Chances of getting into Bullis… realistically

[Anonymous]

We will be applying for 9th grade. Our son is in public MS at what we think it’s a good, high performing middle school. He does very well academically, mostly As and 2-3 Bs in all three years of ‘S so far. He has various interests for extra curricular (soccer, cross-country, school orchestra playing violin, piano). We will be applying for financial aid though :/
Does that put us at the bottom of the list? Should we even try?

How do we prep for the interview? What does Bullis consider the most? Thanks

[Anonymous]

An average kid full pay is exactly what Bullis looks for. An average kid needing aid is going to be really tough absent some other compelling quality. You should still try — you lose nothing.

Sorry

[Anonymous]

You may get admitted but offered no assistance or just some. Be sure you are doing everything you can financially. While a stay home spouse or underemployed spouse may be ok for younger grades or if there are very young children in the house, by high school the financial aid team will look askance at a stay home parent when the family applies for aid. They won’t judge. They just won’t give the aid. If you have a 529, it should be used.

[Anonymous]

Bullis considers full pay the most. Not a very academic place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bullis considers full pay the most. Not a very academic place.

All schools do

[Anonymous]

They will also look at teacher recommendations and test scores. The interview and how you and your kid do there is important too so definitely worth practicing interviewing skills. All private schools have limited budgets for financial aid and that will very from year to year. It can’t hurt to apply, but strongly suggest you apply broadly.

[Anonymous]

Athletics.

[Anonymous]

Bullis athletics is weak these days. Just look at the results. Sadly not a priortity anymore.

[Anonymous]

We knew nothing about how private school admissions worked until we decided to apply to privates on the fly when our DCPS kid was finishing fifth grade. We're not poor by any means but didn't think we could make it work without some aid at least, so we thought we'd see if we got in and what aid might be offered. Our kid is a very good but not perfect student.

We didn't apply to the so-called "Big 3" or other really top privates because we also didn't want that kind of environment AT ALL. Too much of a dramatic leap. So we applied to places like Bullis, WIS, Sheridan, Lowell, etc.

Our kid got into all of them but one, where they were waitlisted. Each offered various amounts of token aid, which really wasn't enough. The one wait-list school eventually told us point blank that they'd make room for us in a heartbeat if we'd full pay.

In the end we went with a public charter.

Based on our experience, being full pay makes a big difference when it comes to admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bullis athletics is weak these days. Just look at the results. Sadly not a priortity anymore.

Why is it sad that they are prioritizing academics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bullis athletics is weak these days. Just look at the results. Sadly not a priortity anymore.

Why is it sad that they are prioritizing academics?

Because you can't brag about academics with the boys down at Caddie's over some brewskies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bullis considers full pay the most. Not a very academic place.

Same old, tired trope from the Bullis haters. Ignore it. As the parent of a Bullis graduate and a current student, Bullis provides an excellent education, the students there are happy, and you should definitely apply, but as others have said, you should also cast a wide net. Bullis had the most applicants last year in its history and the lowest acceptance rate. Being full pay definitely helps; that's just the reality of all private schools. During the admissions process, if you make it clear that Bullis is your child's first choice, that will help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We knew nothing about how private school admissions worked until we decided to apply to privates on the fly when our DCPS kid was finishing fifth grade. We're not poor by any means but didn't think we could make it work without some aid at least, so we thought we'd see if we got in and what aid might be offered. Our kid is a very good but not perfect student.

We didn't apply to the so-called "Big 3" or other really top privates because we also didn't want that kind of environment AT ALL. Too much of a dramatic leap. So we applied to places like Bullis, WIS, Sheridan, Lowell, etc.

Our kid got into all of them but one, where they were waitlisted. Each offered various amounts of token aid, which really wasn't enough. The one wait-list school eventually told us point blank that they'd make room for us in a heartbeat if we'd full pay.

In the end we went with a public charter.

Based on our experience, being full pay makes a big difference when it comes to admissions.

Your final comment is somewhat confusing...you were accepted to all the schools and offered some aid, but you decided you couldn't afford it. It doesn't appear being full pay made any difference for your acceptance, but it did in terms of your ability to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bullis considers full pay the most. Not a very academic place.

I have my issues with the school and pulled my child from there, but to say it's not very academic is a fallacy. Students who leave the school are well educated and prepared for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We knew nothing about how private school admissions worked until we decided to apply to privates on the fly when our DCPS kid was finishing fifth grade. We're not poor by any means but didn't think we could make it work without some aid at least, so we thought we'd see if we got in and what aid might be offered. Our kid is a very good but not perfect student.

We didn't apply to the so-called "Big 3" or other really top privates because we also didn't want that kind of environment AT ALL. Too much of a dramatic leap. So we applied to places like Bullis, WIS, Sheridan, Lowell, etc.

Our kid got into all of them but one, where they were waitlisted. Each offered various amounts of token aid, which really wasn't enough. The one wait-list school eventually told us point blank that they'd make room for us in a heartbeat if we'd full pay.

In the end we went with a public charter.

Based on our experience, being full pay makes a big difference when it comes to admissions.

Your final comment is somewhat confusing...you were accepted to all the schools and offered some aid, but you decided you couldn't afford it. It doesn't appear being full pay made any difference for your acceptance, but it did in terms of your ability to attend.

Well, like I said, one school told us point blank if we were full pay we’re in.