Chances for Schools

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

Hi everyone! I was hoping you could chance me for some top schools, (Hotchkiss, Andover, Exeter, Deerfield, Choate, Loomis, Middlesex, Berkshire, Kent, Taft, Governor’s, Milton, Concord).

I have straight A’s in my middle school, and am in the highest level classes I can be in. My teachers like me, so the Recs should be pretty good. I am applying for ninth grade, not as a repeat, and I am a female from CT. My SSAT’s are 99% for math and reading, and 94% for verbal with a 99% overall. I will not need any FA. I am very interested in science, math, and social science. I haven’t had any interviews yet, but they will probably be ok.

ECs
I have been swimming for six years, and I am pretty good (just placed first in my meet for a 50 fly). I also take extracurricular math at the honors level (my school’s math is pretty boring because I already know it, and this challenges me). I also am in a Spanish Club, The Yearbook Club, and a book club.

Hook
I am a legacy at Hotchkiss, and have attended the DNA Science program at the Hotchkiss summer portals and should have good Recs from that.

Community Service
I have not done any traditional community service, but I have experience helping the community during my years of being a foster family.

Thank you so much. If I’m missing anything just tell me!

2

Hmmm, that shift button didn’t work :-/ Weird…

3

While impressive you are like a great many applicants: I think you have a very small shot at PA, PEA. and Milton. You have a much better chance at the rest and you will get into Hotchkiss. You really have no strong hook other than your legacy status at Hotchkiss. Its a very very good school to boot.

4

Sounds good. I don’t really want I to go to Milton because of the day/boarder split, so I’m not even sure I’ll apply. Is there anything I can do to improve my chances?

5

I think that Hotchkiss should be very likely, along with some of the less competitive schools that you’re applying to. Just like most people: PEA, PA, DA, Choate, MX, Milton should all be reaches.

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Seriously, @Nico.campbell : Which "less competitive " schools are we talking about and why are they very “likely” ?

FWIW- Not all legacy applicants are considered equal…

There are active alums ( who are known to the AO and don’t need to be looked up in an old yearbook… ) and those who fit into the long lost relative category- hoping for preferential treatment. There are applicants with alums in their IMMEDIATE family… and applicants who think a distant relative somehow gives them legacy status- which it most assuredly does not. On and on…

In other words- not all legacies are very "likely " , or likely at all. Plus- you have to remember that the most competitive applicant pool IS the legacy pool. They can’t take everyone and it’s almost always an Arms Race.

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@PhotographerMom all excellent points. I think @“Nico.campbell” meant less competitive than PA and PEA. Taft is a great school but it is less competitive than PA…(most are)

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The legacy is one of my parents, who is moderately active in that they go to reunions and such, but not donating millions or anything…

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@PhotographerMom , when I say “less competitive”, I mean comparatively. @Center summed it up perfectly.

10

My nephew ( who was the last one in the 4G to apply-to BS ) was waitlisted at Taft. He was accepted at Groton, Deerfield, Kent, Berkshire, Salisbury, Canterbury and Hotchkiss. Some might say that was a great M10 outcome ( and it was ) but not if my nephew really wanted to go to Taft.

All schools in the Top 30 should be considered a reach for EVERYONE. Every single school on OP’s list should be considered a reach. There’s no pecking order here because that wouldn’t be very realistic or helpful. OP should know that the very best/ prepared students apply to all the " less competitive " schools ( on this particular list and in the Top 30 ) and these schools are likely their first choice. Schools like Berkshire, Kent, Loomis, Taft, etc should never be considered “likely”, or a cakewalk/ safety for anyone. Period- even if you’re full pay.

Remember: A BS applicant can have mind-blowing stats and a school can still think they’re not ready for this experience. This very important fact should be first and foremost on every BS applicant’s mind. The usual laundry list of awesome accomplishments comes in at a distant second.

Maturity and readiness is far more important than a fab SSAT score or some amazing EC. A lot of it has to do with school culture and how an AO sees you fitting in… because YOUR comfort and well-being ( Thank God ) is paramount to everything else.

Also important to remember : " Highly Selective/Competitive/ Need Blind " = Cattle Call. Ask yourself this question : Do you really love NB school ( for all the right reasons which is great ) or are you cattle ? Have you considered the real possibility that " Highly Selective Schools " are that way because everyone and their brother is applying for aid or some warped sense of prestige?

I might catch some flak for that one but I don’t care. I’ve been around far too long to fall for that malarkey and marketing nonsense. Ask alums at all the so called “Top” schools what they think and most of them will tell you the same thing and roll their eyes, too. The BS seas don’t part for a certain few… just so we’re clear.

To all the newly accepted students giving out BS admission advice : I love your enthusiasm but… please get a year or two under your belt first and get to know all the other schools ( which you will have ample opportunity through various activities ) before you categorize your own school in a certain elevated way. I’m totally onboard with school pride but winning the lottery doesn’t make you a financial expert. Trust me- next year ( probably around this time ) you’ll probably sound a lot more like me- for better or worse. :wink:

Finally… There is no secret sauce for BS admissions but I will tell you this: The universe usually rewards people who carefully research each school with an open mind . The same goes for college apps. Frankly, I think the OP should revisit the apply-to list above and seriously up his/her community service and ECs. Legacy status and summer portals are great but the competition over at Hotchkiss is fierce. Please know that going in and buckle up!

