<p>The website was impressive along with the faculty bios. The college matriculation list was not that bad. Looking for some constructive personal insight, w/o ranking.
Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>No personal experience with the school. Nice location. Near several other boarding schools so socializing or attending events with kids at other schools iis a plus.</p>
<p>Know several kids who attend and know one of the teachers very well.<br>
I commented on another topic about it that the teacher told me they consider themselves a "mini-Deerfield" - similar but with half the kids and 1/10 the endowment.<br>
The teacher I know is a dorm parent with his wife and I imagine they are a very nurturing community.<br>
Big hockey school. Our tour guide was recruited for hockey (told us - we asked how did you pick Westimister and he said "they saw me in a hockey tourney and asked me to apply"), but was a super nice kid.<br>
Had a large over-yeild last year (2 admissions ago) so this past year was tough on 10th grade admissions in particular - very few openings - and also they want to get their overall enrollment back down a bit, so that helped drive down the admissions %.
I know several families that were offered very nice FA packages.
We were waitlisted and did not stay on it. We were surprised at the number of waitlists there were (including a current sibling and legacy). But were told that, for example, for the 15 - 10th grade openings, there were about 100 applicants and 35 of them were legacies.<br>
The health center was the best we saw. They are building a new academic building which is going to open Fall 2009 and will be amazing.<br>
When I get some more feedback from my son's best friend (who just started there) I'll let you know.
Linda</p>
<p>Thank you both. Anticipating to read what your son's friend has to say.</p>
<p>D, now at top tier LAC, applied to Westy, was admitted, but placed on the finaid waiting list. I wouldn't agree with Westy's self-identification as a "mini-Deerfield," but it is a solid school and often the safety choice of students who applied to the top prep schools. </p>
<p>The safety school status factored prominently into D's decision to attend a different prep school. D was not at all troubled by the "safety" label, but b/c we just couldn't wait for the dust to settle (as students admitted to Westy were plucked from the wait-list and offered seats at top schools) and risk the seats (w/ generous finaid) she had been offered elsewhere.</p>
<p>I believe Westy was D's #1 choice. She favored it over NMH becaue of size and proximity to home (NYC), and she would have chosen it over Loomis b/c of the higher percentage of boarding students (Loomis is almost half day students). The facilities were gorgeous - - especially the dorms, which had been recently renovated (or maybe new buildings). I have no doubt that D would have been very happy there.</p>