<p>Hello I am a current <em>Asian</em> freshman applying to boarding schools (Choate, Deerfield, Andover, Exeter, Milton, Lawrenceville) to enroll there as a sophomore (tenth grade). PLEASE BE HONEST! </p>
<p>SSAT Scores:
My SSAT scores are a bit low...2283 (94 Percentile) </p>
<p>Academics:
4.0 GPA since eighth grade (All courses are considered <em>honors</em> at my school) </p>
<p>Extra Curricular:
Theatre (Main Roles & Award)
Self-Learned Economics...Most of my essays are about my passion for economics...
Charity Club (Co-Founder)
Basketball (Captain)
Stanford EPGY Writing <em>Best Student</em>
Debate & Model United Nations (Best Delegate) </p>
<p>I am working really hard on my essays as well. Please be honest! My parents think I am not going to get into any one of them! What do you guys think?</p>
<p>First things first: 2283 (or 94%) is NOT a low score <em>honest</em>
I think that your chance will be more than 90% in any school listed. I’m serious. So believe in yourself. Okay?
Friendly suggestion: write an awesome essay as well as a good application. Also, tell your parents that: “I AM GOING TO GET INTO THESE SCHOOLS. BELIEVE ME!!!”</p>
<p>As an asian applicant, you are in a more competitive pool for enrollment. However, if you can show that you aren’t a stereotypical student, your chances will dramatically increase. For example, if you have a EC that isn’t typical, like the always in demand under water tuba player. Also, a lot of kids come across as ‘flat’ and ‘two-dimensional’ in interviews, because they don’t have a figurative ‘selling’ point. Pick something that isn’t common for a tenth grader, or something that gives you a personality. (i.e. your charity club) Then emphasize it in interviews and essays. Also, do you have a hook? You’re obviously not an URM, so are you a legacy, or full pay student? Have you considered going in as a repeat prep? That would increase your chances.
Your SSAT and Grades are good, so just make sure you have a really unique trait that comes across, and I think you would have a good chance, at least.
But pshhh, what do I know? I’m just a prospective student as well.</p>
<p>You have a strong resume. Your schools all have low admission rates. Anything could happen, but if your parents signal to the schools that they do not want you to board, or that they will otherwise be uncooperative, that will lead to rejections. All of the advice on the numerous posts of other threads say that “chancing” is not worthwhile because there is no reliability to any forecasting. Therefore, if you must go to boarding school, you must have a wide net that includes some schools with higher admit rates. Your approach therefore seems to be the “go big, or go home” one. I hope you get into at least one of these very competitive schools, but nobody on CC can tell you what will happen ahead of time, and your parents are only guessing as well. You should be commended for your fine record of achievement, and I applaud your efforts.</p>
<p>You have a really good app. However, as Charger78 said, these schools are all super competitive. Andover, Exeter, and SPS (I’d say Groton too, but you’re not applying there and as a student there I’m a bit biased) are on a different level than the other schools. You definitely have a shot there and could get in, but with those schools, its mostly luck once you have an app like yours. You likely have between a 20-40% chance at those schools. And it really will just come down to luck. The other schools, probably excluding Deerfield, however, are significantly easier to be admitted to and I would almost be surprised if you were rejected. Deerfield is somewhere in between, probably closer to the SPS-Exeter-Andover group. Also, I had to play the go big or go home game; charger, some people need the financial aid or can’t attend any boarding school.</p>