At some bigger schools, especially ones with PG years, only very good athletes will play on varsity. At a smaller school, it may be easier to make a team if you are willing to work hard and are improving.
A bigger school may offer more clubs or more music groups. Every place is different - and size is only one part of the difference.
Even at a larger BS, you are likely to know most of the kids in your year and all of the kids in your dorm (or house if they use that system. )
Often, vibe is independent of size. You really should visit when you have acceptances in hand to see what appeals to you. I can attest to the fact that some places will not be your cup of tea and you will know that immediately. I can think of one very beautiful and impressive school that we visited and as we were pulling out of the school at the end of the interview, DS said that every indication he’d had was that competition was what drove the students there and that he didn’t think he’d be happy there. For other people, that might have excited them.
I’m Applying to Both Phillips Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy for lower year.
I know my recommendations are phenomenal and I plan on pouring my heart and soul into my essays. The only thing I’m anxious about is the SSAT. My goal, of course, is to score in the 90%ile or above. I find the math section to be easy but the reading section is difficult.
@YoungThriver Consider taking the ISEE and submitting it to complement your SSAT score. The reading section is easier, but math is harder. If math is your strength, the ISEE can also showcase that.
We decided to only apply to 6 boarding schools, because that is all we could reasonably handle. We are still waiting to receive the December SSAT scores, so fingers crossed. Good luck to everyone!
Applying for 10th grade. Order of preference for me:
Exeter
Milton
Andover
SPS
The Webb Schools
All are reaches, but if I am not admitted I am still going to an amazing public high school. Honestly was a really fun process to experience all around for college too!
@MysticBaguette Is Webb the only CA school you considered? BTW: I don’t know anyone who applied to Webb and wasn’t admitted… so unless you need a lot of financial aid, your chances there are good.
@CaliMex I did consider Cate, but I went on a tour for both and liked Webb more. Plus I want to get out of Cali and would love to be in the New England area. Webb I’m considering a bit of a safety if I don’t get in to the other 4
@CaliMex I did not, and I actually only looked at Thacher and Dunn online and didn’t like the locations. I chose Webb mainly because it was the closest to where my dad is working right now, so my family wouldn’t have to worry about me being too far away.
@TexasKid2018 Looks like this year’s crop of applicants prefer large schools in cold climates! (Maybe they all play ice hockey or have Viking ancestors who like the snow?)
If you liked Mx and Groton, you should consider St Andrew’s School in DE.
Our kid only applied to small schools. We wanted challenging academics and a strong culture of kindness and inclusion. She ended up in the California sunshine (though it is raining this week). The orange blossoms will be blooming and filling the air with their scent at my kid’s school before the New England snow shows any signs of melting!
@ilovechoateeeee too many to remember!! My brain is fried…I turned in some today…still have MX and Andover left to edit. On top of that, I applied to 4 local schools, who each had essays and statements…if I don’t get in…I don’t know if I can do this all over again next year!!
@CaliMex I can’t even imagine adding more schools…if I have to reapply next year, I’m definitely cutting it down to 5 the max!!
