Your Top Choice May Not Be The "One".

Prep School Admissions
1

I’m sure this is a highly recycled thread, but bear with me.

It was around this time, last year, where the actuality of March 10th hit me, as I’m assuming it is beginning to hit others. So, I’ll give a small piece of advice to people applying to boarding schools, or any school for that matter.

If your top choice school doesn’t accept you, then it wouldn’t have been a good fit in the first place.

Now, there are some exceptions… but, in most cases, love the school that loves you. When I was rejected from my top choice (and only choice - not smart), I was crushed. It took a while to figure out that, in reality, I wouldn’t have fit in anyways. Then, a month and a half later I put in an application for a boarding school in rural Maryland with rolling admission, and I was accepted. Now, while I’m about to wrap up my second trimester here, I see that this was the place I was supposed to end up. Yes, it’s not a “top tier” boarding school and yes, it probably is not as academically rigorous as Exeter or Middlesex (ha) or Deerfield. But, I fit here.

Try to get your peace of mind back. When March 10th rolls around, Love The School That Loves You. Please, at least consider it. Look at my case; I was desperate to get out of my old school, a very elite private, all girls school. I hated it. I was rejected from my only choice boarding school. I was accepted to a school who loved me, and in turn, I began to love it back.

I’m finding myself getting into new endeavors every week. I have tried things I never expected I would. I joined the dance team, and preformed in front of the entire student and faculty body. I am a acolyte in chapel, I am in the yearbook club but write occasionally for the newspaper. I took part in the first ever flash mob during lunch. Next spring break, I am traveling to Scotland and Ireland with the art teacher. I have been recruited by the school to photograph many, many events. I made the high honor roll with an over all 3.88 GPA. I text my teachers when I’m hungry and in need of a chipotle run.

I have dove into something much greater than boarding school itself. I am finding who I am. At my supposed “top choice”, I would not have experienced any of this, I would not have been able to see myself doing the things I am doing here.

You have bigger things to worry about. My point is, love the school that loves you. Everything happens for a reason, and come March 10th, you might get rejected. Nothing is certain. But you might also get accepted into a school you could see yourself at but is not a top choice, or maybe considered a “safety”. I’m not saying go to a school that you hate. If you could see yourself there, but it isn’t a top choice, love it.

Love the school that loves you, because more often than not, you’re going to love it too.

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100% Agree. Love the school that accepts and loves the person you are.

Why (ha) for Middlesex though?

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I don’t believe you. There are no more than 5 boarding schools in the country worth going to. Everybody knows that.

JUUUUUST KIDDDING.

I’m glad you’ve continued to share your story here on CC…hopefully it will get through to some in this application cycle, if not future generations of applicants.

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How very well put! I remember watching all the posts come around last year on March 10th and recall the pain you experienced when the rejection from Middlesex was received. As I recall it was a pretty tough year on CC and Middlesex. My DS was in a similar boat and waitlisted there. I really appreciate that you were able to put your story out there and others are able to see how it all turned out for you.

Personally, I believe that my DS would have been happy at any of the schools to which he applied. You shouldn’t apply if that’s the case. You probably would have done well at Middlesex, but it just wasn’t meant to be. Fortunately, you kept your mind open and have now found a place where you thrive. Its a great lesson for us all!

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Maybe I’m a cynic, but I don’t think that everything happens for a reason. However, I do have faith that 9 out of 10 times, it’ll work out. Thank you for checking back in. :slight_smile:

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^^^@stargirl3 If that’s true, that will make me a cynic too… But thank you for the post, it reminded me that getting in isn’t everything…

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Often times the rejection isn’t because the school didn’t want u; it was because the school didn’t have enough enough FA to give u. A school w not torment u with an offer of admission it knows u will not be able to afford w inadequate FA.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

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Totally agree! While my daughter was accepted into all 6 of her schools last year, she just did not get enough financial aid to her top choice. When she received a merit scholarship to another school, we decided as a family to love the school that loved her. And, it has worked out perfectly! She loves her school, has already had some amazing opportunities and I’m so excited to see her next weekend when she begins Spring Break. It has been the most wonderful experience for her and I’m excited for her future. She also attends a school in Maryland. :slight_smile:

Thank you for sharing your story! And Stargirl, we are all in your corner this March 10th!!

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That makes a lot of sense @Louisianamomof2‌ @GMTplus7‌ I however did not have to apply for FA… but I totally see where you’re coming from. I promise I’m not some over privileged rich, snobby kid, I swear haha

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I think it is good advice that your “top choice” may not be top for you. But perhaps also we can learn from @ccnaf14 that falling in love with a school when your GPA and SSAT scores are below their average range, especially at the expense of all other school applications is not an advisable strategy. I can not imagine as a parent how you could let your child set themselves up for failure like that. I cringe when I read the chance me threads from kids who have fallen in love with an acronym school even though numerically they know it is a long shot. It is wonderful that it worked out for ccnaf but the whole process could have been much smoother for her if she had applied to a range of schools instead of zeroing on one which they cynics at CC would have been quick to tell her was a long shot. She was fortunate that she didn’t need FA, because the odds of still finding some after having applied only to Middlesex would have been slim at best and the ending might not have been as happy.