A couple of years ago my nephew enrolled in Grade 9 at (Taft/Loomis) after having been rejected at (Hotchkiss/Choate/Deerfield). Through his first semester he felt he wasn’t being challenged enough so he re-applied to HCD and was admitted to one of them.
Does anyone have an idea how hard it is to switch among selective BSs and if this is a rare occurrence?
Have a good weekend!
I know of a couple kids who have done it. But I think we only hear about the instances where the switch is made and don’t hear about those that don’t have success switching so I’m not sure how rare it is.
Did your nephew attend Taft or Loomis?
It’s very rare because all three schools ( HCD ) rejected him . It’s also rare because most kids who do transfer usually don’t do it for the academic reason you described . It’s usually the other way around… with kids switching BSs because they’re in over their head. Kids also switch BSs because their unhappy, too … but those kids usually return home.
That said, it’s possible I guess , but I wouldn’t encourage anyone ( who didn’t get into their first choice(s) M10 ) to look at this like it’s some kind of admissions strategy. Same for WL kids ( who have a slightly better shot ) … just throwing it out there! 
Aside from that - The first term III Form year ( arguably the easiest term of all academically ) isn’t in my mind enough time to give any school a proper shot- especially great- rigorous schools like Loomis or Taft. If this happened to me- I’d probably tell my kid to enjoy the slower pace while they can … and focus on getting settled in.
Most boarding schools appreciate all the adjustments, life changes and challenges that kids go through during their first term away from home and start off slow before they really ramp up for a reason. 
Anyway…
@MtnTrailX - I’m glad everything ultimately worked out well for your nephew and hope he’s doing well!
All the best and have a great weekend.
While I haven’t heard of any instances of students doing this for additional academic challenge, I have heard of it happening because a kid encountered disciplinary trouble, because they did an activity outside school (often sport at elite level ) that either required they be closer to home or coach or switch from a 6 day schedule to a 5 day one, because they were being bullied or otherwise socially tormented, or because they were academically drowning and needed a school with more support.
I would not advise judging any school on its first semester – many deliberately tone it down until expectations are fully understood and to get those from weaker middle schools placed properly, realizing that being away from home is a big adjustment for most.
There’s a proud boarding school tradition where the children of privilege tumble down the food chain of boarding schools one after the other until they assume their rightful place first at Harvard and then on Wall Street or the US Senate.
That’s why the schools exist, after all.
I find it hard to believe that someone who “felt” they weren’t being challenged at Taft or LC would “feel” certain they were being challenged at Choate, Deerfield, or Hotchkiss if they were taking the Pepsi Challenge. Vanity is a wonderful thing, and if someone truly “feels” that LC and Taft don’t have a comparable challenge for the absolute smartest kids at their respective schools, they are welcome to believe that with all their heart. Don’t make it so, tho.
Thanks for the replies. I think he had his heart set on one of HCD and thought they would be more rigorous. Elite athlete and has been admitted ED at HYP (university varsity coach was focused on the team’s AI).
@GnarWhail I don’t really understand the rationale for the condescension - people have the right to move schools if their heart so desires and that shouldn’t be a big deal. My post merely queried whether top BS were receptive to admissions of students from other good schools.
I can assure you, this is no son of privilege, and his place at HYP was based on many factors, legacy not being one of them.
Have a good night.
never mind.
the majority of transfers between boarding schools are due to getting kicked out of the first one. full-pay kids, usually connected in some way. it’s fine.
(most of) the only other times you see it is indeed for sports. both schools kinda come to an agreement of sorts that the kid is not going to get what they need at the first school and will suffer moving to the next level, usually college, and everybody on all sides works to make it work out. often you get a repeat year out of it to the benefit of the new school and their team. again, it’s the grossest of favoritism but also the way this little world works.
I totally get it : " … people have the right to move schools if their heart so desires and that shouldn’t be a big deal." Yes, absolutely, but it’s extremely difficult given the prior three rejections from those schools - which was your question. I didn’t know he was an elite athlete until this morning, but even with that piece in place ( the line forms to the left with elite student/ athletes ) , I still think it’s a tough climb- for anyone .
HT to your nephew who pulled it off and got to where he needed to be . I have three rowers who were recruited ED. Two went to Ivy while the other one chose a LAC/ team who was on a trajectory to beat them. A heart wants what a heart wants… or something. 
It’s all good.
Now that I know the athletic piece… here is a great thread- just in case anyone is interested:
@GnarWhail you definitely know your stuff - indeed he did repeat junior year, and was probably a significant addition to the varsity team (the competitive spirit among BS in varsity sports continues to amaze me) .
@PhotographerMom - how you would recall a 5 year old thread is remarkable, and it was very relevant. Thank you!!!
So I know two students who tried to switch to Andover from Choate and were rejected. I know two students who switched to SPS and were accepted. One girl who made the switch was being bullied and her father was an SPS alumnus, and the other had a medical condition and took a leave of absence then made the switch. I think it happens, but the schools are careful not to take students away from each other.
A boy in my DD’s grade switched to Groton this year and a girl switched to St. George’s (RI). I think some of it might have to do with fit. You hope you get it right the first time but sometimes you don’t.
from which school @MAandMEmom ?
I know a couple of kids who have done it. In the case with which I’m most familiar the kid in question was admitted to a c. 60% SSAT and a 90% SSAT school and originally chose the 60% school for reasons of fit. After a year they felt they weren’t being sufficient challenged and reapplied to the 90% school and were admitted. They did well enough at the school that they ended up at an Ivy League college. No sports or repeat involved. Also no mega-donations.
The other case I’m less familiar with but I believe it had to do with a mismatch in school culture and was a switch from an 80%ish SSAT school to a 90%ish. Kid was a varsity athlete but not a recruitable one, just a run of the mill contributor. Nice kid, stellar grades. Not a repeat.
I’ve seen lots of kids move the other way when they had difficulty at the tougher school.
@preppedparent this is at Deerfield. One case, its a sibling and I think it was assumed sibling #2 would be best suited where sibling #1 went but another school was a better fit.
It is EXTREMELY difficult. The schools do not want to ruffle feathers at other schools. Remember this is a mafia of sorts just like the NCAA and the Ivies. If there are disciplinary issues it tends to be movement to a lower tier school. If it is fit or other issues it tends to be at schools to which someone may have been admitted previously. There are athletic mis matches: i.e a very good hockey player left Groton and went to Salisbury because of the hockey program.
Switching is rare, though, is it not? I can’t imagine going through that horrible process again unless absolutely necessary. And how does the current school react? They have to provide teacher recommendations and grades, correct? Awkward, to say the least.
The student I referred to above who tried to transfer from Choate to Andover and was refused, had an older sib at Andover at the time. Younger sib ended up at Exeter, so family had PA, PEA and Choate students. At least a couple were attending at the same time. It seems like a lot for one family to keep track of with drop offs and pick ups. Glad my two went to the same BS, which is why I do think siblings have a slightly better chance.
At Choate I think we got a letter for the second student (sib) which stated the admit rate was 40% so that meant that still the majority of siblings will NOT get admitted.
I disagree with @center that schools don’t want to poach each other’s kids. The bigger issue IMO is the question of what will change. If a kid is not fitting in at their current school what assures the school to which they’re applying that they’ll fit in there?
There are substantial cultural differences among & between boarding schools,
Also, I think that bullying or improper sexual events could be a reasonable basis for transferring.