Chance Me: Andover, Exeter, Choate (and more)

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

Hi guys, I’m new to CC but I would really appreciate if y’all weighed in on my chances of being admitted to these schools! Thanks :slight_smile:

SSAT:
99% overall (2352)
99% math - full 800
99% reading
96% verbal

Background:

  • International Asian (will not specify country for privacy reasons as there are not many applicants from my country)
  • Female
  • Applying for the 9th grade

Hook(s):
Sibling attends Andover; potential music recruit (less popular strings instrument)

Academics:
Basically straight As, in the highest classes possible for all subjects and taking 9th grade accelerated math (Geometry/Algebra 2).

Also received honors grades at Exeter Summer.

Extracurriculars:

  • Piano (10 years)
    I have received honourable mentions in national level competitions. I have also taken multiple theory examinations and received high scores from all of them.
  • Coding/Robotics (4 years) I founded my own coding club at my school. I have also won some minor awards at competitions.
  • Well-known Academic Competition (5 years) Ranked highly for multiple years nationally.
  • Community Service (3 years) I serve as the co-president/club representative of two clubs that support local charity organizations. I have also delivered keynote speeches in national interscholastic service conferences.
  • Less popular strings instrument (3 years + previous experience on violin) Got into an honor orchestra that is recognized across Asia and am the current principal chair of the school orchestra.
  • Softball (3 years) On the school team.
  • Badminton (3 years) Also on the school team.
  • Crew (1 year) Has experience being a coxswain at summer school.

Recommendations:
English - not completely sure but should be fine.
Counselor - same impression as above.
Math - should be quite good.
Special interest - should be great as they are impressed by my passion for the things I do.
Personal - should be great as they have seen me grow both in a classroom setting and in an extracurricular setting.

The interviews and essays were generally okay; Exeter interview went especially well.

Sorry that some parts were vague-- hopefully that was enough to gauge my general profile. Thanks for reading!

2

Also forgot to add that I will be a full pay student.

3

Hi @justmehereyupp
I’m in no way someone that has the authority to chance, but your application looks pretty good. You’ve got great extracurriculars and really good grades from what it sounds like. I’d say that the fact that your sibling that attends Andover in addition to your great resume makes you a really strong applicant for Andover. Good luck!

4

I completely agree with @eekeek in regards to Andover, but if you’d prefer to attend a different school than your sibling you should really make that very clear to admissions officers. If other schools know about your sibling at Andover they might automatically waitlist you since they will assume that you picking their school is far less likely than following your brother/sister to Andover. Best of luck.

5

@eekeek Thanks for the insight!

6

@BigBlueSwim Thanks for giving your perspective! May I ask if you have any tips for essays?

7

No real essay tips more than write about whatever you are most interested/passionate about and try to use the chance to give them further insight into you as a person, beyond what they might already know from reading your application.

8

For essays my advice is to be real. My older daughter wrote about getting a puppy and helping her brother with homework. The essays don’t have to be earth shattering, they need to show something about you as a person and be well written. My son wrote about a soccer game and a community service activity that he was involved in. None were along the lines of “I saved orphaned kids with cleft pallets from a volcano…” they just really showed that my kids were good people.

9

@one1ofeach very helpful essay advice as DDs essays sound similar to your kiddos.
Had to laugh about the …from volcano ?

10

@amumof2 ? I just think sometimes the kids here get a wee bit carried away.