Applying to Prep School!!!

<p>Jeez, you're so cynical, Esa. We all have good stats, and I'm sure both of you will be accepted into at least one of these schools... </p>

<p>I'm sure you'll do fine, skyykj. If you've turned in your application, don't worry about it-it's all over. (Look who's talking- I freaked out when I realized that there is nothing I could do about it 8-D) All we can do is hope, pray (if you're religious) and discuss possibilities.</p>

<p>Just a tip of advice to all- DO NOT SLACK ON IN SCHOOL!!!! I know it's tempting, and I actually wanted to, but I've heard that these schools want 'final transcripts' meaning they want to see your grades at the end of the year to see if you can persevere when you're not working for something.</p>

<p>Well, this is directed to skyykj. I'm personally Taiwanese, but I've grown up with English. When I had my interview with the alumni rep of St. Paul's, he mentioned that some schools might put u in comparison with the people of ur kind. Eg, if 5 more Taiwanese ppl were applying, I would probably be compared to them more than the guys from the States! I must say that I am not very sure about this, but being Asians, we do face more of a strenuous competition (more for me since I study out of the States!) However, I'm pretty sure you'll get in...I personally got the 85th percentile with an A average since 6th grade! I feel that everyone here's quite alike (we're all strong in all ways) so I'm sure that eveyone'll get thier choices :-D! </p>

<p>Zafira, whats ur stats btw? SSAT, grades, ect.</p>

<p>My GPA wavers from a 3.7 to a 3.9 at a prestigious private school. My SSAT scores were 90% (I wasn't too satisfied- not because of the score, but because I know I could do better) My EC's include 3 types of choruses all advanced, speech and debate, 4 different sports, community service, Math Olympiad (a less intense version of mathcounts), student government, and following my first amendment right on the right to petition. I worked on Kerry's campaign (sorry all Bush supporters- I am the stereotypical Californian with "a complete lack of morals" as someone so kindly once told me...) and I am writing a bill for Congress. I have my fair share of awards and I my favorite past time is reading. </p>

<p>I sound like such a nerd, but for all people, I <em>do</em> have a life. I hang with my friends and do normal teenager (though 100% legal) activities. </p>

<p>Umm... I am a caucasian female with a love for Green Day and Simon and Garfunkel (weird yet true) and a big variety of music.</p>

<p>Anything more for you, Sunny?</p>

<p>So, what is the most important thing in the admision at any school?
St.Paul said the teacher recommendation is important.
Groton said 98% on SSAT will put me into the special consideration
I do not know about any other schools.
But, I wish the most important factor is not essay, because I am really stink in essay.</p>

<p>The schools all claim they don't have quotas for people from certain races...
I think:
1. Grades
2. Interview
3. Teacher's Comments/ Recs
4. SSAT scores
5. Essay</p>

<p>But I know an Asian guy who got into Exeter with a B-average, 92% on his SSATs, no extracurriculars, good essays and had an apparently outstanding alum interview.
I don't think schools really take race or geographical location into consideration, though I heard it's harder for Caucasians to get in as opposed to African-Americans or Latinos. I have no idea about Asians, overseas or in the States. Some say it's harder for Asians, but aren't they also a minority?
I'm personally Irish-Japanese, but I live in Hong Kong. I'm applying for Exeter, Lawrenceville and Choate for the 10th grade. I don't have safeties because boarding school isn't a case of if-i-don't-get-in-my-life-will-be-ruined, unlike college. My take on boarding schools is Best or Nothing; its not a big deal.</p>

<p>Anyway, how old are you all? Where and for which grade are you applying for? For those applying for 10th grade for Exeter- don't worry about it, they accept 1 in 3 for the lower year. Not <em>that</em> competitive.</p>

<p>I have no direct experience with this, so I'm merely guessing, but would be interested if posters could confirm or refute with their own experience. If I were a boarding school, I would work very hard at trying to figure out which kids could handle and thrive being away from home. Some students with 99th percentile SSATs and all As might not come across in their interview or teacher recs. as wanting to board. It doesn't come as a total shock that such students don't get into every boarding school, but I would guess that they are shoe-ins as day students. Does anyone have experience with this?</p>

<p>Alot of people seem to underestimate the importance of interviews and essays.</p>

<p>Just wondering, are there many people with boyfriends/girlfriends at the elite prep schools? I would imagine it's virtually non-existent.</p>

<p>they do exist and they do tend to last longer than normal hs relationships.</p>

<p>hey gianscolere1. Just a question- what's boarding like?</p>

<p>among my fondest memories of boarding school is walking back to my dorm at night after spending countless hours at the library. the large open space that is the quad is one where i could look up at the sky and see the stars and wonder what everyone else is doing back in chicago. i would also hear the sounds of a boeing 757 making its final approach into logan airport, my indication that the day is finally over and that i can finally breathe a sigh of relief. my typical day goes like this</p>

