<p>I'm applying to Andover, Exeter, Hotchkiss, Interlochen Arts Academy, San Domenico School for Girls, and Punahou School for my ninth grade year in fall 2011. I'm most concerned about the first four, and the other two I'm feeling a lot more confident about. For Interlochen, I would be applying for clarinet study, but I'm not sure if I really want to be a musician, so I'm not terrible interested in being chanced for it. I'm a Middle Eastern thirteen year old who will be needing financial aid.</p>
<p>Grades and Academic Awards:
Straight A's throughout 6th, 7th, and 8th grade
Taking sophomore level geometry this year
Advanced English
Student of the Year in Advanced English last year
Student of the Month in science this year
Student of the Semester in algebra last year
student of the week several times, but that doesn't really count</p>
<p>Other awards:
NaNoWriMo for three years in a row
Several minor writing contests
Local music competition last year
Merit-based awards to music camp
Youth Orchestra scholarship
I'm not sure if this counts, but I study with my current clarinet teacher (VERY good--studied with Mitchell Lurie and Stanley Drucker) for free due to my ability.</p>
<p>ECs:
Tennis, seven years
Horseback riding, three years
Clarinet, five years--My playing is comparable to an average college student, or a very high level high school student. I'm doing the Nielsen Clarinet Concerto, one of the hardest pieces of clarinet repertoire, at the moment. In May, I'll be performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with my school band. Clarinet is my passion, and I plan on submitting a recording of myself as part of my application.
Yearbook editor, 2 years
MathCounts, 2 years
Writing, as long as I can remember--Writing is my other passion, and I have written about five novels on my computer. Some of my poetry has been published in small newspapers, but nothing major. I might also submit some writing with my application.
Volunteering with 9-12 year old kids for math
Reviewing books for the local libraries</p>
<p>Recommendations, SSATs, Essays, Adversity, etc.:
My recommendations will be excellent. My English and math teachers love me, and I have some of the highest grades in the class.
Essays are going very well.
I'm taking the SSAT on Saturday, and I've scored about 95% in verbal, 98% in math, and 93% on reading comprehension on practice tests.
My family life isn't exactly the best--my grandmother disowned me, my father had a stroke when I was ten, and my mother has multiple sclerosis. I could go into more detail, but that's more for the essays.</p>
<p>So, what exactly are my chances? I want to know if I'm aiming too high.</p>