Chances at top boarding schools?

<p>Thanks a lot. :)</p>

<p>Is being a good writer a "hook?" My English teacher said I write better than any student she's ever had. I'm going to take a few writing courses online this summer and next year. Should I send in some of my essays or short stories?</p>

<p>They usually ask for a graded essay as well as the essay they make you write, so I think they'll have enough material to judge you on. A reccomendation from that English teacher wouldn't hurt, though.</p>

<p>Okay, thanks.</p>

<p>Bump... I've noticed some new people came on this board, so if you guys could comment it would be great. :) Thanks. :)</p>

<p>-Last Bump Ever-</p>

<p>I got into Andover, Exeter, etc.. and had a 92% on the ssat and very few ext. carriculars... Don't worry so much... We who you are.. Be nice to your teachers so you get good recs... ANS don't be irritatingly tense it's just going to backfire on you.</p>

<p>just a comment re: that andover v. exeter need-blindedness: I don't know about Andover but with the recent fundraising (-__-) exeter is now need-blind.</p>

<p>is it bad (uncool ) to bump?</p>

<p>Jonathan, I hope that you put as much energy into your applications as you do into asking about them. Now THAT would look good.</p>

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I hope that you put as much energy into your applications as you do into asking about them.

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<p>lol I intend to. :)</p>

<p>hi, i'm going to be attending exeter this fall as a 9th grader, and i think with your stats, you would definitely have a really good chance with your schools</p>

<p>hmm what is your ethnicity?
your chances, or at least this is what i've heard from exeter kids, depend a lot with whether you are from a minorty group, or as iluva put it so frankly: </p>

<p>"well, michigan will certainly help you better in the admission process than living half an hour away from NYC and being an Asian American as well - no diversity whatsoever. the worst to be, really. Living in NY and being an Asian American? Can you think of any worst prospects?"</p>

<p>hehehe this tickles me so much
[i said this in my reply in that interview thread] first of all, my ssat was a lowly 93, and second, i am in fact a korean-american who happens to live in new jersey, 60 minutes away from nyc.
(fun story: at my lawrenceville interview, i was waiting and around me there were literally 10 korean families, just on that one day. i was urinating in my pants for sure.)</p>

<p>but my interviewer told me that the admission committee had contacted him and told him that i had stood out in the pool, despite my, er, common characteristics. my stats weren't exactly spectacular, but i had straight A's, played soccer pretty seriously, play cello pretty seriously along with piano, singing and a little handbells, and i think my teacher's gave me good reccomendations. also, i genuinely REALLY wanted to attend a prep school, and especially exeter because of its harkness teaching style, which fits me perfectly.</p>

<p>that's pretty much all the advice i can give; just get accross the message that you actually want to be at their school and that you will make a difference at that school</p>

<p>also, i think with exeter/andover, financial aid won't hurt you much [i applied, and i was really happy with what i got] since they have so much to give away, but other smaller schools are a bit more stingy with their money, so if they find you looking for aid and another, less impressive kid who is willing to pay full tuition, they will take that rich kid.</p>

<p>initially, i was "priorty-waitlisted" at choate, cuz they didn't [or couldn't?] give me aid, but about a week after they said i was accepted, but it was only 75% of what exeter was giving me, plus, IMHO, i think exeter is a better school overall.</p>

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hmm what is your ethnicity?

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<p>I'm white. </p>

<p>You're Korean? That's so cool. lol. On my way to Japan, I met this Korean guy and he seemed really cool. He lived in Busan, or something like that. lol. On my way back, there was a Korean church group who was going to Greensborough, NC for a homestay program. They spoke English very well. They were from Inchan.</p>

<p>Anyway.. back on topic. </p>

<p>I'm starting to get less and less worried about my interview. I thought about a lot of things that I could bring up during the interview. I hope that they recognize my strong passion for world events/international relations/languages. </p>

<p>I can't wait!</p>

<p>Wow Jonathan. </p>

<p>Not to stereotype but judging from your conviction and motivation I thought you were Asian. :)</p>

<p>I think ISEE's would hold more weight than SSAT's. I was said to be in the 99th precentile and the test was EXTREMELY easy. On the ISEE's I was only 94 but it was a lot more difficult. On a completely irrelevant discussion, when I took the SSAT's there were two other people in the room and the test was held in a...nursery school. </p>

<p>I applied to SPS, St Andrews, Andover, and Exeter. I was waitlisted for SPS and accepted to all the other three. I can tell you that Andover and Exeter give financial aid to everyone who needs it and to repeat others, need-blind.</p>

<p>My experience in a few sentences: The applications were extremely difficult to go through. I come from a very small and liberal school, selective but small and we had NO budget. I emphasised that in my applications, which would have seemed like a lack of dedication to any EC's except debate, that the reasons for the lack of consistency was because my school didn't have the funds to support any non sport program. The reasons I wanted to go to big schools like Exeter and Andover was because I had never even heard of squash or crew before I visited those schools.
I also went to the schools for the interviews. I live in NYC and it was also really fun except my mother really disliked Exeter since she saw all the people smoking (the drug problem is infinitely worse at my current school). I think my presence and willingness to schlep up 200 miles demonstrates a real passion for the schools.</p>

<p>haha yeah i think it's that passion that schools really want, and your interview should be a breeze</p>

<p>that said, i think it's best that you apply for the aid, because it won't really hurt you at all; i think you have an excellent chance of being accepted</p>

<p>good luck again, hope to see you next year at exeter ;D</p>

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Not to stereotype but judging from your conviction and motivation I thought you were Asian.

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<p>lol...</p>

<p>Thanks, Nixxi. What school are you attending now? (Sorry if I missed it)</p>

<p>I'm actually attending the Bronx High School of Science. We decided that I would shift to boarding school for my junior and senior year. In retrospect I should've gone to boarding school but then I wouldn't have debate.</p>

<p>I'd also like to say that our school has produced the most Nobel Peace Prize Winners.</p>

<p>The Bronx hs of Science has a wonderful reputation! I've never researched it, but I have a few friends who went there. They have done very well in life. Most boarding schools offer debate but it is more serious in some than others.</p>

<p>Could you comment on my chances for EXETER as well?
I'm taking Honors Geometry (have already done Algebra 2 equivalent)
Was in National Spelling Bee (Only one from my state)
Got first in my state for the Johns Hopkins test in Math and Verbal 2 years in a row.
Lived in England last year and attended an English school.
My dad's boss is the head of the alumni association at Exeter (suggested I go there).
Play guitar
Good writer (have been published w/ my dad)
Play basketball, baseball, tennis, and would like to start crew
Applying for Financial Aid
I am white
Haven't done the SSATs yet, but would probably get at least 95</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>In. You'd probably like to make a new thread with your chances though so more people can see it. And don't get too cocky on that SSAT...</p>

<p>yeah you're in, but have you taken a practice for SSAT or are just way too cocky? because there are a lot of smart people taking that test and its a bit silly to assume you're gonna do better than 95% of them.</p>