<p>8a-2p classes
2-3 EC club meeting
3-6 community service
6:30-7 dinner
7:30-9:30 study hall (as a sophomore)
9:30-10:30 more hw to do
10:30 advisor/dorm meeting
11p lights out (and my dorm was very strict about it)</p>

<p>on weekends, i usually go to copley plaza or the copley library (i love the research room)</p>

<p>i'm sure many will agree that boarding school life is intense and fast-paced. you always have something to do every hour, and any minute spent relaxing can make you feel guilty almost. as for me, i could always try to get ahead with my history reading because my teacher was notorious for assigning more of it than usual. every minute is spent thinking and being challenged, talking with other people and feeding off each other's ideas. people in boarding school are curious about each other. they will ask about you, why you believe a certain way. in the process, you get to know yourself much better.</p>

<p>the classes are taught by highly qualified teachers who can offer a totally different perspective on the subjects they're teaching. the curious nature of the students is also evident in the classrooms. they ask question after question after question and are not afraid to do so.</p>

<p>most kids enjoy living with their friends, but strangely, i don't. there are certain things that kids should keep to themselves, just because it's better that way- in my humble opinion, of course. however, i'm glad i got to at least experience boarding life because it taught me so much about human nature. it made me think differently of people and more appreciative of their strengths and weaknesses, and things that make them the way they are. for some reason, knowing such things made me more confident about myself.</p>

<p>i don't think i'm making much sense here. is there anything about boarding life you want to know about in particular?</p>

<p>Yes, I was wondering if at Milton there are any drugs and alcohal there in the dorms. It's not a huge impact on my decision, but I was just curious about it. Also, do you have roomies at Milton or are you by yourself?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>i had a single for the first semester and a double for the second. 1/3 of the rooms are single. my dorm head decided to place me in a double just so i can experience what it's like sharing a room with another student. i lived with someone from new mexico...we got along,yes, but we didn't click. we were both too bossy.</p>

<p>drugs and alcohol do exist...i just haven't caught anyone in the presence of it. milton has a 1-strike policy. the first time a student gets caught, he or she gets suspended and loses any leadership title. the record of suspension will also go on the college transcript whether the colleges request it or not. after the second violation, the student is expelled. also, merely being in the "presence of" drugs and alcohol is a violation in and of itself.</p>

<p>Cool. Thanks! Also, just a question, at Milton do they speak in "intellectual" tones or are they normal, but intelligent people?</p>

<p>Normal: Every student is on equal footing.
Intellectual: Each pupil shall have ample opportunity to prove themselves. (okay, maybe a slight exageration, but tis not the point)</p>

<p>Just curious.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Well if you the drug problem...from my pov if you wanted to do drugs just do it at a day student's house. Why do it on campus and risk getting caught/kicked out and all that s*** would be on your college transcipt. Any college would throw your application out the window before they even saw your 2400/800/800 4.0 Harvard TA stats. If you've just absolutely gotta get high go to the day students house. Their parent probably work long hours to pay for that tuition. They probably have a gigantic house to.</p>

<p>Gian, compared to your school now, would you say the student body at Milton would be like cutting off the bottom 25%,50%,75% or higher of your present school which i understand to be a very competetive one? i find it hard to believe the average kid at Milton was much smrter than you.</p>

<p>Thanks eas, I think I'll now focus on schools with no day students! Actually, I've been advised to do this anyway.</p>

<p>Stick with no more than 25% day. My S's school is in a pretty rural area, so the day students come from a distance, so there is no disappearing during the day to someone's house. At The Boarding School From H*** where S went Fresh/part of Soph year, there was a pretty significant alcohol and drug problem. Kids kept vodka in Propel water bottles. I know of another instance at a top school in the midwest where a student was importing drugs to sell packed in hollowed out peanut butter jars (so dogs can't smell the drugs). Of course, things like this happen at day schools, too. The key is supervision, a population that does not want to risk consequences and some good sense.</p>

<p>My kids' school also has a no tolereance policy on drugs and alcohol. But it's there. Anyone who thinks there is no drugs, alcohol, crime, sex, trouble in any school is fooling himself. There are kids who break the rules everywhere. I can tell you though that you do not see groups of kids hanging around the school smoking their cigarettes, (some of them the home rolled, no brand type) as I see regularly around our public and a few catholic schools here. Not saying the kids don't smoke; I well know there are some who do, but they certainly are not as open about it as I have not caught a whiff in the 3 and a half years with the school, and I am pretty observant about that stuff. But a bunch of them got kicked out of the dorms and the school because of an alcohol related incident last year, and S reports a number of suspensions and detentions for cigarette smoking as the campus is smoke free, and anyone violating this does get in trouble.</p>

<p>Did anyone who applied to Groton get even an acknowledgement of receipt of the application? All schools to which my S applied replied except Groton.</p>