<p>My daughter will be applying to Groton for the 8th grade year. If she is not accepted she'll follow up the next year with applications to other boarding schools. If we need to wait till the 9th grade we plan to put together a list of three dream schools, three solid schools, and three safety's. </p>
<p>We are from a state (Arizona) that appears to be underrepresented at top boarding schools. Will this help with admissions to top schools? Also, one of her main EC's is wrestling. Will this help? She also has some traditional EC's like drama but her main sport is wresting. We tried other sports but wrestling is the only one that stuck. </p>
<p>Stats</p>
<p>GPA 3.8 (B in math but two grades ahead), gifted class since 1st grade. </p>
<p>EC's
Drama for several years
Wrestling for several years
Annual science fare team three years
Fluent in Chinese (lived there three years but not ethnically Chinese) </p>
<p>SSAT
Math 97%
Verbal 99%
Reading 99%</p>
<p>I'm hoping for a top school. It seems like many of the second tier schools would be great fits as well but we are a lower middle class family so financial aid will be a major consideration. I know that the Phillip's schools and several other would be free...</p>
<p>I don’t know about chances…but wanted to say don’t rule out the “non-top” school because of financial aid. A school that believes you are a good fit and wants you will make a good offer - nearly all the schools state their range to be up to full tuition. You might be surprised.</p>
<p>Also I hate to be the rain on your parade, but I would not push wrestling as an end all be all sport for your daughter. Many leagues may not want a girl wrestling in a boys team (I know of one girl who ever did that). It may be easier for a school not to have to deal with with an issue, by not admitting her.</p>
<p>I was thinking the same thing, mhmm. Just make sure that the schools realize that she knows that she probably wouldn’t be able to continue or investigate the feasibility of her continuing it thoroughly and be willing to be flexible. All school have athletic requirements and the smaller schools especially will expect her to contribute to the school’s team. It does show that she is confident enough to do a non-traditional sport for a girl and I think that’s great.</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t know how important geography is to the process. I think they are looking at the whole package. Her grades and scores are fine. Don’t worry about those. Just tell her to present herself as honestly as she can and let the chips fall where they may. It’s really all you can do! Good luck. </p>
<p>Hopefully, she’ll be admitted this year and you won’t have to worry about it!</p>
<p>IMO, coming from AZ will raise an eyebrow, wrestling will raise both. Being from the last century and having been a wrestler, naturally I question girls wrestling. But, knowing a lot the the DOA’s and faculty from numerous schools, I imagine them kind of liking the idea of having a girl on their wrestling team. We have a girl wrestling at our local HS and she’s quite good. How intimidating that can be for the opposing team! Of course your D’s stats are terrific and the more I think about it, the more I think Groton might like her too. Plenty of great schools out there, no point in getting your self wrapped up about Mar 2012 yet. Good luck with Groton.</p>
<p>First, Groton does not have wrestling, so there’s little value to the school as an EC you will continue. There was a Prep All-American many years ago who attended Groton, but he wrestled with the Lawrence Academy team.</p>
<p>Second, there are 15 girls wrestling on prep school teams this season. However, there are only 7 wrestling regularly. Schools with girls competing regularly include Pomfret, Exeter, and Hotchkiss. Andover has two girls, but they have not wrestled in matches.</p>
<p>Duly noted, wrestling is not offered at Groton. Maybe it once was, I cannot recall, even my old BS no longer offers the sport. I wonder how AZ can go this far and not know?</p>
<p>Checking further, there were 24 girls on prep teams last year with 7 of them competing regularly. (One made it to New Englands, but did not place.) Two years ago there were 31 girls with 10 competing regularly. Finally (the last year in the database), three years ago there were 22 girls and 3 competing regularly.</p>
<p>Yes we saw Groton doesn’t offer wrestling. One of the reasons for an east coast school is to try new things like field hockey and lacrosse. She enjoys it but as hormones start to kick in the boys gain a huge advantage on the mat. We tried to locate a lacrosse team out here but none near where we live. The main reason we are looking at Groton is the academics and atmosphere.</p>