January, 2017

Dear prospective students and families,

As we approach admission selection season, we reach out to you to clarify an important matter. The Ten Schools Admission Organization (TSAO) is a group of distinguished college preparatory schools that often collaborates in outreach and approaches in admission. At each of our schools, we watch with concern as our students face pressure from colleges to make early and binding college commitments. These and other concerns are valid and we believe place unnecessary stress on students and families.

Please know that the members of the TSAO are dedicated to alleviating similar pressures at the secondary school level.

The TSAO institutions believe in a holistic approach to the secondary school admission process. Academics, extracurriculars, and personal qualities are weighed appropriately as we consider each candidate’s application. Admission decisions are made by the admission office only, and students and families will be notified no earlier than March 10. We do not support the notion of any member of our school communities asking for commitments from applicants prior to our application or response dates. In turn, we ask families to refrain from requesting any type of early admission decision. Rather than signaling a lack of interest in our applicants, we believe our policies provide the necessary time and space for students to make the best school choice for themselves and their families.

Please feel free to contact any of our offices with questions or concerns.

As always, thank you for your interest in our schools. We look forward to getting to know you and wish you and your family all the best during this exciting time.

Sincerely,

Amin Abdul-Malik Gonzalez
Director of Admission
Choate Rosemary Hall

Charles F. Davis, Jr.
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid
Deerfield Academy

Thomas Eccleston
Assistant Headmaster for Admission and External Affairs
The Hill School

Erby Mitchell
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid
The Hotchkiss School

Thomas Sheppard
Dean of Admission and Financial Aid
The Lawrenceville School

Lynn Petrillo
Dean of Enrollment
The Loomis Chaffee School

Jim Ventre
Dean of Admission
Phillips Academy

William Leahy
Director of Admissions
Phillips Exeter Academy

Scott Bohan
Dean of Admission
St. Paul’s School

Peter Frew
Director of Admissions
The Taft School