<p>I imagine a lot of students on the forum are starting to wonder if there are other options still out there - someplace they should have applied to and didn’t. Someplace where space - and FA - might still be available.</p>
<p>So, although I know that there have been separate threads addressing both late FA and non-Hades schools, I was wondering if we couldn’t start a list of schools that you all are familiar with and could recommend. Searching through [Boarding</a> School Review](<a href=“Boarding School Search Results”>Boarding School Search Results) is certainly one way to go . . . but perhaps we can start a list with suggestions?</p>
<p>I believe NAIS publishes a list of schools still accepting applications- or something like that. It came out last year in the spring I think. There was also a similar thread to what you are looking for last year that had the NAIS link on it. Sorry I am not great at searches but maybe someone else can help you find it.</p>
<p>Fairly soon, the SSAT organization will start posting “schools currently considering applications.” SSAT Member Information</p>
<p>If you are a full pay family, and your child is very bright, you may be able to find a school this year. I think it would be worthwhile to call schools you might be interested in, to see if they would accept a “late application.” I suspect many admissions directors might be willing to bend the rules for someone who’s late.</p>
<p>I’ll quote another poster on this site, Newyorker22:</p>
<p>Quote:
Most boarding schools don’t fill up on April 10th and continue the search for students into May, or sometimes even July, and some of them never fill up at all, and will take students mid-year. If you are talking about the top 15 or 20 schools which are mentioned on here most often, they may allow you to apply for the wait list, and sometimes that works out.</p>
<p>Schools like Kent and Loomis often have spaces available in the spring, but usually won’t post it on the SCCA list mentioned before. Many schools are reluctant to post there so it isn’t the most accurate, but a good start.
Rolling admissions? Late applicants?</p>
<p>As I recall, someone last year claimed to have had good responses from schools after March…oh, here it is: Now that it is mid-April and the dust is settling, I wish to tell my story. You should read this thread! </p>
<p>I believe that the “dust settling” parent was pan(and then a number) and that his child ended up at Kent. He was full pay, however. Kent is a GREAT school in my mind and I have heard many parents talk about how happy they were with it challenging their very bright children. I would investigate it.</p>
<p>My son was went through this process last year. He only applied to 3 schools and was not offered admission at any of them in March. We were all set to keep him home another year and try again. Then I found this site and realized that boarding school was still a possibility. I discovered that there is a whole “2nd round of admissions” that takes place in April/May at a number of great schools (not all of them advertise this). If you are truly interested for next year, it is not too late; especially for an athlete. You can even have your child take the SSAT again in April. Do some research on the type of school that would be a good fit for your child and get on the phone. We called Admission Office’s directly in the end of April and by May we had choices. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I know most of you have heard this, but it bears repeating in the case that it helps someone. My son didn’t apply to bs until mid April. First I called the schools directly and was told they were full. However, once I spoke to the coaches there, they suddenly had spaces. He applied to and was accepted at 4 school. Yes, we were full pay, and I don’t think we could have gotten any FA. But we did apply and receive FA for his next year there. The 4 schools were Pomfret, Tabor, Millbrook and Proctor.
Hope this helps.
zp</p>
<p>There are many great schools beyond the most competitive that would consider a good candidate after the regular deadline. What complicates your situation is that you need financial aid, and at competitive schools it is often already used for accepted and then waitlisted applicants.</p>
<p>If you and your child have your heart set on boarding school for next year, I think it would be worthwhile to take as unbiased an assessment of your child as you can. Find boarding schools that place your child in the top 25% or higher of matriculating students. Look for schools outside of New England, or schools within New England that are not usually discussed on this board. </p>
<p>The only 2 times I have heard of applicants making a late application and receiving financial aid with admission were with the scotland45 story and from someone at admissions at St. Andrew Sewanee who used to post on this board. The admissions person said that they still had some fa left after regular admissions. That was a few ago, but is worth a try if you are interested in that school. If not that school, then I would look at schools with a similar profile. I would also look at high endowment schools outside of New England, like Woodbery Forest (sp?), Cranbrook, Western Reserve, etc. The all boys or all girls schools sound wonderful, but are just not as popular right now. You might try calling some of these even if they are in New England. Out of New England would be even better.</p>
<p>You should also assess the strength of your child’s application. What does your child offer a school to make the community stronger or more interesting? When you talk to admissions, talk about talents and interests in addition to strong academics.</p>
<p>I’m not an expert in this, but I have been following this discussion board for a few years. For years I’ve been suggesting to applicants that they should look beyond the most competitive schools, but most are not receptive to the idea until after poor results. I hope things work out for you.</p>
<p>There are some great links to various posts in the “nerdy kid” thread! Check them out! Pan1956 is so right when saying:
Unfortunately, I think so many on these forums don’t see that until it is too late…</p>
<p>To echo what Burb said…and it is exactly what we were just told at a College Planning workshop - find the school that you are in the 25% (actually they said above the 50% mark, but now that this is a late application, 25% is even better).</p>
<p>I completely agree with Linda S and Burb Parent. The key is finding the school where you would be one of their top choices on March 10th and therefore one of their top choices in April and even May. </p>
<p>It’s got to be a good feeling for a kid to start at a school where he/she will be one of the top 25%! BS is hard and every little advantage helps.</p>
<p>Another perspective is: Parents, enjoy your kids for a few more years–BS is really hard and stressful on teens and I have found, even tougher on parents. All my friends said I was crazy to send D/S so young, and in some ways they were right. While D/S is doing well at school, they see too much too early at BS (and i thought my kid was pretty mature, ready and independent). Sure there are other adults around–but they are not YOUR kid’s guardian–they are really there only as a safety net. Unless there are no good options at home, keep them around a few years longer. I had big eyes about the lure of BS and I wish someone had helped me see that it was not a failure to keep D/S at home.</p>