Looking for acceptance rates of the day school vs boarding school for Exeter, Andover, and such schools? We have no experience with these prep schools and just started looking into it. We have to apply this fall for 9th grade.
Another question that haunts me is: Are Andover’s acceptances to HYPSM mainly comprised of athletes yearly?
Assume them to be similar, but they don’t release that info
No. There are also legacies, fac brats, and other hooked applicants. Plus some unhooked applicants
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Oh yes, left out these. But are these hooked categories more heavily represented than the unhooked applicants?
Yes
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I believe that the most meaningful difference in boarding versus day applicant acceptance rates comes at the edges - meaning a school has a little more wiggle room say to take an extra kid off WL for a day student slot, whereas number of beds is fixed.
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It was a while ago, but our AO told us it is much harder to get into L’ville as a day student than boarder.
If you are genuinely indifferent, ask in your interview which is easier and if you can indicate your flexibility on your application. Some schools may be happy to have a student who can fit into either category.
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I imagine this is still true; the Princeton area has a ton of incredibly competitive school districts and private K-8s. To this day, I’m pretty shocked that I pulled off an acceptance, especially given how much standards have risen since when I applied in 2019.
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Thank you! L’ville day student being harder does make sense!
Using the same reasoning, I believe this must be true for all Boston schools as well like Exeter and Andover.
As noted on another thread, Exeter has strict geographic limitations on who can be a day student. Andover seems to now have a policy that forces applicants to choose boarding or day (without criteria) but it seems like an irrevocable choice.
Plenty of other Boston area schools have no limitations.
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Same from AO at Brooks.
The more urban /suburban the school, the tougher the day student admit.
Middle of nowhere? Boarding is the tough path.
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How and at what stage in the application process do they force? Could it be because there are more locals applying than the available seats for them?
Deerfield seems to be far away, so maybe rural. But is Groton, Nobles, Andover, and Exeter considered rural too?
No.
Deerfield has one of the highest % boarding rates because it is so rural and therefore a long commute from most towns. A significant % of day students are faculty kids, although some day kids do commute from places like Amherst.
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How and at what stage in the application process do they force? Could it be because there are more locals applying than the available seats for them?
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I think almost anything about your application isn’t permanent until you submit it.
There are always many times more applications than available spots day OR boarding at Andover. I imagine the change in policy had to do with problems with people wanting to change from day to boarding or vice versa previously. But I have no connection with Andover so cannot speak to their change specifically.
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My son applied to Groton as a day student. On his interview day, our tour guide mentioned that each class has around 10 day students. I got concerned because this basically means only 5 boys can get in so his chances were not looking good. When I brought this up with the AO, he said their admissions office don’t separate applications based on day or boarding students. Instead they are reviewed together. By the way the AO who interviewed us is the dean of admissions so I would think his words are true.
On the other hand when we interviewed at another school, the AO tried to talk me into letting my son apply as a boarder even though we live less than 20 minutes away. My son didn’t (still doesn’t) want to live at school so I was firm he will only attend if accepted as a day student. The AO said it’s much harder to get in as a day student because they take less than 20 per year, but we didn’t change our minds. I can’t force my child into things he doesn’t want to do or is not ready for.
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