Not sure how these get started/pinned but here is last year:
there was also a stats/EC thread
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I don’t know if it’s the economy, but something sure has dried up the prep forum. This used to be a sizzling hot board when our son was going through the journey and the few years after. More recently, crickets. This board is a shadow of its former self. Are BS applicants using a different forum? And there are hardly any parents here at all. We used to keep this board hopping almost 24/7 (just look at the first few ages of this thread as an example).
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Interestingly, there was a big increase in interest in boarding schools at our smallish private K-8 this cycle. A lot of that appeared more student than parent driven. Of course in small schools, peer effects can cause some of what is sometimes described as a fish-schooling effect.
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Don’t have hard data, but the fact that some of these schools are offering ED is a piece of evidence that the competition for students has become more difficult.
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I’ve actually been meaning to say this for a while, so your comment finally pushed me to come out of “observer mode.” 
Thank you for the time and wisdom you (and the other OG parents here) have poured into this forum over the years. I’ve been a quiet parent observer, but I’ve learned an incredible amount from reading your posts and the discussions here. Your insights have been genuinely helpful as our family navigated this journey.
And yes, I’ve noticed the same thing. From reading older threads, it feels like this board used to be buzzing with activity. These days it does seem a lot quieter. I’ve wondered too whether applicants and parents have moved to other spaces.
For what it’s worth, the guidance shared here has still made a real difference for families like mine who are quietly reading along.
PS: Our DD was fortunate to be admitted to a few schools, but it’s looking like she’ll likely end up at Exeter.
Thanks again for everything you’ve contributed here.
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I’m guessing that folks have moved to other forums. My understanding is that yes, many schools - probably most - are working harder to get and yield applicants. Part of it is demographics, and part of it is also that there is less appeal for foreign students to be in the US. But there are still very meaningful numbers of kids applying, and the schools that interest folks here are fully enrolled. If they are online, it’s not here!
Imho, it’s a pity because most families go through this process - from applying to graduation - having all sorts of “OH, so that’s how that works?” moments, and it really helps to have others around who have lived through it. And for many of us, we lived through it ages ago, so new input helps.
I hope you’ll stick around, @1tree1 ! I hope your D is excited about the journey in front of her!
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I was wondering the same thing. Spent a decent amount of time reading through past threads and topics, and over the past couple of years, there has been a drastic decrease in posts, especially from parents.
I am new to the forum. My daughter is in the class of ‘29, and my son will be attending BS next year (‘30), at the same school. I stumbled upon this site at the beginning of this month, and it would have been so much more helpful if I had had this resource last year when we were going through the application and school-choosing process for the first time.
Hopefully, more incoming parents will also stumble upon them; there were some great past discussions, and I am sure new parents will have similar, if not new, questions to ask.
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We hope you’ll stick around to be a resource to new famillies, prospective students, etc. With 2, you will be a pro! And that this community might be the same for you should you need it.
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Thanks, yes, I hope/plan to!
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