Boarding School Applicants for Entry Year: 2012

<p>Hello,
I am new to the forum, and I am also am sort of new to boarding school applications. Well, my family has a history in boarding schools. So, I really want to be accepted into one of the following schools as a Freshman aka the GLADCHEMMS:</p>

<p>Groton
Lawrenceville
Andover
Deerfield
Choate
Hotchkiss
Exeter
Milton
Middlesex
St. Pauls</p>

<p>Yes, I understand that my lack of “safeties” are unreasonable, but I just cannot help myself! Also, I really cannot wait to soak up all this experience from the people who have already gone through the process and have posted their knowledge on this board. </p>

<p>I have taken the lower SSAT, and I was in the upper nineties. Also, I have taken so many practice upper level SSAT. I have to study up for the SSAT’s again. So sad, but the award is more than worth it of going to these wonderful schools!</p>

<p>So, any tips on getting accepted? I have many leadership things that I do and I’m juggling around some different types of sports. Also, I do some Art and Technological activities (Photography, Drawing, Painting, Acting, Theater, etc…)</p>

<p>By the way, I am also in the FFA, but should I include that activity in my application?</p>

<p>Thanks, and I love the forum! I’m so happy to have discovered it!</p>

<p>@ThePrepGirl:</p>

<p>This is better suited for the Prep School Chances subforum. It’s fine here, but it will attract more attention in the chance-specific forum.</p>

<p>I know you mentioned this, but really pick one or two schools that have higher admission rates. Schools LOVE the leadership activities that you’re doing. Just be comfortable and nice in your interview, keep up your grades, and hope for the best!</p>

<p>@Alexmac </p>

<p>Thanks! Also, sorry for the wrong post in the wrong area, just introducing myself to your long conversation about upcoming admissions. I wanted to get everything about me out and done with.</p>

<p>So, has anyone started their applications on Gateway to Prep Schools yet? I still want to perfect the first part before I even dare submitting it, and because of that I do not know what the essays are! The anticipation is killing me, ha ha :-)</p>

<p>@ThePrepGirl,
I’ve completed most of the First Part. I’m guessing the essays won’t become available until September. You really want to get on the essays ASAP, our you’ll end up the way I was last year:<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1061314-im-not-going-through-again.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1061314-im-not-going-through-again.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>

I’ve looked at the stuff you’re doing (6 sports,multiple clubs, etc.) and it seems that you’re spread relatively thin. Boarding schools want people who are well-rounded obviously, but they also want people who have passions and have distinct interests. You should focus in on a few of your EC’s that you like the best.</p>

<p>

I thought the same way you did last year. I applied to the six most selective boarding schools (I think…). Trust me, if you’re really serious about going to boarding school, you might want to add a few more slightly less selective schools. I don’t like calling them “safeties” because with boarding school admissions, most schools generally discussed on this forum aren’t “safeties.” They’re selective schools. There’s just a degree to that selectivity. The schools you listed above for the most part have sub 20% acceptance rates, with a few with acceptance rates in the low 20’s. You should consider adding a few schools that have acceptance rates a little bit higher. I’d recommend looking at:</p>

<p>-Kent School [Kent</a> School - Welcome](<a href=“http://www.kent-school.edu/]Kent”>http://www.kent-school.edu/)
-The Loomis Chaffee School [Loomis</a> Chaffee](<a href=“http://www.loomischaffee.org/]Loomis”>http://www.loomischaffee.org/)
-St. Mark’s School [St</a>. Mark’s School: Home](<a href=“http://www.stmarksschool.org/]St”>http://www.stmarksschool.org/)
-Concord Academy [Concord</a> Academy](<a href=“http://www.concordacademy.org/]Concord”>http://www.concordacademy.org/)
-Brooks School [Browser</a> Not Supported](<a href=“http://www.brooksschool.org/default.aspx]Browser”>http://www.brooksschool.org/default.aspx)
-Rivers School [Browser</a> Not Supported](<a href=“http://www.rivers.org/]Browser”>http://www.rivers.org/)
-The Governor’s Academy [The</a> Governor’s Academy](<a href=“http://www.thegovernorsacademy.org/page.cfm?p=1]The”>http://www.thegovernorsacademy.org/page.cfm?p=1)
-Episcopal High School [Episcopal</a> High School](<a href=“http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/]Episcopal”>http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/)
-Portsmouth Abbey School [Portsmouth</a> Abbey School](<a href=“http://www.portsmouthabbey.org/]Portsmouth”>http://www.portsmouthabbey.org/)
-Northfield Mount Hermon School [Home</a> | Northfield Mount Hermon](<a href=“http://www.nmhschool.org/]Home”>http://www.nmhschool.org/)
-St. George’s School [ST</a>. GEORGE’S](<a href=“http://www.stgeorges.edu/]ST”>http://www.stgeorges.edu/)
-St. Andrew’s School (DE) [St</a>. Andrew’s School: Home](<a href=“http://www.standrews-de.org/]St”>http://www.standrews-de.org/)
-Blair Academy [Welcome</a> to Blair Academy](<a href=“http://blair.edu/]Welcome”>http://blair.edu/)
-Emma Williard School (all girls) [Emma</a> Willard: A Private Independent School for Girls](<a href=“http://www.emmawillard.org/]Emma”>http://www.emmawillard.org/)
-Berkshire School [Berkshire</a> School](<a href=“http://www.berkshireschool.org/]Berkshire”>http://www.berkshireschool.org/)
-Woodside Priory School [Woodside</a> Priory School](<a href=“San Diego Web Development and Design | San Diego Digital Agency | PINT”>http://www.woodsidepriory.com/)
-Mercersburg Academy [Browser</a> Not Supported](<a href=“http://www.mercersburg.edu/]Browser”>http://www.mercersburg.edu/)
-Miss Porter’s School (all girls) [Browser</a> Not Supported](<a href=“http://www.porters.org/]Browser”>http://www.porters.org/)</p>

