Interviews done. SSAT done. Most recs done Essays nearly done…and I’m now panicking (hyperbole) but I’m seriously wondering if the 5 schools DD chose to apply to are ‘enough’.
3 of the schools are ‘letter schools’ (Neither of the Phillips) and the other 2 are lesser known probably considered middle tier here… With a 82percentile I’m wondering if the ‘letter’ schools are out of reach leaving us with 2 options.
Thoughts on my ramblings?
Ps DD did a lot of research all herself and carefully selected schools that met her criteria (majority boarding, not too large, strong soccer, private music lessons, 600-800 student body) where she could really see herself and would love to attend so not sure there are many more schools to add that meet the criteria.
I’m in the trenches myself so a caveat on my response: I’m basing it on having combed through and read a gazillion posts here from wise ones who have gone before us.
There are definitely some advocates of the small target approach – getting super personal with fewer school apps. But I would venture to say that most posts I read here would suggest that if DD really wants to go to BS, it might be wise to add schools. (See @PhotographerMom post I think it was – recently suggesting much larger app numbers.) If you are not FP, and if her scores are below the schools’ averages that she chose, then that makes the advice extra pertinent. But of course, only add schools that your DD would be happy to attend. That said, I’ll bet there are a slew of schools that would fit that bill. You might want to poke around a bit and add to her solo research? Not in a panicky sort of way, but really in a thoughtful, if expedited way. 
It really depends. Do you have a good public option? My daughter applied to three “name-y” schools. She didn’t like any of the others we saw. But for us if she didn’t get in she would have gone to an excellent public school so it wasn’t a make or break situation.
Are you full pay? Does your daughter have a special talent? Varsity starter as a freshman. National level theatre or instrument? Something like that? How well does she interview? What is the rest of her app like? Will her recommendation letters say she’s one of the best they’ve ever taught? How good are the essays? There are so so many components.
It’s hard to give advice not knowing anything about your daughter and not knowing the schools. Some are less ssat focused than others I think.
Thanks @one1ofeach for your response (btw I have one of each too ?)
Local public not an option but currently in private independent but DD really wants to go to BS.
Varsity a strong possibility in 1 sport and mild possibility in another. Pretty sure recs will be very very strong. But will need some FA. Essays on the strong side. DD Is mature and has travelled extensively, lived and schooled out of the USA and is a URM. Interviews went well it seemed, lasted long and good conversation about DDs travel experiences
Schools are Hotchkiss, Deerfield, SPS, Blair & Taft.
Thanks @Calliemomofgirls i responded to your private message.
magic number is 8 - like in Magic 8 Ball
TO the OP and others with the “number question”. My full reply was cut -off…but the year we applied, it seemed that many students on similar CC threads were applying to 7 or 8 schools. Folks on CC shared advice to “cast a wide net”, especially when seeking FA. Many applicants we met on the road were applying to around 7 or 8 schools. Maybe things are different now? We also took the advice to widen the target area beyond MA/CT. If you go to the Results threads from the past couple of years, it gives you an idea of how many schools on here people applied to and how many schools they were accepted to/WL’d/or rejected.
I think your DD SSAT score will keep her in the running for any of these schools. Even if your DK had 95 SSATs I would say that maybe adding a few schools might be a good idea if she really wants to go and you need FA. FWIW, I don’t know that many would consider Taft a “lesser known” school with more flexible admissions. Only my impression and 2 cents, but I think she only has one of those on her list. She might get into all 5. But I’ve read too much here to count on it. Adding a school or two is totally doable, especially since your Taft app is done which means you definitely used SAO.
Thanks for the responses. DD feels reluctant to apply to schools that will clearly be seen as an ‘after thought’ (which really they are). I respect her decision because she looked at tons of schools before narrowing down the list to 7. 2 were struck from the list after visiting
We’ll take our chances on the 5 and see how the chips fall.
I think this is wise. We only applied to 4, also having a decent independent day school as a fallback. People started making case on this board for applying to as many as 15 schools (or more?) but realistically I just don’t see how anyone can spend their time researching, visiting, preparing for interviews, and writing essays for that many schools and do it well, let alone the time it takes to pull this off for the entire family. Now if you are a FA applicant from far away you may be able to pull it off Skyping the interviews and being more general about the school, but if you are private school applicant living within driving distance the school expect you to visit if you are seriously interested. So yes, they can easily tell which applications are afterthought or ‘safety’ for the most part, often just timing gives it away. I hate the word safety, btw, since no school wants to be your safety and most will waitlist you if they don’t believe you are a serious applicant no matter how amazing your credentials are. But more importantly, I don’t know anyone who has gone happily to their ‘safety’ school, be it in boarding school or college world. If you consider the school safety there is always the undertone of “I am too good for this place” which makes it very hard to happily enroll there in the end, and often it comes through in the application itself too. The kids we know that only got into their safety boarding schools all ended up staying home, and the kids who were in that situation for college took a gap year or reluctantly enrolled and immediately started working on transfer applications. So my advice would be only apply to schools you would be happy to attend in the end, just make sure there is a solid back up plan. If you absolutely have to go to boarding school then longer list is needed, but it should have been created months ago.
I couldn’t agree more with your DD’s decision on this. Best of luck.
Kudos to your DD for feeling like something was right for her and sticking to it. Cheering her on from the sidelines!!
