<p>Hello! I'm a current sophomore who goes to a very intensive and rigorous all-girls private school in the southwest! My family might be moving to the Connecticut area and I want to continue with my education at a private school. I've been looking at the websites for Taft, Kent, Hotchkiss, Cheshire, and Canterbury for a few weeks and was just wondering if some other people could give me their opinions, insights, thoughts, and special information on any of those schools. I do not know yet if I will be applying as a boarding or day student, so both types of input would be lovely! My main preferences as of right now are Taft and Hotchkiss, and if I were to apply, I would be doing so for my junior and senior years of high school. Does this make being accepted more difficult? </p>
<p>A little background information: For 9th grade, I took all of the Honors courses my school offered for freshmen (Honors English, Honors Geometry, Honors Biology), plus 3 other classes (World History I, French II, Studio Art I). In these subjects, I received all A's (and quite a few A+'s) with the exception of a B+ in my first semester of Honors Geometry, which was later an A at the end of the second semester. For French II, I participated in the National French Exam and was ranked 9th in my state and 11th in the nation. I also received the class award for French. For Studio Art I, I also received another class award. Overall, I had a 3.95 GPA on a scale of 4.0. My weighted GPA for the first semester was 4.87 and for the second semester it was 5.12. </p>
<p>I am part of the National Beta Club, the French Club, my school's Service Organization, the Visual Arts Club (of which I am a co-chair), the Diversity Club, Student Council, and Pep Club. I am also a member of my school's Community Fund, an organization which gives grants of money to certain charities to help with their work with children in my city. I also volunteer on a daily basis at a hospital in my city, a hospice, a library, and an art museum and will be beginning my volunteer duties at Hope House, a center for children who have AIDs from their mothers, this year. In addition, I tutor younger and less fortunate children on a weekly basis. For my freshman year, I competed with my school's dance team and received 26th place at the National level. This year, I am running Cross Country and competing in Lacrosse. I may also be running a half marathon this winter in order to raise money for the hospital at which my younger sister currently receives treatment for leukemia. If I do not run the half marathon, I will still be fundraising and running the 5K race. </p>
<p>I also have a very cultural background; I have immediate family of Iranian descent and I am bilingual in Farsi and English. I plan to volunteer at my city's Iranian American Association and have previously attended courses for reading and writing in the Persian language. </p>
<p>Overall, I am mainly wondering if I could potentially be accepted at any of these schools, but mainly Taft and Hotchkiss. Also, could someone describe their admissions process for me? I have been going to a private school since the 6th grade, but since my parents filled out the majority of my application and I was a special circumstance that was accepted three weeks prior to the start of the school year, I am not very familiar with the prep school application process. Is it difficult to fill out the application in the midst of the school year? Although my family and I have been fortunate in life, I think we may also be applying for financial aid; how does this change the application process? Also, what is the interview process like? I am generally a very outgoing girl but still somewhat reserved at times, especially around figures of authority. </p>
<p>I am so sorry for writing this much, but I definitely want to know what I may be getting myself into! I would appreciate any input, so please feel free to share! I look forward to hearing from people soon! Thank you!!</p>