Yep! Best of luck to you!
I’m also applying for the 10th grade (not repeating)! I sent my application to Choate, Deerfield, and Exeter. I am a reapplicant and I want to get in really badly. Does anyone know how closely essays are looked at?
I would think pretty closely as that’s their view into who you are, your aspirations, etc.
@calipreppygirl The personal essays they take into account greatly because, not only does it show them how well you write, but it also tells them about who you are, and what you’re like. If it helps, the two things they take into account for the most apart (at least for most schools) are your teacher recommendations and your interview then they look at your essays, grades, and test scores.
It’s probably bogus, but I found the following “admissions formula” on a website called toptestprep: 40% SSAT score + 20% GPA/Grades + 15% interview + 10% admissions essay + 10% extracurricular activities + 5% teacher recommendations.
I found this quite shocking: “Your admissions essay is important, but with one caveat. This caveat is that many admissions officers are well aware that a parent wrote your essay. Let’s be clear… it’s okay for a parent (and boarding school admissions counselors) to help you with your essay. However, if you get any help with these essays, you should try to write the first draft(s) and be an integral part of the process. You also should keep the essay in your voice, as much as possible.” (Source: toptestprep)
“Many AOs are well aware that a parent wrote your essay.” Is that for real? I wonder if it’s based on actual data or it’s just a marketing gimmick to entice you to buy their services.
Per the formula. I don’t know if it is correct. But I do know that the company has a serious conflict of interest as it is a test prep company.
I also know how college application reading is done, as many AO’s has described over the years; They read the whole package and assign rather subjective points, instead of using a mathematical formula.
Per the essay. SculptorKid essays are fine but clearly not that well written. They do look like they are written by a 13 years old child, or a teen maybe. But clearly not by a well educated adult.
The company seems to be selling essay editing service as well. Hmm.
@GoatMama I didn’t know that most kids parents write their essays, but for me I wrote my essays completely on my own. I just gave them to my English teacher and parents to look over for grammatical mistakes. But, overall I wrote all of it, will the AO be able to tell, or will they think my parents wrote it?
Take it with a HUGE grain of salt. That site wants your money. No BS AO will tell you or anyone else what its magic formula is (if there even is one.)
As special a snowflake as some of these 13 y/os are, none of them writes like 30+ y/o. AO’s can quickly sing out ghostwritten essays IMO.
@2001JET, I don’t know that either. It’s what that specific website claims, but it doesn’t appear to be based on data, and we are in agreement it’s just a claim so they can sell their services. No one can write better about you than you.
@skieurope How do you quote text so it is highlighted in gray? Always wondered.
regarding essays: my experience in the past and this year is that the schools are well aware that kids get help in many forms, everywhere from proofreading to having them professionally written and everything in between. Anyone can put together a well written essay over a couple of months or more. Our experience is that the essays are reviewed in context of the student’s age and background, their grades and their SSAT scores and essay. Though the SSAT essay is not given much weight given the circumstances under which it is produced. Only as a comparator. A child with a 75 on the reading and vocab is bound to have a somewhat less sophisticated writing style than someone with a 95.
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Thanks!
Thank you @2001JET and @GoatMama for your insights into my question of how closely essays are looked at. They’re really helpful.
I’m applying to NMH, Mercersburg and Pomfret
hidden gems how pretty @estruck12
is there any specific reason you decided not to apply to any big-name schools?
(no offense or anything)
Can’t wait, two weeks till March 10th.
so nervous…
@Cadensa I know, the anxiety is literally starting to kill me.