Chance Me at Top Boarding Schools

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

Hi! I’m applying to Exeter, The Hill School, St. Paul’s, Thacher, Deerfield, Loomis, Concord Academy, St. Marks, The Masters School, and Middlesex for the Fall of 2023. I am a current 8th grader applying for 9th grade. I currently attend a Charter School in a well known URM city. I am also in an access program that has a good relationship with these schools. I am also an African American male. (Sorry if I’m being too vague here, I don’t want to spill my entire identity online).

Academics:
A Average for my 6th Grade Year
All A+'s for my 7th Grade Year
All A+'s and one A for the first semester of my 8th Grade Year
71% SSAT (I know it’s low, but my access program is not allowing retakes)
Had the highest scores in state testing in my grade, but it doesn’t matter since I’m not sending it in

EC’s:
Basketball (I’ve been playing for 6 years and I’m playing for my school’s basketball team. I would say that I’m pretty good, but I’m not sure if im recruitable. I will be sending in videos about it)
Student Ambassador (I was selected for this position at my school by my teachers. My job is basically just to set up tours at my schools Open House for prospective families)
Community Service (I lead a breast cancer event at my school)
Chess (I played for two years, and during my interview I expressed how I used chess as a way to connect with my family and that I was a pretty good player)
Volleyball (When boys volleyball starts I’m going to sign up for the team and I’m very good, but not recruitable. May or may not send in video to schools w/ volleyball like Exeter and The Masters School)
Piano (I’ve been playing for two years. I started during quarantine and I’ve been learning with my sister. I was planning on playing a song for my application, but I don’t think I’ll be able to compose an impressive song for the AO’s)

Recs: I’ve known my math teacher for two years and he knew my sister so we have a good relationship, so that recommendation is probably very good. I just met my ELA teacher this year, but she knew my sister and I would say that I’m her favorite student in the entire grade. I also got my science teacher to do my Any Teacher Rec and I am one of his best students ever.

Interviews: I finished all of my interviews already. They were all about 30 minutes on average. I would rate all of them and 8/10 except for my Deerfield one where my interviewer said that I would be a great fit at the school and I also have a good friend who goes here who I was able to meet on my visit, 10/10.

Essays: My essays showed a lot about my passion for STEM and space. It also showed how much I valued friendship and family. Also showed my personality very well and intellectual vitality.

Awards: Science Award (High YTD average in Science in my class)
Math Award (Highest YTD average in Math in my class, I won this 3 years in a row/ my entire middle school career)

Needs Lots of FA (90%) First-Gen Student

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2

Where you get accepted might have to do with the level of your courses (especially in mathematics), but you seem like a great kid and I expect you to have many choices from among the schools you mentioned. Good luck!

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Your access program may not allow retakes (I am guessing they provide you with a single chance for free?), but if the fee is an issue, you could ask one of the schools you are applying to for a waiver which should allow you to retake it at no charge on your own.

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I think you’ll get into several schools and do well. Really I think the question is, how much academic work are you wanting to put in every day? Some of these schools on your list have reputations of very high daily workloads but a lot of student independence—like Exeter.

I’m not trying to rain on your accomplishments at all—I have a daughter at Emma Willard who finds the two hours a day of homework freshman year a good level for her. She also likes the fairly structured lifestyle such as required study halls for freshman girls.

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TBH, I feel somewhat prepared for the rigor of some of these schools because of the access program I’m in. We are taking some high school level courses that will prepare me for the coursework. However, workload wise I’m not too sure since my LPS only gives homework once a week. But speaking with my HS Guidance counselor he said I’ll be fine and that I would be able to get used to the amount of work that these schools hand out.

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I think you and only you can decide if you’re really up for 3-4 hours a night of Homework, and you may still only be middle of the pack of a top school. Maybe you love all the academics! Maybe you’re pure grind. Maybe you have the pure soul of a writer or scientist so really like parts of the education. Or maybe it’s that easy for you. But many students can burn out at a school with too much rigor.