Hi! I’m applying to Exeter as a day student; PEA is the only prep school I applied to, because my parents would only let me apply to schools where I could be a day student and of the choices in the area, Exeter was the only one that really spoke to me; if I don’t get in, I will be attending the local public high school and re-applying to PEA.
Current grade: 8
Applying for: 9
Day student
Current school: local public middle school (of mediocre quality)
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
State: NH
SSAT percentiles: Q- 85% R- 99% V- 99%
Grades: All 100% or higher; I’m also taking math two years ahead.
Languages: English; my district has no world language program in middle school.
Sports: fencing, almost 7 years
Music: violin, 9.5 years; I take private lessons and I’m in the UNH youth symphony orchestra (not a super competitive ensemble); I submitted a performance video.
Other ECs: I am on the school’s literary magazine staff (2 years) and I am an assistant teacher for the Hebrew school at my temple (almost 1 year); in my free time, I also map and write about fictional worlds that I’ve made up (not sure if that’s relevant, but it did come up in application).
Recommendations: blind, but I have good relationships with my teachers so they’re probably pretty good
Interview/visit: I think that the interview went pretty well; the interviewer seemed to like me, and we talked for about 45 minutes.
Essays: I think one was pretty good but not great and the other was really good.
I know a fair number of people who have applied, including my older brother (denied) and a friend with the same major extracurriculars (fencing, violin, lit mag) who was waitlisted (and is reapplying this year). I think that my low SSAT score in math might be a bit of a liability, although hopefully the fact that I’m taking advanced math and getting 100% in it will make up for that a bit. Mostly, though, I’m concerned that my demographics and activities are very common in their application pool.
Is there anything major that I’ve missed in my “mini-profile”?
Thanks!
One more thing: I am applying for partial FA.
I think your stats look great. The ECs are also interesting. Violin is very common as a serious instrument among BS applicants but fencing is great and so is the writing. The math is a bit weak but not enough to knock you out. I think a lot will depend on references and how well you interviewed. That seems to be the case for most students. Also, don’t know how many people apply for day slots. Sometimes that can make things much more competitive. Have you checked on CC to see if anyone knows more about day students at PEA? Good luck in any case.
@ravenclaw You sounds as though you are well on your way already!
You are applying for financial aid. Curious, have you gotten an email recently (like late Feb) from SSS (the software portal that manages the financial aid forms) saying that they have all the forms required by PEA (or that you’re missing any forms, etc.)? If you have, that might be a signal that you’ve been admitted (though I don’t know for sure).
Also, on your SSAT 85% Q, is that 85 percentile among females, or 85 percentile among all test-takers? What is the numerical score? The average math score for admitted PEA students is 755, I believe.
Also, it would be interesting to benchmark your scores and ECs against your brother and the other applicant who got WL’ed as they were presumably day student applicants from the same school/area. How do you stack up to them?
I would think you should have a good shot. Your V and R scores are stand-out, and your Q score is high enough to be acceptable (85% is the informal cut-off below which they start to have concerns about ability to handle the work well). Your ECs show some commitment (not scattered around) though probably don’t give you a “hook”–do you have any serious awards/prizes/distinctions in these ECs (or in anything else)?
The 85% is overall; I got 89% for females. I don’t remember the numerical score, but I think it was in the mid 740s.
My brother had 99% scores in all sections, but no serious ECs. My friend had 98% for R and V, and 96% for Q, and is a much better violinist than I am.
I’m a competent violinist, but not brilliant, and the same could be said of fencing. I’ve had several pieces accepted by the literary magazine (submitting work is separate from being an editor), and although that’s listed in my application, it’s not a major award. Honestly, my main activity is school, and my school has virtually no awards for academic performance, other than honor roll, which I have been on consistently since starting middle school.
My parents did receive an email that all necessary materials were in, but so did all of the other people I know that are applying, so I don’t think that’s much of a sign.
I got in and I can’t believe it!!! 
Congratulations! I was worried about your ECs, but happy that you made it. How did your friend do this year (she re-applied this year?).
Congratulations! I do fencing too, what weapon are you? Maybe I’ll see you next fall, we’ll be in the same grade!
Congratulations ! You set high standards for yourself and you seem to succeed time & time again !
@fencer557 mostly foil, although I’m starting transition to epee a bit. You?
Congratulations on getting into Exeter!
Thanks, I’m a foil fencer too!!