Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do FA families have a harder time getting in? Wondering why we struck out this year and if needing FA was a factor. Is there a threshold of a certain percentage of aid needed that makes it harder?

I would assume so. Most of these schools don't have a large endowment and the non-super rich full pays don't donate a lot of money because tuition costs $50,000 a year per child.

But when schools advertise the average award, it seems significant. Some around 50% of tuition. I'm just trying to understand, they seem to welcome FA students but then won't accept them?

If you're an FA family getting 50% or more, what kind of student do you have? They can't all be straight A students and world class athletes.

We received this award at four competitive schools and DC is a very impressive child. I would share their qualities, but for privacy reasons I am limited.

Basically, if you are going for FA you need to bring something to the table to elevate the class

So theoretically, this award will go to three other kids on the waitlist when your DC accepts a spot?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do FA families have a harder time getting in? Wondering why we struck out this year and if needing FA was a factor. Is there a threshold of a certain percentage of aid needed that makes it harder?

I would assume so. Most of these schools don't have a large endowment and the non-super rich full pays don't donate a lot of money because tuition costs $50,000 a year per child.

But when schools advertise the average award, it seems significant. Some around 50% of tuition. I'm just trying to understand, they seem to welcome FA students but then won't accept them?

If you're an FA family getting 50% or more, what kind of student do you have? They can't all be straight A students and world class athletes.

We received this award at four competitive schools and DC is a very impressive child. I would share their qualities, but for privacy reasons I am limited.

Basically, if you are going for FA you need to bring something to the table to elevate the class

Would love to know how a kid elevates the class. Please tell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do FA families have a harder time getting in? Wondering why we struck out this year and if needing FA was a factor. Is there a threshold of a certain percentage of aid needed that makes it harder?

I would assume so. Most of these schools don't have a large endowment and the non-super rich full pays don't donate a lot of money because tuition costs $50,000 a year per child.

But when schools advertise the average award, it seems significant. Some around 50% of tuition. I'm just trying to understand, they seem to welcome FA students but then won't accept them?

If you're an FA family getting 50% or more, what kind of student do you have? They can't all be straight A students and world class athletes.

We received this award at four competitive schools and DC is a very impressive child. I would share their qualities, but for privacy reasons I am limited.

Basically, if you are going for FA you need to bring something to the table to elevate the class

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do FA families have a harder time getting in? Wondering why we struck out this year and if needing FA was a factor. Is there a threshold of a certain percentage of aid needed that makes it harder?

I would assume so. Most of these schools don't have a large endowment and the non-super rich full pays don't donate a lot of money because tuition costs $50,000 a year per child.

But when schools advertise the average award, it seems significant. Some around 50% of tuition. I'm just trying to understand, they seem to welcome FA students but then won't accept them?

If you're an FA family getting 50% or more, what kind of student do you have? They can't all be straight A students and world class athletes.

Many schools have published that their “average” FA award is 50% of tuition. But that doesn’t mean that there are many FA packages of 50% of tuition. The mean average number doesn’t give you any idea of the shape of the distribution.

Large awards would have to be offset by small ones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do FA families have a harder time getting in? Wondering why we struck out this year and if needing FA was a factor. Is there a threshold of a certain percentage of aid needed that makes it harder?

I would assume so. Most of these schools don't have a large endowment and the non-super rich full pays don't donate a lot of money because tuition costs $50,000 a year per child.

But when schools advertise the average award, it seems significant. Some around 50% of tuition. I'm just trying to understand, they seem to welcome FA students but then won't accept them?

If you're an FA family getting 50% or more, what kind of student do you have? They can't all be straight A students and world class athletes.

Anonymous wrote:Do FA families have a harder time getting in? Wondering why we struck out this year and if needing FA was a factor. Is there a threshold of a certain percentage of aid needed that makes it harder?

I would assume so. Most of these schools don't have a large endowment and the non-super rich full pays don't donate a lot of money because tuition costs $50,000 a year per child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is very good academic and extra curriculum activity. She is super talented. However we were not even waiting listed for holton. Is it possible that I waived the application fee. That could have back fired. Just want an opinion for future reference.

Why did you waive the application fee?

It was an honest mistake. Did that back fired.

Doesn't sound like an honest mistake, but okay. I can't speak specifically to Holton. My DD applied years ago and was accepted, but attended a different school. We have been at 2 different privates. I don't think any school is truly need blind. Students that need financial aid will be competing against each other and the bar is higher for them. If the school is going to foot the bill, your kid needs to be TRULY special. Kids with all As and good extracurriculars are a dime a dozen. So there is a good chance your child was simply rejected because the competition is fierce whether you require financial aid or not. But you asking for a waiver of the application fee could have played a part.

Anonymous wrote:How many private schools do people typically apply to in order to get in somewhere?

There are a lot of factors that go into that decision - grade applying for (esp expansion year versus non-expansion year, but also things like K versus 9th), how competitive the schools are that you're applying to, and how strong your application is (especially if you have a hook).

Our K-8 generally recommends 4-6 schools for 9th grade and I'm sure they expect that among those 4-6 there will be at least a couple that they think the student has strong odds of admission. IIRC, the guidance from our preschool was to apply to around 4 schools when we were applying to K, although that was 10 years ago.

Do FA families have a harder time getting in? Wondering why we struck out this year and if needing FA was a factor. Is there a threshold of a certain percentage of aid needed that makes it harder?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did people do for 9th? Curious about how advantageous it is to come from private v public?

From where I'm sitting, huge advantage coming from K-8. I don't know of a single student that didn't get a spot for 9th. However, I know several in public who were WL'd everywhere they applied.

I agree with this. K-8s know their job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did people do for 9th? Curious about how advantageous it is to come from private v public?

DS coming from public got in to 3 of the 4 he applied to for 9th.

Congrats! This is amazing as we’re in public MS. Any tips?

NP here- we went though this last year. Every single one of our kids friends got into a great school that they were really happy with. Only one I know that didn’t get into their first choice- and she was applying from private.

Anonymous wrote:How many private schools do people typically apply to in order to get in somewhere?

We applied to five for DC for K. We got into 4 (one after waitlist) and waitlisted at one with no movement. We needed financial aid at anything other than the Catholic school, so we applied broadly.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How did people do for 9th? Curious about how advantageous it is to come from private v public?

DS coming from public got in to 3 of the 4 he applied to for 9th.

Congrats! This is amazing as we’re in public MS. Any tips?

If applying for PK/K, I think you only need to apply to 3-4...older grades 5-6. My oldest was applying to 4th a few years ago and the numbers were tough. She ended up at her first choice, but could have easily been shut out at waitlist for all of them.

Anonymous wrote:How did people do for 9th? Curious about how advantageous it is to come from private v public?

DS coming from public got in to 3 of the 4 he applied to for 9th.