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[SevenDad]

Maybe it's because I stayed up late watching the latest installment of the James Bond franchise last night (slow in parts, but still amazing), but I'm in a certain mood this AM.

Here are some thoughts & links for this year's crop of applicants:

- IT IS HARDER THAN YOU THINK TO GET INTO THE MOST SELECTIVE SCHOOLS. If you have to ask your chances, you probably are overestimating them. If you need FA, your chances are even lower for most schools. If you are an Asian girl, your chances are also lower (I was told this by an AO...Asian girls represent one of the most overqualified segments of the app pool, simply too many good candidates.)

- THE SEARCH TOOL IS YOUR FRIEND. There are a bunch of new threads started recently which indicate to me that the poster has not used the search tool. Keep in mind that, for the most part, the questions you have as an applicant have probably been asked by previous generations of applicants...so take a second to look your question up. Use the "Advanced" option and focus on the BS subforum.

- Prep School Admission Process

- If you're new to CC, please read this before posting

- 2012 Clean Official Boarding Decisions and Applicant Stats/EC's

- Families entering the BS world with eyes open: know the DOWN SIDE

- If you could give one piece of advice...?

- Advice for Next Year's Applicants

BTW, you're welcome.

[girlgeekmom]

Thanks, SevenDad!

And to the above, I would add, "chance me?" is not very useful. But if you simply can't control your impulses and MUST ask, then use the CHANCES sub-forum here:
Prep School Chances - College Confidential

[SevenDad]

From a recent post in the "Cafe" section...

"I was rejected by Taft, Andover, Exeter, and Middlesex last year and was looking for some easier schools to get into."

This is exactly the sort of situation that I'm helping people try to avoid when I give advice here.

Here's the link to the thread (which is really just getting started):
Repeating 9th Grade and Lower tier Boarding Schools

FWIW, I loathe the term "lower-tier". Because how would you like it if someone characterized your application profile/your child as "lower-tier"? Speaking to selectivity does the trick, without the "if you don't go to XYZ Academy, you are lesser than" implication.

[SevenDad]

- Do not take an Admission Officer's comment that "You'd be a great addition to XYZ Academy" or even a handwritten holiday card from them as any indication that your chances for admission are any better than the next person.

[SevenDad]

- ASK YOUR PARENTS FIRST!
I just saw a question about whether or not one should send a gift card with a thank you note. This is the sort of thing that I'd think most parents who are remotely familiar with either the BS application process/formal etiquette in general would steer their child clear of. I see plenty of questions posted by kids that I think would be best answered by the primary adults in their lives...not some anonymous internet forum.

[CherryRose]

I applied last cycle to the most selective schools as an Asian girl needing full FA. A word from another one who's been where most of you least want to be on M10 (waitlisted and rejected everywhere), no matter how good you think your stats are, if getting into boarding school is a must, please do choose your apply-to list carefully.

I'm not necessarily condemning the go-big-or-go-home mindset. But maybe better safe than sorry would be a wiser approach if for whatever reason you must get in, or if your demographics/circumstances put you at a disadvantage. It might just take one extra application- a couple more essays, an hour for an interview. You can go big AND be "safe" at the same time.

The best of luck. Don't give up!

[spaceneedlesevie]

A little irrelevant, but i also loved Skyfall!
TIP: don't pad your app. There's this friend of mine who is applying currently and is needlessly putting on everything she's accomplished since the first grade, and reading how many times she volunteered for school open house makes my head hurt. Just keep it in the past few yrs and advocate your passion.

[2kidsnoanswers]

Another great thread topic, 7Dad.

It makes my heart hurt every March 10 when I see enthusiastic, bright kids get turned down or waitlisted from all/most schools they applied to and are surprised and heartbroken. Usually the list they had drawn up consisted of only the schools with the lowest acceptance rates.

There are quite a few excellent schools beyond just the ones mentioned ceaselessly on CC. I can't help but think some of these kids could now be attending superb boarding schools if they took a broader look.

A thoughtful approach to what the candidate really wants in a school (beyond just bragging rights) and a balanced list that includes more than just reaches could avoid so much heartache. If the student insists on just following the pack, hopefully the student has a good local back-up plan so that not getting into boarding school can be taken in stride without great upset.

[SevenDad]

Bumping for the recent influx of new folks.