Hey all!
I’m currently a female, white/mixed race (i don’t think i’m a minority) 7th grader from Florida.
I am considering applying to the top boarding schools like Andover Exeter Lawenceville and any others. (I haven’t done much research)
A lot about me (sorry in advance for long post)…
Grades: All above 90%*
Precalculus: A- (I finished all the math available at my school so took online through Johns Hopkins)
Science): Overall 93% (one semesterA-)
Spanish: Overall 94% (one semester A-)
History (AP level): A+
English (honors): A
*I skipped 1 normal grade and 5 grades in math.
EC
Cello: I love it and play in the state orchestra high school level. Won a gold at regional competition.
Piano: Been playing since I was 5. Won a 1st at State Competition
Dance: Am not exceptional but LOVE to dance. Perform in my city Nutcracker every year.
Tennis: Have placed in a few tournaments am not exceptionally talented.
My focus is definitely the arts
Am a small group leader volunteer at my church and plan be a worship volunteer with cello.
Been a writing center volunteer at my school for two years
Volunteered at my school for 4 years.
Editor of School newspaper next year. (or co-editer)
I hope to be in student council next year.
(want to help my community more next year)
Competitions/awards and stuff
Placed 3rd 5th and 5th in the Sate State Science Olympiad (plan to continue and place again next year(
Alternate for Nationals and state finalist twice in national history day
First place at a writing competition in my county for poetry.
Received a creativity in the fine arts of science award at my school.
My team placed first twice in a high school math competition in my city.
SSAT
Haven’t officially taken it but have been studying and practice testing to get in the high 90’s. (I hope)I have pretty high to perfect score in the qualitative. I haven’t done interviews and essays and teachers applications and such.
I don’t exactly know what my hook would be but I’m a all-around girl who is very interested in math and science stuff and the arts. Also, I definitely have a heart to volunteer. (I didn’t do the volunteer stuff above just to look good)
Chance me for the boarding schools above. Also, do you guys have any recommendations for any other good schools and stuff I can do to better my chances of getting in. (I’m new to this)
Thanks and sorry for the long post:)
What are you looking for in a school? Do you prefer a secluded, rural environment or prefer to be near a town or city? Do you prefer a large school where you can go “deep” and continue developing in the areas where you already excel or a smaller school where you are forced to wear many hats and try new things? Do you prefer lots of structure or more freedom? Do you have a preference in terms of dress code? Does prestige matter more or less than getting a quality education? Are you open to other parts of the country? Are you excited about long winters or do you see them as a necessary evil? Do you like to party or prefer other kinds of entertainment?
I am looking for really good academic and arts in a school. I also would prefer a school that is very rigorous and challenging academically and in terms of EC’s but still has a friendly and warm student and dorm life atmosphere. Also, I would prefer a school that’s not too far away from an airport. (I’m only looking at East Coast schools and winters don’t bother me )
Your resume is definitely good for these schools - pre-calc in seventh grade is beyond exceptional. I got points for being in advanced math and I’m hoping to take pre-calc as a sophomore! Certainly, that will demonstrate your determination to the AO’s. I think you should broaden your list of schools (not that you’re bad, but these schools’ admissions are basically lotteries for whoever applies). Look at schools like NMH, etc. that have significantly higher acceptance rates. There are also schools closer to you, like Baylor, Asheville, etc., that are not NE schools and do not have quite as many resources but still are truly amazing schools at which you will definitely thrive (they also have other opportunities that you might enjoy that NE schools won’t offer). I am not sure what your essays and interviews will look like but it appears you’ll have a lot to talk about, so I imagine you’ll do well. Essays, interviews, and the factors where you have to talk about yourself (rather than just transcripts), I think, are going to make or break your application. Invest as much time as you possibly can into writing spectacular essays that give a display into the amazing character you are. I wish you the best of luck next year!
Agree you should widen you horizons in terms of schools you are applying to. Being from FL will help A LOT. Most kids applying to BS are from New England so coming from a Southern state will help a lot. Kids from NE often are coming from other private schools or public schools with very strong programs so they compete against each other ( some NE towns have 5-10 kids applying to a single BS).
STEM girls are a hook. There are not very many esp those who are strong in math, science and the language arts. Also, I think SSATs will matter esp if you are from a school where few students go to BS. It tells the school how you compare to the entire pool of candidates. It’s not the only thing, more of a baseline most kids have.
Are you going to interview? You should visit the campuses you are going to apply to in order to get a feel for the campus and students. They are all very different.
