Chance me: Andover, Exeter, Choate, St. Paul's

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

I am an 8th grader in an international school in Japan. I was born in the US so am a US citizen as well.
My SSAT scores:
Reading: 92 percentile, 722
Quantative: 99 percentile, 800
Verbal: 95 percentile, 767
Overall: 98 percentile, 2289

Grades:
My school uses a different system but as far as I know my overall GPA is something like 3.85. (My PE grades aren’t the best) I’m taking Geometry which is a high school course which uses the A-F system, and currently, I have an A+

ECs:
Piano for 8 years, tennis for 3 years, cross country for 3 years, track& field for 2 years, robotics team for 4 years- competition is in 2 weeks! girl scouts for 6 years, student council currently, volunteering for a food bank, math counts, brain bowl, extra math class for 1.5 years and mandarin for 8 years( they had it in my old school but since in my current school they do not, I have to take it outside of school.) I’m also working for my silver award for girl scouts at this place for children who do not have enough to eat or their parents are not home.

Most of my teachers have completed recommendations and I am hoping they are good. Only my SS teacher told me what he wrote so otherwise, I don’t have much idea.

I’ve done my interviews and overall I think they went pretty well especially Andover. The interviewer and I started talking about women in science for a long time. St. Paul’s, however, did not seem to bring any conversations with the interviewer mainly because he was asking a bunch of basic questions like where I’ve lived and since he was a football coach, he talked about sports but I was struggling a little bit because though I do sports, I’m not the best at them.

I’m currently working on my essays and I’m writing about my passion for science and engineering. If I get in, I’m hoping to help young girls have opportunities to access what they are interested in. I feel like the women in the science field are quite outnumbered, like in my robotics team, there’s only 1 girl and that is me. Lots of times, I’ve asked my friends about their opinions on math and science, and they have this inner feeling that they hate it, and I think that part of that is from outer influences that math and science is a boy’s thing. I’m also writing about me and the piano as well as my life as an international kid. Is this type of content good?

I do know a couple of people who are graduates as well as currently attending the schools, and they say the admission process wasn’t that hard, but I feel like it is. Is that bad?

Also, I’m planning to send in my application early because someone told me that the admission officers will have an impression that I’m organized and they’ll look at it more carefully.

What are my chances?

2

u r applying to andover and exeter too? sameee what year are u?

3

You’ve got a lot going for you --female interested in STEM writing about science and engineering, a US citizen living abroad with fall and spring sports. I think you have a pretty good shot at all. Chances go up if you can be recruited in your sport, you are legacy, an URM, or from North Dakota and are full pay.

4

Thank you @preppedparent I am not a URM though I’ve lived in Singapore as well and am trilingual. In addition, I’m probably going to need FA because my parents are probably going to get divorced so my mother is going to have to find a job and apartment for us. Do you think I still have a chance?

5

@HeyWassupBishes I’m in grade 8 applying for freshman year. What about you?

6

yes @Totorocinnamon03 Try to talk to the FA folks when you come to interview in Admissions to talk about a plan. You may be able to get part scholarship from alumni and or significant FA.

7

Ohh cool I’m applying for yr 10. Good luck! When’s your interview? Mine’s this week ughhh so scared I’ll screw up…

8

You do sound like a great candidate. Girls who are seriously interested in mathematics and engineering are relatively rare. Do you have any accomplishments in MathCounts or in the AMC contests (for instance, distinguished honor roll in AMC 8, or qualified for AIME, etc.)? An 800 in the math section of the SSAT is great, but be aware that the SSAT math is extremely easy for math contest kids (my child is one of them and we literally do not know a single other math contest competitor who didn’t get an 800 - at least none will admit to getting a lesser score :slight_smile: ).

A couple of cautions. I suspect you might be Asian, from the Mandarin and living in Japan? If so, be aware that admission is much tougher for Asian girls especially.

Also, FA might be an issue for you. You say that you might need it because your parents are getting divorced. You need to have a conversation with your parents about this because all schools will look at the resources available to both parents when determining whether they will offer any money. It’s not enough that, say, your dad doesn’t want to pay and your mother really can’t afford to. If your dad has the resources to pay, he will be expected to pay, plain and simple, unless you can come up with a credible story that you and your mother have no real contact with him. All that being said, do understand that it is MUCH tougher to be accepted as a FA kid than a full pay.

Best of luck!

9

However, Andover is Need-Blind, so in theory, Andover only looks at your achievements. If you get in, then they will pay for your education completely.

10

Hi! I am applying to Andover as well and I just saw that you seem like a great candidate. Are you currently going to the school?

11

Hi, I’m also an 8th grade girl applying for these schools! You seem like a really well-rounded candidate, and I am sure that the schools are all very interested in having you. Your test scores, and average school grades are great, and your interest in science and math is something that will stand out among other applicants. As long as your essays are good, then I’m pretty sure you will get in! My sister tried out for all of the schools and she is currently at Choate. She was not even close to as well-rounded as you are. I think you have an extremely high chance of getting in!
Good Luck!!!

12

You have a pretty impressive record in my opinion. Best of luck! I’m Applying for tenth grade. Took the SSAT December 9th… :confused:

13

@Totorocinnamon03 Who exactly was your interviewer at St. Pauls?

14

i think with your GPA and SSAT and STEM interests you have a very high chance of getting in

15

Thank you, everyone!