Frequently Asked Questions

1.  What is the success rate of students admitted to Prep for Prep? 2.  Does success in Prep for Prep guarantee a child admission to      an independent school? 3.  Who decides at which independent school a particular child will enroll? 4.  How does the financial aid process work? 5.  Do Prep for Prep students have a "scholarship advantage"? 6.  How much money does Prep for Prep cost a family?

1. What is the success rate of students admitted to Prep for Prep?

Over a period of years, Prep for Prep's entering contingents gradually increased from 25 to 154. Contingent IX's completion of our Preparatory Component twelve years ago marked the first time more than 100 students matriculated at independent schools in a single year. Each year now, more than 100 boys and girls complete the Preparatory Component and matriculate at independent schools. At least 75% of the students who begin the 14-month Preparatory Component successfully complete it.

2. Does success in Prep for Prep guarantee a child admission to an independent school?

Technically, the answer is "No," because an Admissions Committee at each independent school makes the final decisions on particular candidates to that school. However, it is our expectation that every child who remains in good standing in Prep will be admitted to one or another of the participating independent schools. Because our students are well-prepared and well-motivated, and because the independent schools are committed to the Program, the acceptance rate of our students is extraordinary. In fact, for the past nineteen years, every child who remained in good standing in the Program has been admitted to one of the schools. In a few cases each year, this has required additional applications and advocacy in the Spring after the bulk of placement decisions had been completed.

3. Who decides at which independent school a particular child will enroll?

Parents and the students, themselves, are central figures in this decision, but counseling is provided by staff members to ensure that appropriate choices are made. Each child applies to two or sometimes three schools, which, after visiting them, the family selects. If more than one of these schools admits a particular child, and if the child and parents have a strong preference for a particular school, we try our best to take this into account. In order to ensure that every child in the Program who is in good standing be admitted to an appropriate school, it is not possible to honor the "first" choice of every child. For that reason, we ask each child for two "co-equal" choices. Also, if a student is not offered a place at either of the first schools selected, we ask families to consider an additional school(s) for further applications.

4. How does the financial aid process work?

Prep for Prep students admitted to participating independent schools are guaranteed financial aid to the extent that each child's family situation warrants it. Each parent is asked to fill out a financial statement in December or January. Each situation is analyzed individually, according to a complicated formula, by the School and Student Services for Financial Aid and by the independent school. The formula takes into account not only family income but a great variety of factors that might affect a family's ability to contribute toward educational expenses. The underlying premise of the financial aid process, however, is that each family is responsible for the costs of education for its children to the extent that each family is able to pay, and financial aid is supposed to make up the difference. Prep for Prep staff members are available to help families with the forms. Many of our families qualify for full-tuition financial aid awards or very close to full-tuition awards. Some Prep students also receive grants to cover additional expenses, such as book fees and lunch fees. Many Prep families, however, because they are judged able to contribute to school costs, are expected to pay a portion of these expenses. Families whose income is above $40,000 should understand that although they will be judged by an independent school to need very considerable aid, at the same time, they will probably be expected to pay a portion of their child's school expenses. Families whose income is above $60,000 and/or families who have substantial assets will probably be asked to make a sizeable contribution to school costs, although even in this income bracket (where a range of factors make each situation different), significant financial aid is often judged necessary and is awarded.

5. Do Prep for Prep students have a "scholarship advantage"?

The financial aid formula used by School and Student Services for Financial Aid and the independent schools applies to our families as it does to everyone else. There are, however, a number of major advantages in being a Prep for Prep candidate applying to these schools. First of all, nobody gets a scholarship unless he or she has been admitted to a school, and being a Prep for Prep student is a big advantage in admissions. Secondly, it is often the case that a school will admit a student, but then inform the family that even though the family qualifies for financial aid, the school has already used up its financial aid budget and therefore cannot award the child a scholarship. This will not happen to a Prep for Prep student, because the schools are committing places and financial aid. If a Prep student is admitted, and to the extent that the family can demonstrate need for financial aid (based on the financial aid form), the money is available. Thirdly, filling out the form completely and accurately is important, and Prep for Prep is concerned to make sure that each child is awarded as much financial aid as the family is entitled to receive. We will help parents with the forms and, if it appears that a family has not been awarded a fair grant, we will participate in discussing the matter with the appropriate school personnel. Parents must understand, however, that Prep for Prep will not press a school to award a larger financial aid grant than the family's situation justifies. This would simply result in less money being available for other deserving children.

6. How much money does Prep for Prep cost a family?

It costs Prep for Prep $12,000 to identify, prepare and place a child in an independent school. Over the following six years, an additional $13,000 per student is spent to provide the services and opportunities of the Post-Placement Counseling & Activities Component (Grades 7 - 10) and the Leadership Development Component (Grades 11 and 12). We do not charge any tuition, so essentially every child admitted to Prep has received a full scholarship to Prep (except for bus fees-please see page 11), although (as explained above) most families will be asked to pay some part of independent school costs. Prep's own annual operating budget is over $6,000,000. Prep raises this money from foundations, corporations, and concerned individuals. Our Board of Trustees is extremely generous, and alumni/ae of Prep for Prep who are now college graduates have also begun to contribute to the Program. In fact, for four consecutive years, 71% of our college graduates made such gifts. An alumni/ae giving rate this high is virtually unheard of, even among the best universities and best independent schools. We are extremely grateful to our alumni/ae for launching a tradition of "giving something back" in this fashion.