Chances :D

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>SSAT: I should be getting my scores within a few weeks. </p>

<p>School:
It's a private day prep school in the midwest. </p>

<p>Grades: 3.9-4.0 throughout middle school. Grades for first quarter in ninth grade were pretty much all B's and a D+ in geometry. Second quarter should be all A's or A-'s with a C- in geometry. While my school is pretty difficult, my grades could be much higher. I have no idea about my rank but I'm sure it wasn't good at all for first quarter, but hopefully for the first semester it will be top 30%+.</p>

<p>Classes:
French II
Art Photography
History
Geometry
Spanish I
Biology
English</p>

<p>EC's
Multicultural Focus (9)
Save Darfur (9)
Admissions Ambassador (9)
JV Tennis (9)
Soccer (Grades 1-8, couldn't play this year because they switched the seasons around and I chose tennis. I will probably play soccer instead next year)
Alto Saxophone (Grades 5-8) I still play independently but I couldn't take it this year because I had to choose between taking two foreign languages and band)
Yearbook (7,8)
Student Government (4-8)
Quiz Bowl (6,7,8) Captain</p>

<p>Awards
School-wide winner of Geography Bee (out of 500 kids) (8)
School-wide winner of Spelling Bee (out of 500 kids) (8)
3rd place in county Spelling Bee
1st division ratings in solo/ensemble competitions for a solo and duet</p>

<p>Community Service
I have been volunteering at my mother's business that works with children since I could remember. I usually go there for at least an hour after school each day of the week. It's not formally recorded, though.
I am applying to be a volunteer at a hospice for a few hours each week.</p>

<p>Summer
Andover Summer Session 2007 - Accelerated Elementary French; Speech and Debate B
Japan 2006 (I was one of four students selected of ~20 applicants to spend two weeks in Japan and stay with two host families, each for one week)
Ashbury College 2005 - One week writing course at a local boarding school where my dad lives</p>

<p>Recommendations
Probably above average, but not amazing</p>

<p>Essays
Pretty much amazing</p>

<p>Interviews
I had an interview at Andover while I was there in July and it went pretty well. I just had a phone interview with St. Paul's today and I feel that it went pretty well. I'm applying for tenth grade.</p>

<p>Also, I'm really considering applying to one other school. Suggestions would be great! I want a school where I can take at least two foreign languages, but still getting three years of each core subject.</p>

2

<p>Hm…I’d say you sound like a strong candidate. I think your Geometry grade might hurt you, though, but your ECs are very strong. When you said your essays are pretty much amazing, have you gotten them looked over by a professional English teacher or something? I don’t think you should have them edit your essays, especially if the form says you shouldn’t, but it’s good to get a second opinion and then go from there. </p>

<p>Have you looked at Groton? I know that you can choose from French or Spanish there, and I think you’re required to take Latin for a year or carry it on. If those are the languages you’re interested in. Here at Choate, we have French, Spanish, German (I think?? not so sure!), Chinese, and we’re phasing out Japanese to bring in Arabic. We also have intensive courses in Italian and Russian (i think in Russian; this could be the other way around with German). </p>

<p>I think you should apply to more schools than just two, because I made that mistake last year. Try to bring your grades up (esp. Geometry - a strong second quarter would help greatly! Do you think you could get a B minus in that?) But haha…I’m talking, I got an awful grade in it fall term. Then I moved down to regular math class.</p>

<p>Are you in any honors courses? How do you think your teacher recs will be? </p>

<p>Good luck w/ scores from SSAT! </p>

<p>Going to the summer session at Andover will help. I know some kids here who went to it this summer or the summer before, so going to the summer session seems to be a popular choice for entering or prospective students.</p>

3

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<p>No, I haven’t had them looked over by anyone but myself. I haven’t even finished writing them, actually, but I feel very confident that they are pretty good. :D</p>

<p>

I have, but I think it’s a little too small for me. Also, there’s not that many new tenth graders, and I don’t really have an interest in Latin.</p>

