Please advise - Eton house selection

[cathy2016]

My son got a conditional place for Eton for 2018 entry. If anyone could kindly recommend any houses for my son, I would really appreciate it.

My son is academic, plays tennis and really interested in rowing, but not a born athlete. He is very happy, gentle, enthusiastic and conscientious in nature.

Please advise.

You will be sent details of HMs from which you choose two. The school give you a further two names and you will meet the four and (hopefully) choose the one you like best. There is a very good set of HMs at the moment, so you shouldn't have any problems finding one you like, and there is certainly not one that I would recommend above all the rest.

I was talking to DH about this the other day, and we agreed that there is probably much less difference between the Eton houses than in smaller schools which have fewer houses. There are not really 'sports' houses or 'music' houses as such, all houses have a good mix of interests. There are so many houses that it is not possible to say if your son is this type of boy, you should choose this house. All the housemasters want boys who will be busy and who will get involved in things whether that be sport, music, drama or debating.

Thank you so much IndriCold. Do you mind if I send you PM?

No, not at all.

My son also landed a conditional place for 2018. According to the note that came along with the good news, one can either choose two houses and have the school choose two; or let the school all four.

Help! My son has received a place off the Eton wait list for 2016 entry. He is extremely excited. He is an all rounder, loves sports and is in the academic scholars class at his large London prep and may try for a KS. He has lots of friends and is a complete delight with younger brothers and lots of friends so he gets on well with all sorts of kids and is extremely well liked, kind and easy going. The trouble is - he can be cripplingly shy when talking to adults he doesn't know. Always has been. We were given 3 housemasters to meet and he was incredibly nervous and virtually monosyllabic not coming across well. As a result, NONE of them offered him a spot and these all went to other boys even though I know he would have thrived at any of the houses and his heart is set on Eton. He will now go in a pool. He's so keen to know which house he might be going to and I haven't the heart to tell him what has just transpired. I would absolutely love some advice or views on this whole scenario. Has anyone else experienced this?? So grateful for help!

First, very well done to your son, you must be delighted!

Secondly, don't worry at all about being in the pool it isn't that uncommon. In fact, there is another family on MN at the moment in the same position. Housemasters have all sorts of unconscious (or not) prejudices when it comes to choosing boys. DS's class was teasing their master for choosing all rugby players, a fact he claimed was a total coincidence!

I wouldn't say too much to your son, other than to reassure him that he is by no means the only boy this has happened to, and that he will find a house where he will be happy. If he does try for the KS and is successful then he would have to change house anyway! Give Admissions a ring in the new year to find out more about timings, you may have to wait until after the KS exams to get a wider choice, but they will be happy to advise.

One of DS's friends was so shy that he hardly spoke to anyone at all until he was in D block. You certainly wouldn't know it meeting him now .

Oh thank you so much for your words of encouragement! I am very grateful. Very good advice.