Choate Rosemary Hall Questions and Chances

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

<p>Hi everyone! I'm in 8th grade, and I am applying to Choate for ninth grade/third form, and I just had a few questions. I'm also applying to the Icahn Scholars program, and I was wondering:</p>

<ol>
<li>What is the atmosphere for scholarship students? Is there a lot of pressure, bullying, or any bad history?</li>
<li>What is the general respect level at Choate? I've read articles describing girls as, "Blair Waldorf-wannabes," and others as spoiled, drug addicts. On the other hand, I've read reviews raving about the warm, welcoming environment at Choate and the wonderful people there. Please don't think that I am making judgements! I am only trying to give you information on what I have seen and heard, so that YOU can give me more accurate information. Please feel free to call me out on anything that I am wrong about! Please also keep in mind that I haven't gone to my interview and tour yet. :)</li>
<li>What is the minority level at Choate? I am an Asian female, but I live in, and I am a citizen of the U.S.</li>
<li>How is the general work load? What is dorm life like? Is the schedule very structured? Is there enough time to complete QUALITY assignments, and have a good time with your friends?</li>
<li>What is the technology aspect like at Choate? Do students bring specific devices, such as iPads, laptops, or other tablet devices? Is there a mandatory protocol? Do students bring ethernet cables, extension cords, printers, or/and other cables?</li>
<li>Are sports teams hard to get into? I have little previous experience in sports, but I really want to try new things at Choate, if I am accepted. :)</li>
<li>How do the weekend procedures work? Do I have to sign out every time? Can I go home every weekend for church?</li>
<li>If the answer is no to the previous question, are there any churches within a walking distance of Choate? Preferably Presbyterian and Korean? I also read about an Evening Prayer program with Reverend Trister. What are they like? And is the chapel open to students as they wish? </li>
<li>How do students deal with homesickness? Is it especially hard?</li>
<li>How much money does an average student spend per month?</li>
<li>What is the dress code like, and laundry?</li>
<li>What are the teachers like?</li>
</ol>

<p>Also I was wondering if anyone (Choate student, alumnus, teacher, and anyone! :) could chance me for Choate only, since it is the only school in GLADCHEMMS that I am applying to.</p>

<p>Academics
1. Grades: Straight A+'s in 6th; A+'s in every subject except Phys Ed. and Computers (A's) in 7th grade; and for 8th grade, A+'s in Science, Spanish, English, History, Technology Education, and A's in Phys Ed, Band, and Algebra 1 Honors. Algebra Honors is the only accelerated course at my public school, but I am in top levels for every single one of my classes.
2. SSAT: 779 Verbal, 773 Math, and 713 Reading. Total Score: 2265. Percentile: 97
3. I have also taken the SAT's. Critical Reading 710, Math 620, and Writing 690. Total Score: 2020. I am also taking it again in two weeks.</p>

<p>EC's
1. Homeroom Representative in 7th grade.
2. Student Council President this year (8th grade)
3. One of my memoirs was published in the Creative Kids magazine.
4. I tutor, free of charge, kids at my church. I also tutor other private students in English, and some of my classmates in all subjects. There is no structured program at my school, but I am the head Elementary English teacher at a tutoring program at my church. It is all community service.
5. I have played piano for 7 years. I have little classical training, but I am the accompanist for the Friday Night Service and the English Ministry Praise Team. I have no actual awards for competitions, though.
6. I have been in band for the past four years. I play the flute, and I have gotten school awards every year.
7. I am in Mathcounts, Mock Trial Club, Student Council, Peer Leadership, Community Service Club, and Book Club at my school. My Stock Market Club will start soon in the next quarter.
8. I have been in enrichment for the past 6 years.
9. I have over 150 hours of community service with my church, and my school club. Along with tutoring and playing piano free of charge at church, I have also organized and run Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts, gift drives, food drives, fundraising efforts, and U.S. Army care package supply drives for my school. Some I did as the Student Council President, but for others, I have been chosen by advisors to help lead the projects.
10. I have participated in the Center for Talented Youth Programs for the past three years. I have done the Talent Search with high honors, and I have taken 3 college level courses at their summer programs.
11. For my athletics, I have never been on a team sport, but I am interested in volleyball, tennis, and golf at Choate. Due to being considered as, "the smart girl," people automatically assumed that I was bad at sports. This eroded my self-confidence, which I mentioned in the essays to explain my lacking in that aspect.
12. I won a reading competition in 5th grade, and I was awarded with high honors.
13. Awards that I have received at school include: Most Avid Reader (6th Grade), Poet Laureate (7th Grade), Highest Averages for nearly all of my subjects, and I am always on the Honor Roll.</p>