<p><a href=“esp.%20Geometry%20-%20a%20strong%20second%20quarter%20would%20help%20greatly!%20Do%20you%20think%20you%20could%20get%20a%20B%20minus%20in%20that?”>quote</a>

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<p>The second quarter ends this week, and I have exams next week. I think my average grade will be about a C, but maybe a C- or C+ for the first semester, depending upon how well I do on the exam. I could mail third quarter grades to school and I am pretty confident I can get at least a B.</p>

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<p>The only honors course offered to freshmen is geometry, which I am not in. My recommendations will probably be above average, but not extraordinary.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help, Olivia! Do you know if I can continue taking French and Spanish without any trouble at Choate?</p>

4

<p>How can I ever rank the ever wonderful Jonathan.</p>

<p>Obviously both you and I know, the geometry grade is not going to help, but hey I’m taking geometry right now, and I like Olivia just got moved down from honors geo to regular.</p>

<p>The rest of your application looks stellar, all those EC’s man I wish I could have had half those.</p>

<p>I’m sure the Andover summer program will help, as they know you are committed. </p>

<p>All in all it looks pretty good. Again as Olivia said adding a couple schools may help. We don’t want another unsuccessful year like the last.</p>

<p>I wish you the best of luck.</p>

5

<p>Thanks, hockeykid. :D</p>

<p>Could you recommend any other schools that you think are really similar to St. Paul’s?</p>

6

<p>jonathan, take a look at holderness. it is in new hampshire and smaller than sps but with some good things you might like. you do have to play three sports a year for the first two years then two sports a year after that.</p>

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<p>Sorry Jonathan </p>

<p>No place is like SPS =)</p>

8

<p>…these chances posts are making me so nervous. You are amazing!!! if you don’t get in then i certainly won’t get in. I feel so depressed now. :(</p>

9

<p>You have pretty good stats from Middle School but your geometry grade will definitely hurt your application. Good luck!:)</p>

10

<p>I would consider these two schools.</p>

<p>NMH allows you to take 6 classes a year, three each semester. You can double up on languages, science etc. </p>

<p>Loomis will let you arrange your schedule so that you can continue to take 2 foreign languages at a time.</p>

11

<p>umm.. andover is a safer bet</p>

<p>in the interview did u explain ur bad grades in the past or if you had any now.
it helps that you did summer session because they know who you are (such as behavior, and etc.)</p>

12

<p>I got my SSAT scores !!!</p>

<p>26 math
56 verbal
54 reading
43 overall</p>

<p>it’s a slight improvement from last year, though.. and I will be retaking them in February and will get a 99%! haha jk but I’m hoping for an 80!!! :D</p>

<p>Could you guys suggest any slighty less competitive schools that I should apply to? I want a nice, fun boarding school where I can take two foreign languages! </p>

<p>Thanks a lot ! :DD</p>

13

<p>St. Georges, L’ville, Hotchkiss, and Choate (just to name a few ;))</p>

14

<p>Thanks. :)</p>

<p>ALSO, if any current students could tell me if they know of anyone who got in with my score or below, that would be greattt.</p>

15

<p>wow jonathan, i just looked at this thread again, you look amazing! i mean, those ssat’s probably won’t help, but you’ve got a great personality from what i can tell so i think you’ve got a really great shot!</p>

16

<p>I totally agree with nellyrae</p>

17

<p>Have you looked at Gunnery in CT. We know several kids that go there and they really like it. </p>

<p>I’ve also heard good things about Hebron Academy, Kimball Union, Trinity Pawling, Brooks… There are lots of really good schools out there. </p>

<p>It’s great to have reaches, but look for some matches so this will be a positive experiences. You have great grades and ec’s.</p>

18

<p>I wish girls could apply to all boys schools…</p>

19

<p>crickett - most of those schools are co-ed</p>

20

<p>Its just the concept, haha!</p>