Chances for top prep schools

Hello! I am a current 7th grader applying next fall for 9th grade at Loomis, Choate, Deerfield, Milton and maybe Nobles. I know an admissions officer at Choate personally

Grades-
A/A+s in 7th, A-/A in 6th, in highest level classes at my private school
I took the middle level SSAT and got 89 percentile without studying and only took it once, expecting higher next year

ECs
Yearbook club
GIVE committee
School Tour guide
Band
We also have to do community service in 8th

Awards
Latin Award in 6th
1 semester High Honors in 6th 3 semesters Highest honors in 6th/7th

Sports
Baseball- AAU team pitcher, one of the best in league
we usually win the league
Soccer- elite premier team goalkeeper
usually win league also

White male from CT, full pay

Thanks!

What instrument do you play?

guitar. I have been playing for as long as i can remember

your schools band has guitar in it?

Looks like you’d have a high chance at all of those schools!

Your app is really doesnt stand out unless your an impact athlete that can join the schools team.

@CottenCandyTrill I think that that’s a bit harsh, along with hasty. Try to be a bit more constructive, perhaps provide some type of help? Before judging him, maybe check your own grammar, too.

@LearningandStudying I think that it may be a bit unfair to tell a 7th grader that they have a high chance at these extremely competitive schools. You honestly never know… it’s far more competitive than you think. This is very different from college: if you are applying to boarding school, it typically means that you are a certain type of intelligent, high achieving individual. Everyone applies to college.

Before I say anything, let me mention that the personal connection with the Choate AO isn’t going to help, in my opinion. Your grades are good, so just keep doing what you’re doing. In terms of the SSAT: the middle level SSAT is different from the upper level, so your score will go down if you don’t study. It’s a more competitive pool of test-takers, and it goes into more advanced mathematics than what you’d learn in 8th grade, whereas when you took the middle level you were at the top of the test-taking pool in terms of age and experience.

In terms of your ECs, school-required community service doesn’t mean much. Try to figure out your own community service activity to do that isn’t required.
Baseball/soccer should definitely help if you are significantly good. You should contact some coaches this fall.
What does GIVE committee do? I’m guessing some type of community service, which is always helpful.

My tips: get involved in some more community service, try to join clubs/do ECs that show you have passions, keep your grades up, study for the SSAT, maybe win some awards in 8th.

If you need any advice, I was accepted to Choate and Milton recently, so if you still choose to apply to those two: I’m here!

:)>-

The OP plays two sports at what appears to be a high level so I think he’s good in the EC department.

@Nico.campbell

I work in admissions at one of those schools so… I have a fairly good idea of the kinds of kids that we accept…

i agree with @Nico.campbell . other ECs that show your passions (not ones that will look good on the app) will do you some good!

as long as your essays and interviews show the REAL you, not some fabricated version to make yourself more appealing to school, you seem like a well rounded candidate!

@LearningandStudying Even if you do work at admissions, it’s never a good idea to tell a anybody (especially somebody in their teens) that the have very good shot at these top schools. You should know better than anybody how shocking the decisions on March 10 can be, in both good and bad ways. And even then, you work for admissions at one of the schools. Schools have different AOs, values, likes, dislikes, etc. Milton’s acceptance rate this year was 14%. That means that it’s nearly impossible to really know who’s gonna get in and who won’t. It’s a crapshoot.