Chances for Phillips Exeter Academy

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

<p>I was wondering what my chances are for Phillips Exeter Academy. I am applying for 9th grade for the year 2011:</p>

<p>As a child, I was a star student. In fourth grade, my parents decided that they wanted to home school me instead of send me to a public school (there were no non-denominational private school options in our area) so I was home schooled from 4th - 6th grade (and doing a grade level ahead of my own). I constantly moved as a child and we moved from the small town I began homeschooling in to a big city. I applied for an all-girls private school and was accepted. I had been used to getting good grades, but found out I had to work hard when I received C's on my first report card in 7th grade. I had never actually been to an advanced private school so I had no idea what to do. All throughout Seventh grade I was able to maintain an A average in only one subject, Spanish. Towards the end of seventh grade, my grades increased and I had A's in all of my subjects except for Honors Math and Science. I had a B in Honors math and a C+ in Science. I began 8th grade and received A's in all of my subjects with the exception of a B- in Science (Physical Science). I have brought that to an A- second quarter, but my grade in Honors Math has decreased from an A- to a B. I have played multiple sports, but never played competitively. I took the SAT in 7th grade for the Duke TIP program and scored in the top 15% which got me into the DUKE TIP program. I have played multiple sports, but have never played competitively and have always only made the B team in school sports. </p>

<p>I have played soccer for 1 and a 1/2 years.
Basketball for about 3 years.
Tennis for about 3 years.
Gymnastics for about 3 - 4 years.
Swimming for about 3 years.
Softball for one year.
And I played Volleyball for one school season in the 8th grade (which is about three months). I immediately fell in love with the sport and hope to continue pursuing it. </p>

<p>I have also played the piano for about one year, but still play by ear. I would like to keep playing the piano. I love to draw, read books, and I am absolutely crazy about writing poetry and novels. I am working on a novel for a school project right now. I also love theater and won the role of Duchess in the Middle School production of Aristocats. There is only one Middle School Play all year long. </p>

<p>My school is pretty academically challenging, but I still would like to attend Exeter for multiple reasons. One of the reasons being that my school (wonderful as it is) is not very diverse, first of all. I am a Muslim, and the first and only person to ever wear the Hijab (headscarf) at my school. There are very few Muslims at my school, and the overall diversity rate is 13% of students who are not Caucasian or White. There is little diversity, and because of this many students have little education on World Affairs other than what the general media tells them. I love my school, but I sometimes feel left out and other times I feel as if I have to defend my views on issues when they are brought up because many of my classmates will look at me like I am the oddball out. I feel as if Exeter will offer me a chance to be a voice for Muslims around the world in a sense, because there are so many stereotypes that have been going around that I want to try to put an end to, and I feel as if I can only do that if I have the chance to voice my opinions with people who will listen to me and talk to me about it instead of telling me "I don't know about that, we should talk about something else now". </p>

<p>I really want to attend Exeter, but my grades aren't as absolutely outstanding as most of the applicants' grades that I have read about. I haven't ever really been involved in community service exactly. I raised money for Pakistani Earthquake victims in 3rd grade and I try to be as helpful as I can to those around me in need, but I have never actually joined an organization because I don't really know how to do so. I feel as if the only things I have going for me are:</p>

<ul>
<li>My ethnicity (being a Muslim and being born in Pakistan and moving to the US when I was three)</li>
<li>My improvement in grades (I read somewhere that Exeter is looking for the willingness to work hard and improve on struggles)</li>
<li>My love of creative writing and theater</li>
</ul>

<p>...And that is about it. I was wondering if someone could tell me what my chances of getting into Exeter are. I would also ask if you please refrain from using any inappropriate language in your posts on this thread. Thank you so much!!!</p>

2

<p>Your only chance is to make the interviewer fall in love with you. Be overboard enthusiastic of the things you love that you just mentioned.
as for community service, tell them that real “community service” is serving and helping with little things everyday willingly without seeking to be noticed by everyone and look like some super influential figure.
Admit that you have a below average chance because of the lack of sports enthusiasm and no real excellence besides your theatre and creative writing. send them a sample of the novel that you’re doing.</p>

