year and got a 93. This year I took a practice version and got a 96. I get good grades, but not straight A’s in a very prestigious school. It is really a crapshoot but all I can do is do my best in school, do well on the SSAT, and have a great interview. After that, it’s in the hands of the Gods. (aka admissions officers) And btw I read the thread on the Tufts effect. That’s definitely true at boarding schools from what I can see.</p>
<p>what about st. paul’s school? it seems like a really good down to earth school. much less preppy and stuck up as andover and exeter, but i don’t know if its as good</p>
<p>@texaschica: Having visited the school a few weeks ago, I second your suggestion of SPS.</p>
<p>As for quality, while it may not have universal name recognition of Exeter, I think few would say that it provides a lesser education. Simply gorgeous campus and the people we met were extremely friendly and warm.</p>
<p>@rebelangel- i think thacher’s and cate’s atmospheres would be great for him, however, we have a limit of schools being no more than 4- 4.5 hours driving distance from the princeton area (for personal family reasons).</p>
<p>@texaschica- i also think st. paul’s would be great, but it is outside of our boundaries.</p>
<p>thank you for all the responses. keep them coming! i think they could help a lot of prospective BS students!</p>
<p>I agree that SPS is a great school for the right kid, but not that it’s less “preppy and stuck up” than Exeter. What my son loved best about Exeter was how diverse and down-to-earth the students seemed. Smart and challenging, sure… but not deserving of the negative labels people have been casually throwing out on this thread.</p>
<p>crar24: You are scaring me! With those stats I would think you would have had many choices.</p>
<p>Peddie? </p>
<p>If you went to Blair, I’m sure you remember Peddie.</p>