Match Me Boarding Schools

Prep School Admissions
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Hello! I’ve been on CC for a while but am only posting now. I’m a 7th grader and I’m going to be applying to high school, including boarding schools, in the fall. I only have two on my list so far though, Exeter and Andover, and I’m not sure what other schools to add that match what I want after lengthy internet searches, so if anybody has any suggestions, that’d be great.

Must-haves at a school for me are: A very strong math team and math curriculum that kind of aligns with competition math (like, focused on solving problems and math understanding and not so much on memorizing formulas, etc.). A warm, supportive community (I don’t mind healthy competition though, so long as it’s not cutthroat or pressure-cooker-y). Amazing academics in general though I think most good boarding schools are going to have this. An East Coast location, because my parents will not allow me to go to school on the other side of the country.

I would also strongly prefer to be at a school with an excellent music and piano program, English classes that incorporate writing that’s not just analytical (narrative, memoir, etc.), decent matriculation, and good food and beds, but these are not as high priority as the must-haves I said above.

I don’t particularly care about the size of the school or how big the town it’s located in is.

Thanks to everyone in advance!

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Hi! I’m an incoming boarding school student, and here’s what I’m thinking. Applying to Exeter/Andover is great and it’s great that you’re thinking about other schools and fit!

Here’s some schools I think you should take a look at and do some more research on (based on fit for you/schools people typically apply to):
Groton (Small population which leads to a closer community; pretty much great at everything, lots of prestige. The headmaster is absolutely amazing, by the way. Very good maltricurations, can be academically pressuring though.)
Choate Rosemary Hall (Larger school ~850 kids so you’ll definitely find your people, can be pretty cutthroat at times but the maltricurations and everything else is amazing)
Deerfield Academy (I don’t know much but people have said the community is supportive. It’s also really prestigious. Worth taking a look at.)
Loomis Chaffee (Lots of nice people here and although everything is focused on writing, it’s absolutely amazing at everything it does.)
Milton Academy
Lawrenceville
St. Paul’s School

Those are the schools people typically apply to. (Like the T20s of boarding school)
I would also recommend applying to some “Hidden Gem” schools based on what you said about valuing good academics but not a cutthroat environment. I’m not that familiar with a lot of those schools, but i’m sure some things will come up if you search “Hidden Gem Schools” on the search bar. I’m sorry that I can’t be more helpful.

I love that you’re thinking early, and start working on that SSAT/ISEE prep!
Good luck!

(If you have any other questions feel free to ask!)

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Hotchkiss. But you should definitely apply to schools with higher admit rates too, unless you have a good alternative to boarding school.

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Welcome!!

I was also going to say that Hotchkiss might be on interest to you. And of course, look at the schools suggested above. But what happened there was that you said “i know about Harvard and Princeton. What else is out there?” And the answer is “Yale, Stanford, MIT, Caltech.” Of course, but do yourself a favor and really explore the options. It’ll help you understand the differences between the schools and figure out what matters most to you, not just in the classroom but in the place that will be your home for 4 years.

I always recommend people look at George School in PA. It has a very different academic calendar, which for many students is appealing for its flexibility and ability to devote more time to certain subjects. Great math and music, different vibe. It’s down the road from Lawrenceville, which is similar to Andover and Exeter, so if you visit Lawrenceville, check out both (and consider looking at Peddie too). If you feel that the academic calendar at George suits you, Cambridge School of Weston could be worth a look too. George, Peddie, and Mercersberg are often cited as schools with cultures of kindness.

The single-sex schools can be a terrific choice for many, so take a look at those. Emma Willard, Miss Porters.

As you look, pay attention to the things that jump out as particularly appealing as well as turn offs. You’re in a very fortunate position to be able to think about what you want your high school experience to be, so do that thoroughly. It’ll pay off not just inn admission success, but in the 4 years that follow.

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Thanks so much for the responses! I will definitely look into these schools. If anybody has any experience with the math teams or other math opportunities at any of them, can you discuss? Like for math teams, what happens during practices, how often are practices, what competitions the math teams participate in, results of math competitions, etc. Thanks again!

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I may be a little biased; however, I can’t recommend Taft enough. We also have an amazing Math Team that won its 4th consecutive New England Math Title this fall. I also would encourage you to go beyond the top/most well-known schools as you may just find a hidden-gem you love.

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Size does matter when it comes to choosing schools, as bigger schools will offer more breadth in the course catalogue, as well the caliber of the faculty. Andover and Exeter are the largest schools by far and should be able to satisfy all of your academic and extracurricular pursuits. However, competition can be fierce as you are surrounded by some of the most ambitious peers you can find.

In terms of music resources and programs, no school comes close to Hotchkiss. St. Paul’s recently received a very large gift for the music program as well. Both schools are known for their collegiate, family-like atmosphere, with very decent academic outcomes.

Lawrenceville also has several ensembles that you can participate in. It is definitely a powerhouse in STEM, so it’s worthwhile looking into. Choate offers a similar size and profile.

Loomis Chaffee is another school that we looked at and definitely on the rise. Good balance across academics, a strong writing program, great athletics (not sure if you care), and generally a very good vibe.

If math is your top priority, then work hard on Exeter. They have the best teachers and most ambitions kids IMHO. Good luck!

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Thank you @SenorRhino and @CarnegieDad !

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The first part may be true. The second - every school has some beloved faculty as well as some who are less good at their jobs. And not every student agrees on who belongs in which category. Faculty often choose their schools based on things like location - including proximity to family, career opportunities for a spouse, housing, workload, community, etc.

But I do agree that schools of different sizes have a different feel, and that there are pros and cons to each. It’s important for applicants to try to assess how they stack up for their respective priorities.

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This is basically the GLADCHEMMS, and yes, it is the prep school equivalent of suggesting that someone applying to college apply to the T20s.

And the same rules as applying to college are applicable here. Your list should ideally include options that are: reach, target and safety.

A reach is a school you really like, but have a low probability of getting into. Schools with an admission rate under 15% are considered to be a reach for most.

A target is a school you really like a lot, and have a reasonable probability of getting into, based on your qualifications (grades, tests scores, etc.). You are a good “fit” in that you would smoothly fit into the community.

A safety is a school you like, and have a very high probability of getting into based on your qualifications. You should be academically higher performing the average student at the school. It is a school that you would expect would only reject/waitlist you for yield reasons - they think won’t go there. Or they just don’t like you. Do not mistake Concord Academy for a safety school. :slightly_smiling_face:

All schools you apply to should be schools that you can (happily) imagine going to. (The exception to that are the ones your parents insist you apply to. :wink: )

Applying to 20 or more schools will not guarantee that you get in. A much shorter list of schools you’re really excited about will result in more focused applications. It is better to figure out what you really want and target your list accordingly.

The George School and the Cambridge School of Weston are examples of schools which use different academic calendars from most. (Add Madeira to that list!) Call it modules, call it terms, but it’s an example of how important it is to research the schools you apply to. For example, at CSW the year is split in 6 modules with three 90 minute academic blocks per day in each module; you will have at most 3 different classes per module (some classes are double blocks). Some people love it because they came immerse themselves in a subject, or have flexibility in their schedule (my kid used it to take more math) - some hate it because of the lack of continuity, because there will be modules where you are not taking math. Or foreign language. Or [insert any subject]. Fair enough, but don’t apply if you have strong negative feelings/opinions about a school’s academic approach!

You have loads of options in applying, so think about what works for you - and what doesn’t. Read about the various schools and their approach to teaching and how do they incorporate their mission into the classroom.

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