<p>This seems to be my first post here. I've been reading posts on the forum for about a month now, and I finally decided that I would like to apply to boarding schools. Right now I'm in ninth grade, so I would be applying next year for the 11th grade. After doing a bit of research, I've decided that these are the schools that I'm interested in :
Deerfield
SPS
Exeter
Andover
Choate
NMH
Lawrencville</p>
<p>I'm slightly worried because I realized that these schools are all in the "Eight Schools Association". If I were to apply to these schools, would it be viewed negatively? Does anybody know how many kids each of these schools accept for 11th grade? Does anybody have any suggestions for any other schools? </p>
<p>Welcome to CC. I strongly recommend that you look at the below thread “A Hidden Gem Lesser-known Prep Schools”. Many of the schools on the Hidden Gem list are just as good in so many ways and more realistic when applying for 11th grade which is typically a very tough and competitive year for applying.</p>
<p>It won’t be viewed negatively - but the odds of getting in at 11th grade rather than a repeat 10th grader are very low. And you’ve chosen schools all at the top in terms of exclusivity – i.e. highest number of applications and extremely low admissions rates.</p>
<p>Here’s the link to hidden gems. Scroll to the last page for the most updated list and descriptions:</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you, I had a look at the list and some of the schools looked great- Cate and Thacher in particular. However, not many of these schools seem to have a language that I am interested in studying. Also, a lot of these schools are small in size so wouldn’t that mean less spots for 11th grade? Again, thanks a lot! If you guys have any suggestions for schools, they would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I would consider applying to less reach schools. I know nothing about you and your academic and extra curricular achievements, however HADES/GLADCHEMMS are a real crapshoot for all applicants. boardingschoolreview.com is great to find schools, and you can use their search feature to put in size and stuff. Finally, what language do you want to study? Welsh or something? Almost all of these boarding schools offer Spanish French Latin and Chinese, and most offer Greek or Arabic. I know Exeter offers Russian, but…yeah.
VERY important things I learned this year:
Do not think you are smarter than you are. Take the SSAT more than once, and apply to as many or more second tier schools as first.
request information from MANY schools, and REALLY do research. looking now i really wish i applied to a few different schools i hadn’t heard of
Go to lots of interviews and pick and choose from there. I tried to pick which schools i would interview and apply at from the view books. doesnt work.
DO NOT. i repeat DO. NOT. read the chances posts for schools that you are applying to. since you’re a newbie i’ll explain. later on people will create treads with what schools they are are applying to and their grades and extracurrics and stuff asking others to give them their chances of attending these schools, called “chancing”. It gives people false hope, and if this person has stellar achievements it may make other applicants feel sad and less ambitious and may think they dont have a chance when really they may. Feel free to chance people who are not applying to the same schools as you. thats what i did.
if you need any more advice or anything feel free to PM me or just respond to this post! Welcome to the board! :)</p>
<p>Identify your “hook” if you’re looking at reach schools. The priority for the limited slots tend to go to students who can fill a need (for instance their best tuba player just left, or they need a good rower, or they need more strength on their debate, robotics…fill in the blanks). The problem with entering at 11th and 12th grade is that most schools want their degree to imply you received the majority of your education there.</p>
<p>It’s not impossible - but the competitiveness tends to be the same small and large (i.e. the applicant pools tend to be comparable in terms of ratios). Larger doesn’t increase the odds - in fact it decreases it because those schools often are the most popular and can recruit for what they need - giving those students a priority over those who applications “walking” in.</p>
<p>So - for a fighting chance - apply widely and also consider the option of applying as a 10th grade repeat.</p>
<p>I just wanted to say thank you to everybody! And yes, the obscure language is Arabic. I would though in a worse case scenario be open to be studying German. I also happen to row crew, not sure if that’s a hook?. I don’t really want to reveal any more information about myself, as I am sure that there are not many students taking Arabic, and who row crew. Again thanks a lot for the advice!</p>
<p>@Exie- I’m not sure if repeating the 10th grade would be a viable option, at least financially. I would be more at ease taking a shot at 11th grade, and worse comes to worse, I stay at my current situation where I will be able to challenge myself academically. </p>
<p>Once again, if anybody has any school suggestions, that would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Deerfield has both Arabic and crew. The school sits alongside a river. And as the King of Jordan is an enthusiatic alum of Deerfield, Arabic is unlikely to disappear from the curriculum.</p>
<p>Evaluate whether Arabic is ABSOLUTELY necessary for you to pursue or is it just the fashionable language of the day as Japanese was in the 80’s. Arabic severely limits your choices of BS.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you are already advanced in Arabic and aspire to expand your abilities in the language substantially during your remaining 2 years of high school, Arabic might just be your “hook” to get into Deerfield. </p>
<p>If you haven’t yet started learning the language, then 11th grade is a bit late to be starting.</p>
<p>take the shot at 11th grade and if the language isn’t offered - consider studying it independently on your own – or-- talking to the school about doing a sponsored independent study. You’d be surprised how many upper students take that path.</p>
<p>One year a student at Taft did an independent study with a professional photographer. It worked so well the school hired the photographer as faculty.</p>
<p>So - never assume you are limited to what is obvious.</p>
<p>I’ll have done two years of Arabic by the time I start 11th grade. I don’t want to have to switch languages in the middle of my high school career; and if I had to switch, then it would be for German. I looked at Concord Academy, it seems awesome- they offer German, but they have no crew. Do you think I could row on a local team in Concord?</p>
<p>If your local option is fine (so you are not desperate to leave) then I recommend you do your best at visiting and applying to the schools that offer Arabic and crew and don’t worry about what your “hook” may be because most people don’t even know what got them in.</p>
<p>I’m definitely going to look into St.Mark’s! But Periwinkle, I can’t compare crew to sailing. I might apply, or at least visit Concord just because it looks so good. Also, I don’t think I’m good enough of a rower to be recruited, at least not yet. Maybe over the summer if I work really hard that could change, but as of right now I’m just not fast enough. Someone told me that switching languages half way through high school is bad for college applications, is this true ? Would I be to a disadvantage if I decided to switch because of boarding school?</p>