<p>For some reason your link did not show up in the message. I guess that you are tyring to provide a web link for the writing skill assessment? I appreciate it.</p>
<p>I have found the book "Campus Visits and College Interviews" helpful. The section discussing about the college interviews list questions that are often asked in the interviews. Although the book is intended for college application process, it is very similar with the prep school applications. Once you have thought through the questions listed there, you can feel much more prepared although there will always be surprising questions in an interview. I think these questions can be geared toward you in particular as they surface to the interviewer's mind right at the spot. For the complete citation of the book, see the Amazon link below. Hope this is helpful.</p>
<p>Luckily, my D had a summer enrichment experience before 8th grade that focused on the 5 paragraph essay. And then her 8th grade Language Arts teacher also focused on it. The writing sample in the SSAT's is not the only place a boarding school applicant may have to demonstrate impromptu writing. D applied to St. Andrew's last year ... much to her surprise, and mine, when they took me into the office for the parent interview, they gave her a topic to write about for a 15 minute timed session!</p>
<p>During the Middlesex interview, they too gave my d a surprise essay question.</p>
<p>So I'm going to visit one of the schools that I'm applying to in about a week. During our lunch, 4 other kids and myself will sit down with someone from the admissions committee and have a group interview. Does anyone have any advice/tips? I definitely don't want to be sitting their while the other applicants "takes my turn" talking. I know who the 4 other applicants are and where they go to school and stuff, but I'm not friends with them. I'd appreciate any suggestions you have!</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>:):)</p>
<p>Be prepared to talka about a book you recently read and loved (make it a classic or a deep contemporary), what your favorite subject is and why, your key weakness, your favorite EC, your greatest accomplishment, what you treasure about your closest friends, what you plan to do at the school if admitted (note something they have and competitors don't).</p>
<p>around what time do you guys think the majority of prep school applicants will join this site if at all?</p>
<p>Superior child, I was wondering that myself. This years pool may be a quiet group. I believe last year by this time things were hoppin. I'm surprised, no word from esa. Maybe SPS is kicking his behind. lol</p>
<p>I am new to CC, and have been reading the posts as my D is applying to boarding school. SPS is her first choice, and in fact we will be visiting in a few weeks.</p>
<p>Concerning the comment about Esa at SPS, I would think that if Esa is truly engaged in studies and activities as he should be, he/she would not have time to be posting on a message board. With a school as rigorous as SPS, academics should be the #1 priority for every student.</p>
<p>Some Prep Schools shut down the network before midnite......so a student must choose between chatting w/ us or the dormies......guess we lost.</p>
<p>I'm glad to hear the schools really regulate internet use. I know sometimes here at home my D tends to be on IM too much.</p>
<p>I hope everyone understands my comment regarding esa was all in fun. Yes, they do regulate the use of the internet at bs, and im sure what little time he may have would be spent with new friends.
For the most part all the schools mentioned on this thread are rigoruos.
Good luck to everyone on the upcomming interviews. We are leaving to the airport in one hour for parents weekend. Iam looking forward to spending time with my d, iam not excited about the cold</p>
<p>Have a grand time and don't forget to buy that sweatshirt.....it is going to be cold and windy.</p>
<p>I wasn't here at this point last year... I was just planning on applying to a local private HS so I was just wondering. But yea, almost no one is back from last year. It's really incredible how little free time there is... with actual classes ending at 6 and some activities going until 8. I just check up to see if there are any new applicants whenever I remember :/ </p>
<p>Anyway, good luck everyone! Remember, one of the most important things for the interviews other than to know your personality is knowin the character and personality of a school.</p>
<p>I'll treat this as the "main" thread for getting information about boarding schools this year, I guess. I've been lurking since the thread was formed. My son is plenty busy and doesn't post a lot anywhere online, but in one online community he "met" some friends who are applying to Red and Blue, and he is applying also. He telephoned to set up his interviews today. </p>
<p>We expect to be on the Exeter and Andover campuses during the first week of January for admission interviews. What's a good place to stay in each town? My wife and I will travel out with my son (an applicant for the "prep" year next year) while the younger kids stay home in the care of their grandma. Do you have any travel tips? </p>
<p>Best wishes to all of you who are applying this year.</p>
<p>I just read an Amazing Book called " Be The Dream" by Gary Simons. It tells the stories of Prep For Prep graduates, their struggles and the great stations in life they've landed at once finishing great Ivy League Schools and other Top Universities that Prep prepared them for. There preparation in the " Prep For Prep" program in NY is the most amazing collection of modern stories i've ever read. Truly unbelievable!</p>
<p>Thanks for the recommendation of the book Be the Dream. I'm more familiar with the A Better Chance (ABC) program than with Prep for Prep, but both programs sound like interesting efforts to help young people overcome the limitations of the early childhood environments and achieve the American dream.</p>
<p>You have a couple of choices in both towns. In Exeter, there is the Inn of Exeter, which is easy walking distance from school. There is also a nice B&B in Exeter called the Inn at the Bandstand, which is also within walking distance of the school. At Andover, there is the Andover Inn, which is on the campus. Make sure you have a meal in the school dining halls - it is a good way to see lots of students.</p>
<p>Are visitors allowed to dinne in the dinning halls? If so, I wish we knew about it when we visited the two campuses. It was a great way to get a good feel about the school talking to students and getting a small bite of the campus life there. When we were at the campus, we walked around on our own in addition to the guided tour. We met students on our way, talked to them about their lives at the school and their academic challenges. The enthusiasm of the students about their schools was contagious. Some even offered tips in selecting a dorm. An applicant can not get all these first hand experiences without a campus visit and some extra time spent on the campus.</p>