Good luck.
Thank you all. I am planning on trying to interview everywhere and will broaden my school search.
Any more advice to better my chances would be awesome:)
You sound to me like a solid candidate. If your SSAT falls in the range you expect, I suspect you’ll check off the academic boxes. I also like what I read in your summary of activities and achievements, as (to me at least) it seems to speak to your passions, while also showing some humility and appreciation for helping others. My only advice would be to stay true to yourself in this process. Best of luck to you.
You are a well rounded student whom I suspect would be welcome at most, if not all, elite prep boarding schools.
You did not state your reasons for wanting to attend boarding school. Try to share those reasons so that other posters can suggest appropriate schools to consider.
Among your many activities, I would like to encourage you to maintain your roles as editor-in-chief and as a volunteer in the writing center. Athletics & music are also very important activities that will help you to develop & mature and allow you to contribute to any school community.
Phillips Academy at Andover
Phillips Exeter Academy
The Lawrenceville School
St. Paul’s School
Deerfield Academy
Choate Rosemary Hall
Hotchkiss School
Cate School (California)
Thacher (California)
These boarding school tend to attract well rounded intelligent applicants with excellent grades & outstanding SSAT scores.
This list is not intended as a ranking of the schools, and there are many more great prep boarding schools. (Such as Groton, Mercersburg, and others.)
Another great school to look at in addition to the NE schools is Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Great academics, facilities, etc, and it provides unique opportunities due to its proximity to D.C.
My child just graduated from Brooks in North Andover, MA and was given a great financial aid package. You may want to consider that school in your search. Good luck!
For your Exeter application, I think you should stress your achievements with the Cello and Science Olympiad. You seem very well rounded, and I think emphasizing these things would benefit your application too. At Exeter, as strange as it sounds, we unofficially try to “recruit” musicians such as Celloists lol. Also, someone in my dorm started the Science Olympiad club this year, so that’s also another activity you can carry on at Exeter.
@denvermanning - as you stated in your earlier post, you have talent and interest in the performing arts (Cello and dance). When you look at schools this year, please do your reasearch on the arts programs offered at each school. We found that some schools may “force” a choice between performing arts and athletics. Some schools may allow scheduling for both peforming arts and sports. Some schools may actually provide students with a choice between an after-school sport or a performing arts group. Now the good news… We found schools that allowed for scheduling 2 performing arts (instrument and dance), as well as athletics. There are some wonderful schools that provide serious dance training and have dance companies. When you visit the schools, try to schedule a meeting with a teacher in your area of interest (orchestra, dance, visual arts, etc). For example, do they have full-time faculty in your interest area of the performing arts? Can you take an advanced course or work with a private instructor? What performing opportunities beyond campus may be available to students. Some schools have chamber groups or orchestras that perform overseas, for example. One of the Boston area schools offer talented musicians the opportunity to work with instructors at a college. You sound like a very talented candidate. Be prepared to provide a performance video for your applications. Make a list of questions in advance of your interviews. This may help you gain a better understanding of course opportunities and co-curricular choices. Best wishes! :bz
This will sound trite, but just be yourself. Don’t try to game the system. The admissions officers review and have reviewed thousands of applicant packages; they will likely see through any image you try to portray if that image does not align with what your current teachers say in their recommendations. And if you do gain admittance to a school by portraying yourself as someone you’re not, you may find yourself in a school that is less than a good fit. Being in a high school that is a poor fit will make you unhappy and will probably not help your cause when it’s time to apply to college.
Research well the schools you are considering and reflect on why the school may or may not be a good fit for you–there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Continue to do your best in school this year, and continue to pursue with zeal the activities in which you are already engaged. Good luck.
To the OP - this is for yourself, right? Your interviews are important. My sense is that AO’s are looking for not just smart kids or talented kids…they are also looking for (drum roll)… happy kids. Do you come across as a happy kid? We saw kids waiting in the admissions offices of some schools and they just looked uninterested or bored. Maybe there were both, or maybe just afraid. You have to put on a positive front even if you are afraid. The AO’s often ask “Why do you want to go to boarding school” and “Why do you want to attend “X” or this school?
I believe your demeanor and attitude does make an impression just as much as your numbers. Do you seem like a happy kid during your interviews? Also…Can you hold a conversation with an adult about current events? Yes - one more thing - smile, make eye contact, shake hands, and be polite while you genuinely show that you are serious about attending their school. :bz