I’m Asian, 13, applying for 9th boarding at PEA and other CP schools
Took the SAT and got 1300, taking SSAT in Jan (tips please)
I’m a national level swimmer making Senior (15&over) cuts at 12 at placing top 50 in the country in multiple events,
2nd Chair Clarinet in 8th Advanced Symphonic, been playing for 4-5 years
Beta club member for past 3 years
Has a 4.0 GPA and taking 3 HS classes (HS Physical Science, Algebra 2, Geometry, and Spanish 1)
All grades above 95, Math is 102,
Occasionally volunteers at Food Banks, etc.
Tough to assess without an SSAT score. Since you are clearly well rounded (academics, athletics & music), Maturity level as reflected in interviews & teacher recs will be important.
To which other schools are you applying ? Mercersburg ? Will swimming be a major focus during your high school years ?
@publisher Seeing that my SAT score ranks very high nationally for my age group, I am not too worried about my SSAT, and many teachers usually have me help them with academic things such as helping peers and teaching lessons because of my maturity. I am applying to other schools such as Andover, Groton, Deerfield, etc. The main reason I want to go to Exeter is because a nationally ranked swim club has a location at the PEA pool, so yes, swimming is going to be a big focus.
If swimming is important, then you should consider expanding your list of targeted schools as national prominence can result in being recruited by some outstanding colleges & universities.
@Publisher i mainly want to move back to the New England region and because swimming is not NE’s strong suit, I hope to put up stronger placements in NE to make my rankings look better
@ImWaisian you are all but in as long as your interview or recommendations were not an issue. Sit back and relax until March 10th when you’ll be getting multiple acceptances.
@BigBlueSwim Thanks, are you going to a boarding school rn?
Nope. Parent.
@BigBlueSwim I hope I’m not wasting your time, but I just want to know hoe boarding school is for your child and how the kids at boarding school are. Living near Atlanta, I know many people going to private schools such as Woodward and Westminister. All of the kids I know are all snobby because they think they’re richer than you and better than you. Are boarding schools like Exeter and Andover like that?
“you are all but in as long as your interview or recommendations were not an issue. Sit back and relax until March 10th when you’ll be getting multiple acceptances.”
Unfortunately, another “Chance me” response to be completely disregarded.
For PEA and any other school you’re applying to, look up the acceptance rate. For need blind schools, that is your “chance.” For schools that are not need blind, if you’re full pay, it’s a little higher. For financial aid, it’s a little lower. If you have a genuine hook, its higher (and nobody knows by how much).
And avoid assuming correlation between SAT and SSAT scores. Prep for the SSAT like your admission to BS depended on it - because it does (in part).
@Altras I understand you’re trying to be helpful, but I have been prepping for the SSAT for the past year now, ever since I wanted to go to boarding school. It would be helpful, however, if you gave some tips for the interview, because even though my teachers say I am very mature and such, I still want some sample questions, etc. to prep for.
@ImWaisian : I am familiar with the Atlanta area schools. I think that you will find a very different, and more accepting, culture at Andover & Exeter and most other boarding schools.
@Publisher I was thinking that maybe it was just the culture of the South, but this confirms it. Thank you very much. That was probably the main reason I didn’t go to Westminister or Woodward.
@ImWaisian you will find kids like that everywhere, but the vast majority of kids are super nice regardless of their backgrounds. My child has loved their BS experience and made a number of life-long friends. If you haven’t reached out to swim coaches yet or visited the school you should plan to do so as basing your decision on a swim club and not overall fit is a mistake. Please reply on March 10th and @ our friend above who clearly doesn’t see your nationally ranked swimmer as the hook that it is.
Any tips for the interview?
Relax. Be yourself. Be polite. Listen when others speak. Prepare a few questions in advance about the school.
@BigBlueSwim I grew up in New England and I loved the culture there, but my mom didn’t like the winters, so here I am in Georgia. I’m not really worried about making friends and fitting in because I have moved from New York to China, to Massachusetts, to Georgia, giving me A LOT of experience dealing with people who I am unfamiliar with or such. Thank you, by the way, for being supportive
Exactly^
@Publisher should they just be generalized questions about school life or like questions about courses, academic load, AP classes, etc. And should I create a more casual tone or a more formal tone? Which would they prefer? Is saying stuff like ma’am and sir going to make it awkward because they don’t do things like that in the North?
Being Asian and all, will it make me seem “more Asian” if I primarily focus on academics for the questions? Will it make me seem “less Asian” if I ask more casual question?