Is anyone awaiting boarding school decisions?

[Anonymous]

For those who are interested, we got communication from Loomis Chaffee today that said they received 2,400 applications this year. Ah well. So much for that choice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also waiting on Madeira boarding. Accepted at GDS. Agree that the staggered timing is very frustrating. Will have to make our decision without benefit of shadow day at Madeira.

Same. Which way are you leaning? Because of a change in family circumstances, it’s boarding or bust for us.

Not sure. My daughter is very intrigued by the idea of boarding. Madeira has a beautiful campus and my daughter enjoyed staying there at summer camp. She is doing GDS shadow day tomorrow so we will see how that goes, but I think Madeira is still her first choice. My wife thinks GDS will provide stronger academics, but I’ve told her I’m not sure that is true. I’m somewhat on the fence. I see the appeal of Madeira but my biggest reservation is the mod schedule. I see the benefits, but knowing my daughter I wonder if she will experience learning loss—particularly in a subject like math.

We also have an application in to St. Andrew’s in DE, but my daughter isn’t into that school as much. I basically told her that if she is going to consider boarding schools she should look at more than one so we picked that one.

Bottom line—I have no idea what we will do.

Just in case I can help at all: I have two ds. One is a graduate of GDS. The other is a graduate of St Andrew's (DE). The experience of boarding at St. Andrews was superior to GDS (and I think the kids would say that as well). I also knew/know many of my son's female friends from St Andrews. If your daughter gets in, you should go to the event(s). Or ask me anything.....

Can you share more about your son's experience at St. Andrews. Is it a pressure cooker.

I do not think St Andrews (SAS) is a "pressure cooker". But my ds is very bright--tho he can also be quite lazy. SAS was so great at not allowing his laziness to affect his experience. He was always very involved, motivated, active. (The only thing I couldnt get him to try was participating in theater). He was excellent at advocating for what he needed-and he ended up winning two prizes as a graduating senior. I believe his friends from SAS will be lifelong. As a parent, I appreciated the advising (loved my son's advisor after I did not like the first one assigned to him--and he was able to change) and my relationships with the faculty. (My experience with GDS administration was way less than stellar, as those of you who have read the other thread have surmised). SAS will set you up with other parents/students to talk to--just ask them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also waiting on Madeira boarding. Accepted at GDS. Agree that the staggered timing is very frustrating. Will have to make our decision without benefit of shadow day at Madeira.

Same. The interviewer at Madeira didn’t ask us any questions about our daughter and seemed kind of tired honestly—maybe she was on her 5th or 6th interview and was dreading another question about the mod schedule. She did talk to our daughter before speaking with us (GDS interviewed us all together so it’s interesting experiencing the different formats) so maybe she got the info she needed. We applied for 10th, I wonder how many spots there are.

[Anonymous]

We are also waiting for notification tomorrow. Can’t wait for this to be over!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are also waiting for notification tomorrow. Can’t wait for this to be over!

Preach!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those who are interested, we got communication from Loomis Chaffee today that said they received 2,400 applications this year. Ah well. So much for that choice!

I am hoping for some legacy influence, family that are still very active and nephew currently enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those who are interested, we got communication from Loomis Chaffee today that said they received 2,400 applications this year no. Ah well. So much for that choice!

I am hoping for some legacy influence, family that are still very active and nephew currently enrolled.

Well you have more of a leg up than we do. We have legacy at a different school. Unfortunately it’s not one that interests my DD. 🙄

[Anonymous]

We have a couple of day school options, but are also waiting (agonizingly) to hear from a few nearby boarding schools. One of them is my daughters top choice.

I am curious why the boarding school decisions come in so late. Does anyone have insight into why?

[Anonymous]

If we get waitlisted, will there be a deadline date to know if you get off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If we get waitlisted, will there be a deadline date to know if you get off?

I'm relatively new to this process, but my understanding is that waitlists are ongoing up until the first day of school. I have been advised to focus on any schools for which my kid is accepted. We plan on doing exactly that.

These schools know exactly how many students to accept to yield their targeted class size. So, relying on waitlist, unless that's your only option, is a risky and stressful endeavor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also waiting on Madeira boarding. Accepted at GDS. Agree that the staggered timing is very frustrating. Will have to make our decision without benefit of shadow day at Madeira.

Same. Which way are you leaning? Because of a change in family circumstances, it’s boarding or bust for us.

Not sure. My daughter is very intrigued by the idea of boarding. Madeira has a beautiful campus and my daughter enjoyed staying there at summer camp. She is doing GDS shadow day tomorrow so we will see how that goes, but I think Madeira is still her first choice. My wife thinks GDS will provide stronger academics, but I’ve told her I’m not sure that is true. I’m somewhat on the fence. I see the appeal of Madeira but my biggest reservation is the mod schedule. I see the benefits, but knowing my daughter I wonder if she will experience learning loss—particularly in a subject like math.

We also have an application in to St. Andrew’s in DE, but my daughter isn’t into that school as much. I basically told her that if she is going to consider boarding schools she should look at more than one so we picked that one.

Bottom line—I have no idea what we will do.

I have a student at Madeira. You do not have to worry about learning loss between mods. (Truly! We were worried, too.) However, it is true that the mod system is not for every student. Classes move fast so your student needs to have the discipline and motivation to do the work/study in a timely manner and self advocate/ get help quickly if they are having trouble. Teachers have a variety of open office hours and are really understanding - they want their girls to succeed. I believe Madeira does an excellent job of preparing girls for college with the mod system. The school nurtures the girls, but at the end of the day, there is an expectation that they be self-directed learners. I believe that boarding schools, in general, have this expectation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also waiting on Madeira boarding. Accepted at GDS. Agree that the staggered timing is very frustrating. Will have to make our decision without benefit of shadow day at Madeira.

I would go with GDS. Madeira is a great school but very very socially and geographically isolated.

You are on every post about Madeira, using the same exact words/criticism (that is how I know it is you), and yet you never sent your DD there. I actually have a daughter there. The school is in McLean, VA. It’s not geographically isolated. Perhaps you are from Maryland and it feels far away to you? It’s not “very, very socially isolated” either. Unless, you aren’t a fan of an all girls education and that’s why you are calling it that - because there aren’t boys on campus? There are mixers with Georgetown Prep, Woodberry Forest, The Blue Ridge School, and other schools. I think there was something with Episcopal, last year? Not to mention that a lot of the day students come from public and K-8s where there were boys and maintain friendships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a couple of day school options, but are also waiting (agonizingly) to hear from a few nearby boarding schools. One of them is my daughters top choice.

I am curious why the boarding school decisions come in so late. Does anyone have insight into why?

I don’t know the actual reason but I’m guessing it has something to do with the volume of applications they get since they are drawing from all over the world. I can’t even imagine having to go through all those applications. That said, I think some of the decisions were made weeks ago and then there’s the “maybe” pool.

[Anonymous]

Anyone applying to boarding receive a package of any kind yet?? Anxiously watching our informed delivery….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone applying to boarding receive a package of any kind yet?? Anxiously watching our informed delivery….

Nothing from Madeira, which I think is a bad sign (heard they send a red envelope). I feel like pouring another glass, tbqh