<p>Obviously I have done a large amount of research into the admission and school system in the US, but I still need a bit of help from anybody who gets it more than I do.
Firstly, What are my chances, and as an international student will the schools expect a higher or lower standard? My science and maths levels are a lot higher than what these schools expect, but the only achievement I have in maths is getting a gold standard in the intermediate maths challenge (year 10, I am year 9 which is 8th grade) and then progressing to the next round, which is incredibly difficult. I have a couple of writing prizes, and I am hoping to enter more competitions before I apply for 11th grade. Would applying at this grade also limit my chances?
I am a regional standard swimmer, I cycled at inter counties (nationals) last year, and At triathlon Inter counties, I came 12th. I also do cross country, although I'm not sure if i will still be doing it in a few years time. I play netball and rounders for my school, although I dont know if the schools will know what these are. </p>
<p>Also do you think its a good idea to do my application with 'american english' like math instead of maths, or is it best to show the school that I am English? Do you think I should mention that I am Atheist, or will they mark me down for this?</p>
<p>Because of the religion thing (I am not going to any form of religious school) and because I want a school that offers cycling, I am only applying to Andover and Deerfield, and possibly Exeter. Does anyone know any schools that are a little easier to get into to, that still offer these things. I would quite like to apply to 2 top schools and I school that i will be able to get into even if I don't do as well as I'd hoped.</p>
<p>That's quite a lot of stuff, but any hel would be greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>i don’t know much about applicants from UK, but you’ll probably be fine (people say its a lot harder for intl’ applicants, but i think that’s just for asians since SO MANY asians apply. but i dont think you’ll have too much competition from the UK). however you might take a while to adjust to an american life (spelling, measurements - fahrenheit in particular, names for stuff, etc.)</p>
<p>from what i know, the british system teaches things a lot earlier than the american system… so you’ll do fine academic wise. =)</p>
<p>good luck!</p>
<p>PS: why not apply for boarding schools in the UK?</p>
<p>“Also do you think its a good idea to do my application with ‘american english’ like math instead of maths, or is it best to show the school that I am English?”
i honestly doubt it matters. </p>
<p>“Do you think I should mention that I am Atheist, or will they mark me down for this?”
i don’t think that’s really relevant to you as a candidate, so no. and i highly doubt they’d mark you “down” for being atheist… these schools are non-denominational :P</p>
<p>“…apply for 11th grade. Would applying at this grade also limit my chances?”
getting in as a junior/upper/5th former, whatever, is pretty difficult from what i’ve heard, but certainly not impossible. i do think it’d be easier to get in as a repeat 10th grader, though… (speculation!)</p>
<p>you might want to PM TomTheCat, he was a new upper (11th grader) from the UK and was accepted at Andover, for more specific advice…</p>
<p>Forgot to say I’m applying for FA, and I wont be able to go unless i get 25% of the fee or more. Does this put my chnces lower? I know a lot of the schools say they have needs blind admissions, but do they really mean that?</p>
<p>Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Andover is the only school on your list with need-blind admissions. Yes, they definitely mean it, as evidenced by the astounding amount of aid given to even middle-class applicants. Nearly 45% of the student body is on some sort of financial aid. Very few schools are need-blind, and I think FA applicants had an especially hard time this year in admissions. </p>
<p>I don’t know how difficult it is for international applicants, sorry!</p>
<p>@Alixindigo, I don’t suggest you do that. Once you’ve done your GCSE’s you won’t be able to adapt to the style of teaching at BS, especially with an American curriculum. If you’re going to do your GCSE’s do your A Levels too, because it is, and trust me, it is EXTREMELY difficult to adapt to the curriculum.</p>
<p>did you join in 9th grade?
I started the application this year, but i started to late and we had a problem with the SSAT test centre being full, so I had to quit.</p>
<p>No, actually I haven’t applied yet, but I’m going to an American curriculum school here in London (you can probably guess which one, because I’m guessing it was your SSAT test centre too), and the Dean said she’d recommend transitioning between the two curriculums ASAP, 10th grade the latest (but then you’d be halfway between you GCSE’s), so it’s strongly recommended applying in 9th grade. Adapting to the curriculum is very hard after your GCSE’s because you become so used to one style of teaching that it’s hard to shake the habit. Are you currently in year 10 or year 9? If your in year 9 and want to apply for grade 9 you can’t now, but this september you can apply for 10th grade. Even if it’s between you GCSE’s you might as well because they won’t be counted towards you application to college (if your applying to American colleges). If your not, then stay at your British curriculum school because there wouldn’t really be any point going to an American school and then going back home to go to uni - It makes it harder to get to British Universities coming from an American curriculum. For Oxbridge you need to take 5 AP’s (advanced placement is equivalent to A Levels), which is quite stressful.</p>
<p>The main reason i started looking into schools in the USA was university, so yes, i do want to go to university there.
I’m in year 9 at the moment, at a great state school that I am really sick of. Which is another reason I want to go. Even if i end up staying in the UK, there is no way I’m staying for sixth form at my school.</p>
<p>The whole problem is my mum, she doesnt want me to go to BS. and i think she also has expectations for me to go to Oxbridge, like the rest of my family (both my parents were at oxford and my older brothers at cambridge) Even bringing up the subject of BS with her again after the failed application this year (we started in january) was really hard, she pretty much shook it off with “you can think about going to a different school for sixth form in year eleven.” BUT I DONT WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG!!!
Any tips on talking to her?</p>
