<p>I realize these are a lot of questions but if you could just answer a couple based on your experience that would be really helpful. </p>
<ol>
<li>What is it like going to an elite private prep school?</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>Classes / teachers / rigor</li>
<li>Relationships / friends </li>
<li>Holiday seasons (does everyone returns home?)</li>
<li>People / diversity</li>
<li>Competitiveness </li>
<li>Facilities </li>
<li>Study Abroad</li>
<li>Random: What is move in day like for new students? </li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><p>Which private prep schools are the ones that are most well-known?</p></li>
<li><p>How much harder would it be to get in if you are applying for Financial aid? And which schools are more finacial-aid friendly than others?</p></li>
<li><p>Generally, what do you need in order to have a strong application?</p></li>
<li><p>What are some dates applicants need to be aware of? If youre applying for freshman year when should you have already taken your SSATS by? </p></li>
</ol>
<p>Side note: Does anyone else get the same feeling from applying to private schools as applying to colleges? The essays, the interview, the recommendations, the SSATS, the list of all the things you are involved with, etc? It all seems pretty similar to me. Wonder if that makes you more prepared once the college process starts. :)</p>
<p>Since I’m not a current student at a prep school I can’t really answer your first question, but I can answer a few other ones.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>You may have heard of HADES, it stands for Hotchkiss, Andover, Deerfield, Exeter, and St. Pauls. HADES are usually considered the most elite prep schools, but there are many others that maybe are not quite as well known, but may be a better school for you. Try searching around this forum to find out more about some other schools you may be interested in.</p></li>
<li><p>It all depends on which schools you are applying to. Andover and St. Pauls are the only schools I know of (are there any others?) that are need blind, which means financial aid is not a factor in your admission. I know that Exeter is also very generous in their FA. There are many other schools that are generous, but I think other CCers have more knowledge in that area than I do.</p></li>
<li><p>This is a pretty broad question, and I’m sure a lot of other posters have taken a lot of time to answer it excellently in other threads.</p></li>
<li><p>Most applications are due January 15th, but I would check the schools you are applying to to make sure that is the case. You can take the SSATs at any time really. Some people take them in January right before applications are due, others take them in September or October, whatever time is most convenient for you is the best time.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you! I will search through threads for the other info. I’ve always wondered what move in and first days are like in boarding schools. Hope yours is a good experience at PA.</p>
<p>Hi! I’m a returning sophomore at Deerfield so I can answer a few of your questions. Move in day last year as a freshman was hectic simply because I was a new student but at DA we have something called the “Deerfield Moving Company” which was basically juniors who were assigned to help move new students in so that relieved a lot of stress. It’s fun and exciting because your meeting your hall for the very first time, but you’re also anxious/nervous about starting at boarding school. I lob my teachers and the faculty at DA. I can honesty say that faculty/staff member I’ve encountered has been genuinely caring and eager to make my time at boarding school enjoyable. Academics are pretty rigorous as we are generally assigned about 45 min of homework a night per course but that usually isn’t a problem because I’ve always found that we are well prepared for homework during class.even though academics can sometimes get tough, we have plenty I time to just hang out with friends or go to a restaurant or go see one of the many games that are always happening!</p>
<p>Going to private prep school is really fun. People in other schools not of the same caliber don’t realize the amount of effort that goes into our schooling. In many cases, their “honors” classes are really our “regular” classes. My level 2 language class is the equivalent of a level 3 language class at a competing prep school. Besides that, even though I’m a day student, most of my day is spent at Peddie, and that includes a 30 minute commute to and from school. Having school on Saturdays is also just another example of devotion. Although it’s tough, there’s a certain feeling of accomplishment that I get when at school. When everything seems so tough and I want to quit, I remember how hard I worked to get where I am, and then everything seems to be a little easier.</p>
<p>@Deerfield15 Ohh that’s cool. So you guys have the upperclassmen to help you get settled in? I get around the same 45 minute for each class a night where I go too. Was not prepared for the workload but I guess after awhile you get so used to it that if you manage your time the right way it goes by a lot faster. </p>
<p>@Laughalittle Whoa, do most boarding schools have classes on Saturdays? I had no idea. Sounds like a lot of work. It’s awesome how motivated you are though. I often have to remind myself too how hard I worked to get to my school. I am reminded everytime someone I know didn’t get accepted, my sister included. She spent a week crying when she heard she hadn’t gotten in. </p>
<p>@Andover2016 Looking forward to it! Do you know yet whether they’ve given you a double or a single?</p>
<p>If they haven’t changed policies from last admissions season, Exeter is not need blind. Also, in addition to Andover, St. Andrew’s is need blind.</p>
<p>Sigh. You will only hear the acronym HADES on this board. No one else uses it anywhere else in the universe. It is meaningless, and unfair to some of the best schools in the US and the world. If kids suddenly decided it was cooler to talk about MGLMC, we could have a totally different, yet valid 5 schools to obsess over. Time to let that little acronym go, and start looking at the wider range of options out there for the truly academically gifted.</p>
<p>The good news is that there are more than 5 super elite boarding schools. The better news is that there are probably 30 or more boarding schools where very bright and dedicated kids can get a fantastic education. </p>
<p>end of rant. I really do wish best of luck to all students who are applying and heading to boarding school!</p>
<p>Many boarding schools do have school on Saturday, but it’s not a “requirement”, per se. And I know we get way more opportunities than others. The amount of money flying around is ridiculous.</p>
<p>@Distant Dreamer
I’m actually a day student, but I can probably tell you what some of the dorms are like.</p>
<p>@Albion
I actually agree with you about the HADES thing, and as I re read my reply I think I should of made my distaste for the term more clear, I don’t agree with the idea of those being the best schools at all. I just thought I would mention it because it’s what a lot of people, especially on this forum think are the best schools.</p>
<p>Choate
Deerfield
Episcopal High School (VA)
Groton
Hill School ¶
Hotchkiss
Kent
Lawrenceville
Middlesex
Phillips Andover Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
St. George’s School
St. Mark’s School
St. Paul’s School
Taft School
Woodberry Forest School (VA)</p>
<p>Which one is an all boys school? Yeah, I’m a girl too. :)</p>
<p>Woodberry Forest is the all-boys school. I’m a girl too, but I met someone who went there. And also, someone posted earlier in this thread that St. Paul’s was need-blind but it is not. Andover and St. Andrew’s are the two need blind schools.</p>
<p>Andover16,
You wrote “The amount of money flying around is ridiculous”, do you feel this on a personal level? Are the kids propped up jewlery or extra spending money. What about weekend trips- is a students lack of resouces really noticed? What do typical kids get as a monthly spending allowance?</p>
<p>Hi Rose, that was me (laughalittle). I feel that a little bit on a personal level. It’s more that they have a ton of great clothes, and their parents send them more every day. They have Dyson fans in their room and Mac desktops/laptops when Peddie gives you a new computer. They’re always ordering their meals because they don’t like dining hall food. But that’s only a selectfew. Since my school has kids on FA, there are some normal kids who don’t act like that (thankfully). Peddie is pretty relaxed. A student’s lack of resources is never noticed on the weekends. Most students can afford the activities, because Peddie covers a portion of the price for everyone (movie tickets, mini golf, bowling, etc) and we have to pay for the snacks. Plus, there’s often a free option, either on Sat. night or Sunday, of a mall trip or Princeton trip. I don’t know what typical kids get, as I’m a day student, but it’s sufficient.</p>