<p>I'm a Freshman going into Sophomore year and I just wanted a few opinions about where to apply. I had a 3.7 cumulative this year in the full honors Pre-IB program. I received an average of 90% on my SSATs however, I will be taking them again to raise my math score. I play hockey as a EC year round. This summer I'm going to devote most of my time to community service so that I can get some more volunteering hours. Where do you think I should apply Junior year? I know Andover or Exeter would be a long shot but I'm going to try as hard as possible sophomore year to try and get a 4.0. Besides these two schools where do you think I should apply?</p>
<p>Wayyyyy too broad a question. You should spend some time at boardingschoolreview.com and search for qualities that are important to you. Come up with a good sized list, then search for them on this forum. That will give you an idea of what is a good barding school school for you. Then you can post here with specific questions about boarding schools.</p>
<p>I've looked a little bit and I've come up with Peddie, Lawrenceville, Avon, and Middlesex. How difficult would it be for me to get into one of these choices?</p>
<p>You should probably put some safties in there too. Don't get me wrong i think that you could probably get into most if not all of the schools but sometimes, the admissions officers don't like to fall in your favor.</p>
<p>I'm going to add in some safeties but those are the main schools I'm looking at right now. Would it be too much of a stretch for me to get into Andover or Exeter? What can I do to lessen the odds?</p>
<p>Your grades are fine, especially as you are in all-honors program. They don't want just straight-up brains; you have to be smart and well-rounded (but not too well-rounded, you should have something you are very good/passionate about). What about your ec's? Anything particularly outstanding, postions of leadership? You said you play hockey year-round....select team? Would they want to recruit you for varsity?</p>
<p>if your looking for safeties and your interests are in andover and exeter i would try looking at the other ten schools. well, honestly, i don't think any of them could really be considered "safeties" since their all so great but why not broaden your range a little? have you tried looking at other schools?</p>
<p>Thats the thing, I really only play hockey. I do play on a select team and I think that I have the potential to play on their varsity team. The main problem for me is that I live on the West coast and I its really hard to be noticed by a school on the east coast.
As for specialization, I'm really passionate about History and English but I'm not sure how to tie that into ECs. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can show that I'm really interested in these two fields?</p>
<p>Volunteer at a museum or a library. Enter some writing contests. As far as hockey, you know if you're really good or not. If you can be an impact player for them, that will help get you noticed as most of the preps take their sports quite seriously. They all have "prospective athlete questionnaires" for you to fill out. Brag about yourself. Call the coaches.</p>
<p>Do a little more research -- Peddie has neither a rink or a hockey program.</p>
<p>talk about it a lot at the interview, also i dont think a/e are too much of a stretch. They are a reach school for everybody (kinda like hyp) but youd be surprised at some of the people they let in. Take a look at like lawrence or st george's for safeties. Only apply to safeties if you really want to go to boarding school because if you wouldn't hate your local high school but just want something more some of the safeties just arent worth the hassle/cash, or look at like thatcher if you want west coast</p>
<p>Google the hockey prep showcase that happens in the summer in NE. Boarding school hockey coaches go there to check out players. Meet coaches, show off your skills, etc.</p>
<p>A rink is not a requirement for me to go to a school
I do really want to go to boarding school but if I don't get into any of my top choices I may consider just staying home.
I think that by volunteering a lot this summer and getting really good grades next year I would greatly improve my odds for getting in next year. I think that I do need to find some positions that offer me the chance to prove my leadership abilities. What would really allow me to showcase my leadership and still tie in with the fields I'm interested in? I'm going to run for student government and try and join some clubs but will this be enough?</p>
<p>Check out Holderness. It has an excellent hockey program and it might qualify as a safety school for you.</p>
<p>Holderness isn't bad, but they're fairly small (275 students). I'll definitely consider it though.
I'd really like to apply to St. Pauls but they evidently they don't take on many Juniors so my odds of being selected would be very slim.</p>
<p>usually a lot of the juniors accepted are athletes so you have a chance almost anywhere, if you dont think you can make it as a junior consider repeating sophomore year.</p>
<p>You play for a select hockey team year round and you are going to just give it up completely? (Referring to where you said a rink wasn't a requirement). Just curious; I would think if you played year round select, that you must be pretty invested in it. No plan to play in college?</p>
<p>I'm not necessarily going to give it up (and I don't really want to either) but its not an absolute requirement that I play.</p>
<p>Walden12, look up this word in the dictionary: PASSION. </p>
<p>These pages and posts are filled with all kinds of tricks and hints to make yourself attractive as a candidate and get yourself admitted to BS (or college). They are helpful, sure, but at a certain point it can be like putting lipstick on a pig. </p>
<p>Read through your posts on this thread and see them through others' eyes. You don't sound committed or interested in anything! As Keylyme says, you play hockey year round (screaming of passion and commitment) but you're okay with walking away from it? You're thinking about getting a volunteer job, not because of any passion and commitment in the work, but because you are trying to build a resume (old people are kinda cool and have cool stories). You have good grades and SSAT scores but don't reveal any subjects that get you excited (read: PASSIONATE). In short, to this forum, you have described yourself in very boring, unexceptional terms. </p>
<p>Good thing for you - you have lots of time to get it right. </p>
<p>Examine your life. What gets you cranked up and excited? What can you give an admissions officer to make them stand up and take notice of you? If you're a great hockey player, then work off that. If you're a average hockey player, you can talk about the value of team and commitment. If you want to volunteer and you love hockey, rather than making up something that looks good on paper (or so you think), work with what you love and volunteer coaching midgets or something. Raise money for a scholarship for kids who can't buy the equipment. Do something, anything, that's genuine and not manufactured.</p>
<p>In short, don't try to reinvent your life into an imagined standard that you think will qualify you for BS. Instead, work with the life you have and demonstrate how it has shaped you. If you don't know how it has shaped you, start looking at yourself and figure it out. I personally believe it's your best bet because it's the most authentic.</p>
<p>You have gotten some great advice. My son's big sport is one that is not offered in any school. He talked about how it helped him understand commitment, and the life lessons it taught him. It came over loud and clear that it was his passion. That made a difference. Laxtaxi is right - you have to be passionate about something. </p>
<p>If you are saying that you love hockey but would be willing to give it up if necessary - you don't have to give it up. There are plenty of schools with great hockey programs and I'm sure one would be the perfect fit. </p>
<p>You mentioned Avon, it's a HUGE hockey school - FIVE teams. I think about 1/2 the boys play - no matter what your level I'm thinking there is a team for you. If you want to continue with hockey, I'd consider it. </p>
<p>St. Paul's only has openings for 11th grade from attrition, vs. the other schools who "leave" space open for incoming Juniors. </p>
<p>Westminster also has a strong hockey program.</p>