Great to know! Thank you @SkysTheLimit2007
We were accepted into the NYC ABC cohort two years ago in 4th grade for 6th grade day school admission… FInancial Aid did not work out for the ABC schools and luckily we also applied privately to other day schools. My D had a great year at her day school but looking ahead to high school she is interested in boarding. So I guess we will apply again this year in 7th grade for high school. What should we focus on now as it will be different than the middle school application? I have read about the community programs. Have any of you been placed in these programs? Which are the best for girls? Should we pursue those as well as the traditional boarding schools?
WTG in terms of your family’s second effort. After having gone through it with my 2 oldest, I intentionally sent my youngest through the process knowing that “we” would not accept any offers (the goal was to repeat a grade). Worked like a charm, acceptances from everywhere. He went to his 1st choice middle school - went through the application process for the 3rd time and now he is going to boarding school. Work on her elevator speech, use and abuse the services of Khan Academy - for many kids (mine included) Khan Academy is preferred over other pay services - every child is different. Son used vocab books from the bookstore and Khan Academy - scored in the mid 90s on SSAT. On her resume be able to show a well rounded KIND (emphasis on Kind) kid - sports, music, academics, community service. She doesn’t have to be #1 in every category - just be able to Demonstrate pursuit and interest. Campus visits HELP! Spend the summer “dropping in.” There is hardly anyone there at the school, and your presence Will be noted. Show up at public events and shake someone’s hand. They keep track mentally and on file. Even if your daughter is the shy type, she should captain the ship as much as possible - believe me, admissions knows who is driving the process - even with shy kids. If it doesn’t appear that your daughter reeeeeally wants to be there, they will know it. Have her make the calls, send the emails, introduce herself,… It is Great if she comes off nervous or age appropriately un-practiced. That gives them all the more reason to want to work with her. When it comes to seeking out recommendations- again have your daughter do as much of the process as possible. Send the recommenders a brief vita so that they can include the vita information in their recommendations. When admissions sees a consistent theme in her resume, in her speech, in her recommendations,… they can advocate and support the application better. Same for the ABC team! This is off the top of my head. Continue to ask questions in this forum. There are a TON of happy and ready to help parents!
@WildCat2023 Thank you for the in depth details. I am looking forward to returning to the ABC cohort and think that high school placement and FA will be a better match for us.
Alright, I have experience with ABC Upper School Program.
For the benchmark - I really have no idea.
Test Innovators should really help an applicant improve their score (it did for me), therefore I don’t think there’s a cutoff. If you can, pay for Test Innovators. It’s worth it. It’s a real commitment, and will take a decent percentage of your summer, but it’s definitely worth it.
@Iris33 I really wouldn’t. If you’re applying using ABC for 9th grade as well, you might want to be wiser about what that really means. Think about it. Your daughter goes into school knowing she’s likely leaving in 2 years. In addition, after just finishing applying to a day school, she has to start for 9th grade, since the ABC application starts in 7th grade for those trying for 9th. It’s difficult for you as much as it is for her.
That doesn’t sound fun. See how grueling the app process is and decide for yourself, tho.
@RedLioness
My DD is gung ho on giving it a shot, so I guess we’re moving forward. It won’t be easy, but hopefully, it will be worth it.
As WildCat said, even if we don’t get a placement this time around I feel we will be better prepared for the high school application process.
Thank You!
Hello There
I’m looking over the requirements for the supplement part 1 that’s due on October 1st. I see that an expository essay is requested, but can’t find any information on the essay prompt. DD is at camp so I can’t ask her. Does anyone have any information?
The essay prompt should be available on the online portal. Do you have a link to the supplement part 1 yet?
We have not received the link, but it’s good to know that is where it will be made available. I was thinking maybe I’d overlooked it among all the paperwork we’ve already received. The admissions webinar for the northeast is this Wednesday; they will probably address it then.
Thanks, Momto4Kids. Your old posts about your daughter’s experience with ABC have been very helpful!
This reply is a bit late, but I only recently found this website. I’m part of ABC for cohort 7 (SF/Bay Area), as a mixed asian/ latina student. I was really happy when I found out I got into the program. I’m looking into many of the top boarding schools on the east coast. (Check out my chance me to give advice/look at my stats.) Does anyone have any advice on how to fully utilize the program/process?
Start researching/social media following schools that interest you. Ask your area director for contact info of kids from your area that go to your schools of interest. Attend ALL events scheduled by ABC. As much as possible, bring parents/family members to help you interview parents/kids of your interested schools. Depending on your personal/family’s experience with boarding schools, you can start getting on elists of the admission offices. Find out who is your area recruiter. Depending on how comfortable you are with selling yourself and how complete your resume, you can start getting relatively “Hard” affirmations of mutual interest. Admissions people ARE sales people - if they follow up after speaking with you over the phone/in person, that is Very good sign of interest. Start, Yesterday, working on your SSAT. It’s not solely an achievement test (like most state exams). It does measure a modicum of critical/analytical thinking - which THROWS many kids off. Most kids are floored by their initial score. Once you understand HOW to take the test, you will do about double your initial score.