Making the Prep School Forum Better

[Jonathan1]

No, we should just have this main forum and a chances and cafe forum. If we have anything more, no one would post in the main forum!

[BrooklynGuy]

Perhaps a sticky or archived thread with useful links: boardingschoolreview, petersons, schools.com, sss financial aid main page. Or some note/thread/FAQS to direct parents new to the search/process of boarding schools that contained these links and some other key important stuff.

Also, on a different bit of advice: when I first was looking here, I thought that if you were a "senior member" that you were an adult, until I read more posts. Later, I realized it only had to do with how long you have been a member. But, I think that the junior/senior thing can be a bit confusing....if anyone looks at it.

[artsmart]

i would love threads on different schools! u could meet people applying there, already there, or people who previously applied. u could meet new classmates and learn about the school w/o looking through random threads.

[padfoot_rox]

Before I make any suggestions for improvements to this forum, I'd like to apologize for starting the Jonas Brothers vs. Hannah Montana thread that has since been deleted. The argument developed between two members in another thread and I decided to create a new thread about the topic that might help take people's minds off the next day, March 10.

I agree with what Jonathan said--it would be nice to have a cafe subforum and a chances subforum, but if there were subforums for individual schools, the mods would have a huge mess on their hands.

[NeLLyRaE]

Thanks for making this amazing site!!!!

I don't think we should have individual places for schools. but maybe a general place for questions about the "top ten." (andover, exeter, sps, etc.) it would be easier for those trying to sift through info about those specific schools.

[AGSAABS]

Thanks for this great site! I would not have known as much about boarding school without it!

I don't think that we should have seperate threads for individual schools either because it would be too confusing.

[BostonBorn]

Kids always like the Chances thread, although it is really reading a crystal ball. A Cafe would be nice, though not separated by parent/kid. Some museum threads would be beneficial: Financial Aid, Application Process, Interviewing, Waitlist, etc... How many times does one have to answer what to wear to an interview?

I don't think anyone asked for or wants separate subforums for individual schools. My impression from reading prior posts, the most anyone was requesting was two subforums, one for TASO schools and another for all other schools.

The main thread, a cafe, chances, and few museum threads would be great!

[artsmart]

i think you should have organized threads (schools, chances, FA, etc.), but then also have a cafe for us to make our own threads. i REALLY think there should be school threads. then if you're applying or attending a school, you can meet people in the same boat.

[USCfinebyme]

I am not sure how you can change this, but it is awkward to have this subsection under the College Discussions link. I think that you would get more users and more information by highlighting somehow that College Confidential is also Prep School (and private school) Confidential. I only know about this site because my older kid already went through the college application process. I believe that the Prep school and private school process is shrouded in secrecy and that many people would benefit greatly from knowing about the process, especially if they are going from public school to private school. The private school kids are groomed for the process in a way that public school kids aren't. Public school kids can learn a lot about the strategies for becoming a successful and competitive applicant.

[artsmart]

i completely agree w/USC. the only reason i found this site is when i was looking on google for ssat scores to compare mine too.

[Linda S]

That's how I found it too artsmart.

I've been finding it frustrating the multiple threads about the same thing. We have a "meet your potential classmates" thread and then there are several started after that one "who's going to St. Anderfield's?" I don't know how to solve that - I did reply as suggested, referencing the other topic. Didn't seem to help.

I do think a seperate Parents / student section. Not that there couldn't besome cross posting, but it would make it easier to (hopefully) know if you were talking to an adult or not.

In any case, thank you for providing this forum, I have found it to be very helpful and have actually met (in real life) one of the members and will very soon be meeting another.

[soccerlife1229]

so funny, linda and artsmart, that is how i found it too! a chances section would be great. but i don't think it is necessary to make sub-forums for different schools.

[Periwinkle]

Ha ha, I found it by Googling to try to figure out which end is up with ISEE/SSATs!

I don't think the parents and students should split. I think each side helps the other. The parents sometimes step in to referee, when kids' emotions get out of hand, and I've seen the students do the same for the parents. More than anything else, I worry about students telling each other, "you're in! great stats!", etc. It's misleading, as no one can know, and the students have a strong bias against being "negative," i.e., what I would call being realistic. I've noticed parents are much more likely to remind students that this is a gamble, and that a wider range of schools is a good idea.

I'd suggest a tag, on the side data for the poster. So, "Join Date:, Gender:, PARENT or APPLICANT, Threads, Posts."

[NewD]

I think this site has been great. It has helped me get informed about boarding schools when looking for my son, 2 years ago, and later to learn more and also to get a little bit of entertainment.

I think it should remain the same with no sub-directories. It makes it easier to search for topics.

I have told other parents for this site and they have been able to get info as well.

I agree that maybe a tag could be good to identify parents, students, and/or school administrators; but it is ok the way it is.

Thanks Roger.

[Quenn]

Actually I still haven't figured the junior-senior thing out. I joined a year ago but am still listed as a "new" member. Perhaps it has to do with # of posts?