It sounds like you are not going to add schools regardless of the answer. But to your points, I don’t think any new school would see your interest at this point as an afterthought. Most understand that prospective students, especially those who aren’t working with an experienced counselor (at school or independent) learn through the search and they are happy for a good prospect, whether it shows up in September or January. But you are right that if it’s just unenthusiastically added (whether early or late), the AO will pick up on that.
I think your list has balance, however, so I am guessing she will have at least one or two acceptances on M10. The million dollar question is whether you will get the FA you need. As I have noted in other threads, if you are a middle class family, many schools are targeting your demographic. They have kids at either end of the need spectrum (fp to full scholarship) and many are actively trying to address the middle (often with dedicated funds for that). So this is a risk you should be aware of but you may be okay.
She sounds like a kid that would do well at BS and could bring a lot to a community. I DO think that the list of what she wants should not make it hard to find other schools that fit the bill if she really wanted to add schools.
Since you have a decent option if it doesn’t work out (even though she would have to stay at home), the fallback is to reapply next year if it comes to that. At that point, she can reassess her list.
Wishing you and your D luck!!
I agree with @gardenstategal and I understand the mindset, too.
I would only add one thing: Your daughter’s list would never be approved by a PDS/JBS SS placement office or private consultant.
In fact, they would tell you that you’re on your own.
She has three unbelievably competitive schools, one very popular “it” school (Taft ), and the most forgiving acceptance rate on her list ( Blair- which is also VERY popular right now ) is 18%.
I’m serious ( not snarky ) - I really do admire her spirit and spunk. Go for it!
When I suggested 10 schools for FP and 15 or more for FA, that’s coming straight from people who have their finger on the pulse ( this cycle ) and others who have skin in the game because they need to deliver results.
That said- it always boils down to how badly you want to go and how much you’re willing to leave to luck or chance.
BS isn’t a closely guarded secret anymore.
All the best and good luck! I will have my fingers crossed M10!!
Thanks @gardenstategal. We’d already decided that if no acceptances we would apply again next year for 10 and spend more time on a wider net more so since 10th has less spots.
Re FA we are middle class so hopefully that might work in our favour.
@amumof2 While I don’t know all those schools, I think with an 82, that’s going to be a stretch. If your child has a great athletic ability and plays on a strong club, has theatrical inklings or has won every art award then disregard my words. But having met my kids friends, their siblings and knowing many kids from our local communities who attend BS, there are many talented kids out there.
I respectfully disagree with @417WHBs’ take that kids won’t be happy at their second or third choice BS . Schools want the best class and they will accept the best pool that applies. They also know that many of their top students will come as a result of not getting into a big name school. Everyone who runs a BS and who has applied to BS, knows its a process and along the way people determine their best fit. So no BS is going to reject and awesome candidate because they are too good. They will instead work to get them.
I hope that your child’s application stands out and he/she has lots of choices. The scores aren’t the only things school look at but they are a good metric of what other applicants might look like to AO’s.
@HappyTimes2001 I never said kids won’t be happy at their second or third choice BS, my own kid applied to 4 and could likely have been happy at any of them. I did say kids are unlikely to be happy at a school they consider ‘safety school’, because that implies belief they are too good for the school from the start. That’s just what I have seen and read, though I have no doubt there are exceptions. Hence my belief you should only apply to schools you love and would be happy to enroll in.
@417WHB Sorry but your words are confusing, so kids will be happy at a #4 but not at a "safety? OK, that’s confusing to me.
Actually many kids on this board have been happy with their #2 or #3 “safety” and some if you look at posters on for a long time have really thrived. Whether they attended due to acceptances or FA, or other reasons, we can only guess.
Kids often go for the name school and then when faced with the choice between their top school and no BS, chose the latter. I honestly think most of the schools can offer kids a great education.
Any kid that thinks they are too good for anything is usually going to be unhappy anywhere. There are lots of entitled kids these days and BS do get some of those. I honestly think BS are trying to screen out kids who have this entitled attitude. You can sure see it a mile away ( in kids at private or public).
Schools cannot “guess” who is serious or not about the school. Many students are nervous during interviews or go to multiple schools in a day. This is very common and the AO’s know it. They do try to determine if a kid is likely to attend by asking pointed questions.
Agree kids should only apply to schools they would be happy to attend. But please folks don’t fall for the false assumption that only PA or PEA or only a list of the very top schools is the only place for you or that you shouldn’t keep an open mind. Applying and not receiving an acceptance means a year going elsewhere and all that entails.
And the idea that you should not apply to a wide variety of schools because you have high stats is erroneous. This is especially true if you need FA or have an unusual talent. A school might love you but not have a place for you. Broadening your search is wise. And schools know that it’s a process. They will pick the best kids.
My advice would be to have a broad list of different schools at different levels. Pick some safeties (I’m going to define a safety as a school where you have much better than average stats). And if you have high stats pick schools in the next tier down just in case.
I knew the school I wanted to attend from an early age - a Top 20 school - but I knew that nothing is guaranteed. I applied to a total of six but they were all in different “buckets.” Deerfield & SPS are kind of in the same bucket. Hotchkiss & Taft are direct rivals. Needing some FA, none of these will be a slam dunk. I would do a little more research. Feel free to DM me and I could walk you through my journey. If not, needing FA, make sure you have at least one safety on her list.