<p>General Information
1. I will need either a full scholarship, or a significant amount of Financial Aid. Will this greatly hurt my chances of getting in? Are there any other scholarship programs, other than the Icahn Scholars Program?
2. I feel that I did put 200% of myself into my applications.
3. I handle stress well, but are the stress-levels at Choate overwhelming?
4. I am extremely willing to try new things at Choate. I hope to get involved in the Arts and Athletics as much as I can.
5. I am fluent in two languages: Korean and English. I am learning Spanish :)
6. I am not a legacy, and nor do I have any siblings at Choate.</p>

<p>Thank you for your consideration! :) Please be honest.</p>

2

<p>I just graduated from Choate last year, and I’ll try to answer some of your questions.</p>

<p>1.) There is no atmosphere for scholarship students, no one knows or cares if you are on a scholarship. I’ve never been bullied (or seen bullying), but some people have problems with their roommates. It generally gets resolves quickly with no problems.</p>

<p>2.)The respect level is confusing for me to analyze b/c I’m not sure what you are referencing by respect. Most of the people I met were extremely friendly and welcoming. I’m quite shy myself and I never found any problems finding someone to talk to or socialize with (people often would come up to me and talk with me if I was sitting alone). I don’t recall meeting any spoiled kids or drug addicts (I think this is a historical problem and no longer is part of the culture). Some of the older kids, Jrs/Seniors do on occasion drink, but it’s not a huge part of the culture. You will be able to make friends without drinking.</p>

<p>3.) There is a really good mix of minorities. Being a minority myself (African American) I felt everyone was fairly represented. </p>

<p>4.) The general workload is completely dependent on your class choices. I’ve had classmates who took 4 classes, none of them AP or honors and had between 1-2 hours of work. I myself took 1 AP, 2 honors my Jr year and had 2-4 hours of homework a night, and as a Senior I took 3 APs, 1 honors and I had between 2-3 hours of homework a night. The times I listed are average, there were nights I had 6-7 hours of work and nights I had no homework. You will have plenty of time to get your work done and hang out with friends, just avoid waiting till the day before to get big papers done. I could discuss workload a lot more, but I would need to know what subjects you’re interested in and what your aspirations are. </p>

<p>5.) Almost all students bring laptops, but there are computers available on campus. They also loan laptops. I head there was a new program they were playing where everyone gets an IPad and they would have eBooks (“textbooks”) on the IPads so you could take them everywhere. I don’t know if this was implemented yet. Ethernet cables are provided, the entire campus is wireless, they give you an antivirus program that you must install to get access. You are allowed to have a printer, but they are available for free in the library.</p>

<p>About your chances, you ofc have a great shot. I can tell you’re proud of your work, you just need to show your passion in the interview. My interview ended up being more of a long discussion and that’s what you want to aim for. Intellectual discussions are highly encouraged at Choate so try to start one. They do ask about what book you have read in the interview, make sure you have read some stimulating and challenging novels (if the interviewer has read them, you may end up having a conversation on that topic).</p>

