Chance for Emma Willard, Chatham Hall

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

<p>Hello!
I'm an international student from a relatively well-represented country in Asia.
Other than that, I'm pretty much your average student.</p>

<p>Grades - </p>

<p>My report card has grades ranging from A to C. In seventh grade it was mostly A's but I began to stumble a little going into eighth and ninth grade. </p>

<p>Extracurriculars - </p>

<p>I'm a leader in my school's Girl Scouts unit, which has done a lot of things, like community service and independent learning and has built up my character. </p>

<p>I've also been learning the piano for 2 years. I am also familiar with percussion, having been in the school band for about 3 months.</p>

<p>In addition to that, I am part of my school's student events planning committee which is separate from the student council (though the importance is more or less the same), and helps to organise events mostly related to civics education. </p>

<p>Participated in several overseas camps in the school year.</p>

<p>Sports - </p>

<p>I play Badminton, Basketball and Volleyball recreationally since I was in the forth grade.</p>

<p>Can't say I'm especially good at them except perhaps for badminton.</p>

<p>Awards - </p>

<p>No major / inter/national level ones. A couple for some small competitions and participation.</p>

<p>I am now a 9th grader applying as a 10th grader for Fall 2013 to the two schools listed above. I don't have much confidence seeing the acceptance rates (BSR lists EW's as 33%! a 1/3 chance of getting in!) </p>

<p>I am fluent in both Chinese and English. I can read Japanese as well.</p>

<p>I am planning to take SSAT & TOEFL later this year.</p>

<p>I do not need financial aid.</p>

<p>And... I would really appreciate it if you could offer some tips/comments, particularly if you are familiar with EWS/Chatham Hall. Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Do a search on this board for Chatham Hall. Look very carefully into the pros and cons of that school. It is a very specific environment which may not be what you seek.</p>

<p>I have heard amazing things about Emma Willard. Search that on this site as well, as there are some recent posters who go there.</p>

3

<p>Hi! Thanks for replying!
I did do a search, and basically I found that Chatham Hall is a small school in a particularly rural area with a specialty in riding. Other than that, I guess it’s pretty much okay academically-wise and everywhere else. Emma Willard seems as great as I thought from the way posters describe it here on the board but somehow I suddenly start to wonder whether it’s the right fit for me.
I guess all my worries can only be solved with a visit perhaps?
Anyway, thanks again!</p>

4

<p>I’m applying to Chatham Hall for ninth grade, and my application sounds a bit like yours. The difference is that you don’t need financial aid! I’m certain that’s a great advantage, but being an international student like me, I’m sure getting in would be more of a challenge no matter how glamorous your application is. Are you only applying to these two schools? As you’ve mentioned yourself; Emma Willard is very selective. Considering the fact that you’re an international student from, as I presume, China, it would be more wise to look into some other schools as I’m doing right now. If you are satisfied with your current school and will not be extremely disappointed if you don’t get into either of these schools, you need not look any further. If not, I suggest you add more schools to your list.</p>

5

<p>I’m not from China actually, so I don’t really think my geographical location will really affect my application much since schools apart from the top schools don’t have many people applying from my country. I think I saw from a previous thread (or an ancient one?) that Emma Willard’s acceptance rate has gone lower due to the number of applications from international students coming in and not because it is really extremely selective. I’m not sure though. I’m looking out for other schools to consider, but the thing I worry the most about is whether the school is right for me. As of now, I thought about considering Buxton, Stevenson, Miss Hall’s and Westover but it’s so hard to get the right feel!
By the way, I saw your thread and I thought your application sounded a whole lot accomplished than mine, especially your EC’s! Don’t worry too much :slight_smile: As you’re still within the North American continent, I think you’ll be more likely to get financial aid?
For SSATs, contrary to your results, mine is the worst at reading analysis and the best at math and analogy haha!</p>

6

<p>It doesn’t matter, sadly, whether you’re from North America or not. In fact, Canada is one of the most over-represented countries! I’m considering Buxton, Miss Hall and Westover too! I’ll check out Stevenson and see what that’s about. I think you may have a chance at Emma Willard, because most international students require some amount of financial aid and Emma Willard particularly stated that financial aid for international students is very rare.
I understand how you’re worried about whether the school is right for you! I cannot visit any of the schools, so I have no way to know whether it is right for me except to infer what I can from the brochures and websites… What other schools are you considering?</p>

7

<p>For Emma Willard, usually if an international student needs financial aid, she will probably try for the Davis scholarship instead, I guess, although it’s more competitive. I’m not really sure whether I do have a chance to go in EW because I don’t really think I’ve really achieved anything special and nothing about me particularly stands out. It’s not really about whether I’m full pay or not anymore :s
I can’t visit any of the schools either and just seeing everybody talk about their school visits make me envious. I’ve already gotten a lot of brochures and viewbooks from inquiring over the past few months and frankly I don’t have much of a feel from a lot of them, even Emma’s! The reason I thought of applying to Emma was mainly because of what I read on CC.
My list of schools now are: Chatham Hall, Miss Hall’s, Emma Willard, Dana Hall, Madeira, Westover, Williston-Northampton, Buxton, Putney, Stevenson, and Dublin. Not a whole lot, and after I take my SSATs in October and TOEFL sometime after I’ll cut down the list of schools to maybe 4 or 5. What about you?</p>

8

<p>I just found out that many of the schools I had in mind doesn’t provide financial aid to international students… That is discouraging but now I’ve narrowed down my list by a LOT. Oh, and I’m not sure about this, but I’ve heard some bad things about Madeira… I’m not sure whether or not it’s a good school.</p>

9

<p>I don’t often comment on “Chance Me” threads, as I think they have little use/relevance to the application process…but I wanted to chime in with this thought: Don’t knock a school off your consider list based solely on rumor or even something posted on an anonymous internet forum.</p>

<p>For the most part, “bad things” can be said about any of the boarding schools. Over the years, some student/family will have had a suboptimal experience and share it with friends, family, and the world.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that there were probably dozens if not hundreds of other students who went to that school at the same time who had a great experience.</p>

<p>This is not to invalidate the experience of anyone who has had a bad experience with a boarding school…just that, as they say “Your mileage may vary.” Do your homework on any school you are seriously considering applying to/attending.</p>

10

<p>@Stella From my list, I think Chatham Hall, Miss Hall’s, Emma, Putney offer financial aid to international students though they state that it’s limited. How many schools do you plan to apply to? I heard bad things about Madeira, but good things too, especially from older posts in this forum. I’ll wait for my viewbook to arrive before I decide whether or not to seriously apply.</p>

<p>@SevenDad Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.</p>

11

<p>Putney? I’ll look into that school. And I’m applying for 7 or 8.</p>