<p>Also, you should take a look at circlemidnight’s thread Hidden Gems: Lesser Known Prep Schools and [Boarding</a> School Review - College-Prep & Jr. Boarding Schools](<a href=“http://www.boardingschoolreview.com%5DBoarding”>http://www.boardingschoolreview.com). Below I will link to both.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1130908-hidden-gems-lesser-known-prep-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1130908-hidden-gems-lesser-known-prep-schools.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p><a href=“http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/[/url]”>http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Good luck in your search!</p>

<p>@ifax108</p>

<p>Thanks for the tips! It has really made me feel better in that I have been so worried that I’m not doing enough ECs. I do have one thing that is sort of weird but it is a passion! Animals! Six years as a professional dog showing competitor, handler, trainer, groomer, and student. I must have like over 400 in total of awards, achievements, and honors.</p>

<p>I’m is not as busy as it sounds because there are the off seasons in sports and competitions. I am mainly an animal person and I’m all about changing the world for humans and animals.</p>

<p>About the essays, how can i get an early start when my first part might not be perfect. I’m not aware of what questions they will ask and if I should worry about not being able to include something importamt that I could of maybe fitted into on the first part.</p>

<p>Thanks for the tips! </p>

<p>P.S sent from an iPad so sorry for bad grammar and such! I’m awful with this type if keyboard!</p>

<p>I am planning on repeating my junior year at one of these schools: in order by preference
(1) Hotchkiss
(2) Choate Rosemary hall
(3) Loomis Chaffee
(4)----some safety school idk yet</p>

<p>should I use the common app to all safeties, so I can spend more time on the dream schools’ application forms? and which is more preferable, TABS common app or SSAT common app?</p>

<p>Your safeties may not end up being so safe if you rush their applications so you can focus on “dream schools.” People say it all the time on this board; don’t apply to a school you wouldn’t actually want to attend. Schools can tell when you are not serious about them. Ever hear of the Tufts effect? Don’t waste your time or the school’s time if you aren’t going to focus on each application.</p>

<p>Woah I didn’t know this existed. Anyway, I’m applying for 9th grade at:</p>

<p>Andover
Choate
Exeter
Hotchkiss
Lawrenceville
Milton</p>

<p>Yeah. I put another thread up, and it would be awesome if someone could answer my question. Thanks! And good luck to you all~:D</p>

<p>does anyone know of any info about being gay at any of these boarding schools? Ive heard that St. Georges isn’t great, and Concord Academy is amazing, but CA doesnt meet my athletic needs.</p>

<p>Ehphant, look at this thread: [Whats</a> the LGBT climate at boarding schools?](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1092462-whats-lgbt-climate-boarding-schools.html?highlight=lgbt+climate+at+boarding+school]Whats”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1092462-whats-lgbt-climate-boarding-schools.html?highlight=lgbt+climate+at+boarding+school) .</p>

<p>211 more days until March Madness. I forgot how you guys spell it… Was it M!0…?</p>

<p>I just can’t wait for the essays to come out on Gateway to Prep Schools, and you guys are going to have to tell me what they are, because I’m to big of a wimp to submit the first part without checking it twenty billion times ;-)</p>

<p>Any guesses on what it is going to be or what you wish it would be?</p>

<p>crap we’re already thinking about essays? i haven’t even requested info yet…</p>

<p>^haha I spent a good week editing that first part of the applications.
For the essays…a very common prompt is to describe a person or event that has helped you become who you are today.</p>

<p>Good luck 2012 applicants! Have faith in your abilities and do the best you can. Feel free to PM me with any questions</p>

<p>Thanks deerbri! I think you go to Deerfield soon. Good luck! Hope you can fill us in on holidays if you have time. Hope you make lots of friends and succeed in your academics and sports!</p>

<p>@bigcelticsfan I didn’t mean that I would rush through any applications. In fact, I am asking if I should use the common application with all safeties (of course I will do them carefully)</p>

<p>Thankyou! If I have time I will definitely try to fill you guys in.</p>

<p>Has anyone decided what schools they’re applying to? I’m pretty sure I have a final list, but then again, I say that like once a week and I switch it around a lot!</p>

<p>@ballerina:</p>

<p>I didn’t actually have a final list until early December lol. You just keep learning things (especially on CC) and changing things around.</p>