3

<p>Thanks SnapePotter (by the way, that is a totally awesome username)! I feel as if my interview went really well. I’m quite talkative and the interviewer liked that. I did mention that I did struggle in 7th grade and we discussed why. I forgot to mention the diversity issue with my school because I was a still a bit nervous during the interview, but overall I feel as if it went really well. Apart from academics, we discussed books that we liked, and I found out that she loves my favorite band, the Beatles, so we discussed their music as well. I have yet to send in my admissions essays, but I am trying to make them creative and interesting as well as formal. Thanks again for your response! :)</p>

4

<p>SnapePotter I disagree and believe that You can be accepted even if Your interviewer does not fall in love with You. I think that the thread starter has a good chance. There is one impediment-Your EC’s are lacking a bit even though You have a lot. (Listen, sometimes that can be O.K, in that the Admissions Office will know that one is “streching the truth” is they put too many EC’s with a number of Years experience.) Quality, not Quantity! Remember, EC’s are not the only thing that they consider, and not all people have EC’s like some on College Confidential. Best Of luck!</p>

5

<p>Thank you Exeterrr. I suppose that I have done so many extracurricular activities because I wanted to find which one was right for me. Though I have played many sports and love to do so, I am not a very strong athlete and do not play any sports competitively. The one sport I feel like I am especially good at and enjoy at the same time is Volleyball and I am looking to pursue it competitively. I was also wondering if writing and singing might account for Quality. I am involved in the School Newspaper and Literary Magazine (I’m applying for editor in chief) and I have been singing practically my whole life and have won awards in talent shows and am in advanced chorus. Would Creative EC’s count for Quality or does Exeter especially look for Quality in Athletic EC’s. Thank you! :)</p>

6

<p>No Problem ALL EC’S COUNT</p>

7

<p>No Problem ALL EC’S COUNT I think You have an excellent chance and You also have a hook in that You are Muslim, which gives You a better chance of being accepted! Can You chance me on MY profile? It will also give You an idea with what You are competing with :wink: Thanks And best of Luck!</p>

8

<p>Sure! Thank you so much again :)</p>

9

<p>yeah you’re right Exeterrr. you CAN be accepted without making them fall in love with you. that’s because they like playing around with interviewees and see how they act when they act like the interview isn’t as lively as they expected. lol. just a small theory. </p>

<p>@TheBookShark
I sing too! provincial choir and international tour level.
and that editor in chief will boost you so much! good luck hey.</p>

<p>Did you have an on-campus or off-campus interview? Who interviewed you?
what were the first and second questions if you remember?</p>

10

<p>Oh I had an off campus interview. I’m not sure if I would be allowed to say who interviewed me on a public website, but I will tell you that she was really sweet! I can’t really remember what the first questions were but I do remember that I was asked “what are your hobbies and what would you change about your current school”. It’s cool that you’re in choir, it’s really fun! Good Luck :)</p>

11

<p>was she asian? lol</p>

12

<p>No, she was Caucasian :)</p>

13

<p>No Problem TheBookShark, hope to see You at Exeter, Fall '11!</p>

14

<p>Is it possible, if one is accepted, for he or she to do “Early Admission”? Is there such a thing? Thanks!</p>

15

<p>that’s for university</p>

16

<p>Oh-Thank You for Correcting me. By the way, Snapepotter, What schools are You applying to and for what Grade, if You do not mind me asking.</p>

17

<p>Grades are ok but you need to have EC’s that you commit to over a long period of time. Schools like seeing commitment. It’s also good that you improved your grades over time. To be completely honest I think your only chance of getting in is acing the SSAT (nearly 99% in everything) but that’s not impossible so don’t let me discourage you.</p>

18

<p>I have to disagree with the above comment. I believe that You have a good chance. There are a number of people who score 99% on the SSAT so that would not help her, but nontheless, You look like a wonderful candidate with a hook-You are Muslim (An Under-Represented Minority) URM</p>

19

<p>yeah there are some people that get 99% on the SSAT but I’m just saying that if you’re not very well rounded and don’t get exceptional grades then you really have to rely on getting perfect SSAT scores which is kind of a hook. I’m just being honest because some of the kids you’re going to be competing against study 24/7, get near perfect grades, and commit 20 hours a week to ECs.</p>

20

<p>The BookShark may have those stats as well! Yes, I believe that you are correct-The stats of 8th grades, although, are generally a bit worse than what You said. 3000 kids are applying to Exeter this Year, too- All, in all It is tough to get in!</p>