Hi,
I’m debating where I should apply and if its worth going there. I posted recently and all of you said that I was choosing these schools for the wrong reason. I did some more research and there are lots of schools that I liked, but I still feel stronger about Exeter, Andover, Deerfield and other schools at about this level because I feel like they just fit me. They say at these schools that every single student is trying to beat the other, and from experience I know I thrive in such environments. These schools also seem to have some of the best teachers and resources in the world. Overall, they seem like a fit. Yet I’m not sure if I’m even eligible to be a competive applicant. Here are my stats. Please tell me if I have a chance to be seriously considered to these prestigious schools. I’m asking about this because I see kids who have incredible things in just the 3 years they were in middle school yet still get rejected.
09-03-2015 at 4:34 pm in Prep School Admissions
4.0 GPA
Really heavy course load
I take 3 years ahead in math courses,1 year in science and 1 year in
Language Arts.
Payload Specialist for our TARC team that qualified for nationals
State winner of a video contest
Clarinet for 2 years
NJHS
Teen-Attorney at teen court
I have a blog mostly on the topic of Economics
Play Chess(not competitions)
I enjoy making movies
(Not much else, but I’m good at what I do
Please help me out. I realize that you can’t give me a direct accept or deny answer, but I’d like to know if I stand a chance competing with kids who have been prepping for this for years. I haven’t taken my seat but generally score in the 90’s on practice tests.
Thanks
Also I’m FA if I forgot to mention that.
What grade are you going to apply to? You stats are pretty good, but as I said in the other thread, they are not unordinary either for the schools you are targeting. Again, if you have made up your mind that you will apply to these schools, then you have the assurance you asked now. Now Get out of CC and go back to your work. Come ask specific questions if you have any when you start your application but don’t get into the habit of hanging around here. It’s not going to help you.
Thanks for the advice. Yeah, this cc thing is probably a bad habit for me since I have a pretty addictive personality.
Also, I’m applying to the 9th grade.
9th is a good grade to apply to because it has most open spots. Good luck!
Your stats look great! This of course, is just from a mom, not an expert! What is your ethnicity/race? A question I dread to ask, but it may be important.
What math class exactly are you in? The math courses vary from state to state.
Well, my ethnicity is prob. I think. I’m an Indian, but I’m 1st Gen in america and nobody in my family ever went to private school. Also, I take algebra 2 and Biology to clear that up. I got 95th percentile on my ssat that I just got back.
Hey, that’s a great score! And concerning your chances, there isn’t much that I can tell you. Yes, your stats are great, but schools usually admit students that meet the needs of that particular school. For example, if a student is the international tennis champion (or something of the sort) a school can admit that student one year, but reject him/her the next. It all depends on how you can contribute to the school and if the school needs someone like you this year. I wish you the best of luck in your application process!
Congratulations on your SSAT scores! With those scores, I think you are in the ballpark for the schools you have listed. FA is a downside, however–as is being in the NE. I guess the aid is looked at incrementally: for example, it is much more competitive for candidates who need close to or 100% aid than for those who need signicantly less, as you will see from reading the history on this board.
I have also read that some schools look more at SSAT Quant scores and some more at SSAT Verbal. For example, if you were in the 75th percentile in Quant but very high 90’s in verbal, I have heard that that MAY be considered a negative at some of the most competitive schools. I have only read this, but have not encountered this first-hand (lol, my son is at Choate and I am basically using his score breakdown as an example 
Best of luck to you @Bottom2Boston! It sounds like any school would be lucky to have you!
Thanks, and yeah I already knew that it’s what the school needs. I just wanted to know if my stats are good enoguh to be able to get in if they do want someone similar to me. That doesn’t really make much sense but basically I want to make sure I’m at least making some baselines. Also, in regards to the score breakdown, its was 92% quant, 96% verbal and 80% reading. This is very ironic because the practice tests made me think I’d get 99% quant, 94% reading and 80% verbal. Is this alright breakdown wise? Finally, I’m probably going to be pretty heavy on FA because we can barely afford the bare minimum fees. Hope I get some luck on my side in admissions.
Thanks