I’ll have my fingers crossed for you next M10. All the best and good luck!! :slight_smile:

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@PhotographerMom I totally agree that there’s no secret sauce, but things like legacy status evidently are a plus. I am also living proof that, as you said, you don’t need amazing stats to get into schools: I had good SSAT + grades and community service, but let me be the first to say that I don’t think I’ve ever won an award in my life. I remember being horrified when I saw kids on here applying to the same schools as me with 99% SSAT and every award known to man.

In addition: let me add that although I can only speak to my own experiences as an applicant to 9 specific schools, I really don’t believe that the top 30 schools are a reach for everybody. The truth is that some kids are so charismatic/clever/skilled/achieved/etc that it would be more like the top 15 are reaches; so yes, I do believe that schools like Berkshire, Kent, Loomis, Taft, etc could be deemed as “likely” for a specific kid.

I do agree that the highly competitive/selective thing does function as a cattle call, but in my opinion that prestige is definitely not warped. Obviously a lot of the schools that these kids are applying to are considered prestigious; not because they tell you they are, but because in reality they are difficult to get into. However, I do think that accepted applicants should acknowledge that luck did play a roll in the final decision before their egos become inflated.

I really think that applicants need to read what you said about “fit” before M10. Technically, if fit and school culture did not play a role then any kid who got into x school could get into every school with an acceptance rate less than x. I got into Milton, and was rejected from Taft. Although Taft is technically easier to get into than Milton, I don’t think that I was a good fit at all for the school (I realized this after the fact) and I think that the AOs saw that (or luck just wasn’t on my side).

P.s.: I personally don’t categorize my own school in any elevated way, and if it ever came off as though I did, I did not intend that. Really I think that there’s no “best” school, and that it’s completely individual. Obviously if a kid says that they want a school in CT where students have access to town, etc, I will get excited and recommend Choate.

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@PhotographerMom Well put! So important for applicants to remember…where did your son end up going? All amazing schools:)

13

Thank you, @cababe97 - I was not clear and I’m sorry about that! And- I forgot about Pomfret, too and I LOVE Pomfret!! My post from the 2014 Decision Thread :

PhotographerMom (nephew) Accepted: Berkshire, Canterbury, Deerfield, Groton, Hotchkiss, Kent, Pomfret, Salisbury; Waitlisted: Brooks, Taft; Rejected

My sister is still ripped about Taft ( LOL ) even though I’m always quick to remind her that her son’s outcome that year was an embarrassment of riches and she should get a grip. My nephew ended up going to one of the schools above ( obviously ). Unfortunately, I have a deal with my family/ kids that I won’t divulge personal details about schools , however… I can say that he’s had a great experience and he truly loves his school. :slight_smile:

@Nico.campbell : My point was pretty simple and thanks for your reply. Applicants tend to think that their stats are the end all be all. Especially here on Chances. I’m trying to help them to prioritize a bit. Yes, fabulous stats and ECs are very important ( you have to be able to do the work ), but stats and amazing ECs won’t help or save you if you lack readiness, maturity and worldliness required for BS. Many super smart kids easily meet the academic standard for BS and apply all the time but the truly important piece ( readiness ) is often glossed over or completely disregarded. The end result is usually shock and awe on M10. That’s a fatal flaw I think people should seriously consider when compiling their lists ( and revisit regularly throughout the process ) because an AO can size up an academically gifted, over-programmed future liability in less than five minutes.

But let’s keep on focusing on stats… and how certain stats = certain schools and let’s completely ignore culture and focus solely on school prestige and acceptance rates ( and how an acceptance rate somehow determines a school’s worth ) because that’s a brilliant strategy for school selection and a foolproof recipe for four happy years. :wink: My God.

As far as legacy status goes…

K1 was a BS 3G legacy on his dad’s side. Dad and Gramps are both alums- obviously . It’s a school that would be considered in the “Top Five” here. We took K1 to all the reunions - once when he was a baby in a carseat. Over the years, we have hosted prospective families with the Head in our home and held informal summer picnics for newly accepted local families. My husband has made it to NYC or Boston for holiday receptions almost every year since college. He has attended receptions on the West Coast on occasion, too. I won’t get into our financial commitments to the school but I will allow that our time and donor track record probably would be considered generous by most standards. We’re not much different from many families out there. When he applied to this school from JBS, we sat K1 down and had a VERY candid conversation about managing expectations. If we hadn’t had that conversation, it would’ve been a great disservice to him. The best advice I could give to a legacy applicant ( including OP ) would be the same advice I gave to my son: Do the best you can but remain very guarded and optimistic.

All the best to you and the OP. :slight_smile:

14

Oops. Quick edit on nephew’s results from 2014 - Rejected: None.

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I think you have an amazing profile! Your chances for Hotchkiss are really high. For everyone, PA and PEA are reaches. I like that you’re casting a wide net though. If you have a favorite school, you need to let that school know. Mention it in your interview or in an email to an admissions officer. I think you have a decent shot at the rest of the schools, but they may expect you to attend Hotchkiss…so keep that in mind.