<p>I’ll try to answer more questions when I get back from class.</p>

3

<p>just bumping this :)</p>

4

<p>Any other feedback? I’d really appreciate it (to the general audience)</p>

5

<p>You are a great candidate. Just relax, be confident in yourself and don’t be over-eager. Your stats will speak louder than anything. You are qualified for any top prep school in America. If the stats you indicate are acurate, you have absolutly nothing to worry about. If you don’t get in, it will not be because of you. Each school has many considerations that have nothing to do with your particular qualifications. You have a great chance. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>That’s a lot of info. Hopefully you present it in a different manner on the application. I’d try to make it more concise. You have so much “stuff” I’d probably leave off stuff like, “5th grade…” You are applying for 9th grade, I’m not sure how relevant 5th grade is. While I recommend being more concise, I’d leave out stuff like, “Playing the piano at church for free.” It’s obvious a 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grader isn’t going to be paid to play the piano at church. Writing it the way you worded it just sounds a little wierd to me.</p>

<p>You have a lot of great stuff; I’d focus on how you are presenting it.</p>

7

<p>For “Chance” Section:</p>

<p>You sound like a great candidate. I can’t give any specific advice in regards to essays and interviews because I’m sure your application has already been submitted, although without time constraints, I’m not sure I would be able to do so anyway.</p>

<p>What I want to convey, however, is that you should not stress about their decision to accept, wait-list, or decline you. Choate is a unique school and they care about character and potential. They want to see that you have potential and that you’re a genuinely good person. If you can truthfully say that you are an honest, intelligent, diligent (or moderately so like myself) worker, then you are fit for this school. Plenty of people get into Choate and nowhere else, but just as many get in everywhere except Choate.</p>

<p>Your stats look great but numbers are just that–numbers. Ray Diffley and hi team wansts to see depth. I’m a student at Choate; I look around and see plenty of people that all have an individual impact on the school. Most people don’t know what theirs is, but they have one nonetheless. If Choate accepts you, there is a good reason. There are kids here who are brilliant, there are those who are somewhat gifted but work really hard, and then there are moderately smart athletic recruits. And believe it or not, this rings true for the Ivies and even the top 50 schools in the nation.</p>

8

<p>I want to go to Choate in High School, but my mom doesn’t want me to leave, and I am not sure about the financial situation. I really really want to at least apply just to see if I could possibly get in and if I did, maybe THEN my mom would see that I should go if I’m up to it! Lol I’m going into 8th grade, and l was a 3.something for the first trimester, and had 4.0’s for the last two. I was in Advanced Math also which is the only “advanced” class in our 7th grade. I’m in band and play the clarinet, I got a 1 at solo ensembles (but my solo was only class C because I joined a year after most others, but still caught up to them in a year). I had a drawing entered in a local art show and got 3rd place (I got $10 :slight_smile: ) I was in one sport and it was track, but I didn’t win anything because all the meets were all cancelled but the last 2, and I fractured my arm before those last two meets. I got no infractions all year, and I actually got a physical fitness award (which is a laugh for me:) ) and I was runner up in the middle school spelling bee and I was a participant last year. My teacher also kept some of my projects for display, and I participated in an after school event where me and a few friends read a readers’ theater. (There weren’t many volunteers:( ) and I work at church whenever they are getting ready for VBS or other events, and I usually help paint if they need a painter:)
So it’s not like I did a lot, but I plan on joining more clubs next year, since 8th grade is supposedly less hard. :slight_smile: next year I plan on joining:
Art +
Student Council
Yearbook
Track (maybe)
And I think that’s it, but I don’t know ALL of the things out school offers in 8th grade.
I’m not in a lot of things, but I AM super enthusiastic about organizing my schedules, making lists, and learning and being smart.
Do you honestly think I could get in if I talked my mom into letting me apply? I want to make sure I at least have a SHOT. And I’ve been really obsessing over the top boarding schools, Choate in particular:) thanks in advance!</p>

9

Hey, I am in 8th grade and recently applied to choate, deerfield, andover, st. marks, and taft. I got into choate, st marks and taft and waitlisted to the rest. I went to all the revisit days and chose st marks. At choate my revist partner seemed depressed and when I asked him a question I had to ask it twenty times before he answered. In addition, every one seemed depressed and gloomy while at St. marks I found it happy and exciting. Hope this helps! :slight_smile: