Could I get into Andover/Exeter

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
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So I go to one of the (if not THE) best private school in Hawaii. However, I feel as it is not enough as a challenge for me. The other day, I stumbled upon Exeter and Andover. If anyone could review my stats down below and tell me if if it is probable that I get in as a girl applying for 9th grade. Thanks!

Academics:
I am a straight A student (with one A- :frowning: but thatā€™s ok I guess). I do pretty well in school. I maintain good test scores and percentages in class. I have a passion for math, science, and computer science. I was also put into my schoolā€™s math honors program.

Language:
I speak Mandarin Chinese at home, so needless to say, Iā€™m fluent in that. In school, I take French. Recently, I won first in state and second in country for the National French Contest, so thatā€™s pretty good. Still not sure whether Iā€™ll take French or Chinese in high school :expressionless:

ECā€™s:
Ok donā€™t judge me. I literally joined half of these programs either cause my friends were doing it or because it looked fun. Nevertheless, I enjoy every single one of them. I dance ballet and hula. I am on my schoolā€™s MathCounts team and want to join the robotics team. I run cross country and track. I quit swimming and tennis recently but am looking to pick both up during my 8th grade year. I also play violin (idk if that counts as an extra-curricular).

Music:
As mentioned before, I play violin and I sit first chair in the second violin section of my schoolā€™s orchestra. Currently, I am taking private lessons (Suzuki book 3 almost 4 plz donā€™t make fun of me ik Iā€™m bad) and I want to pursue violin throughout my high school years.

SSAT:
So I havenā€™t taken the SSAT yet, but the last time I took it (to get into my current school) I got 99% overall 98% math 96% verbal and 99% reading. I took a practice test today and I got none wrong on the math part, like 4 wrong on reading, and hella bad on verbal.

So if thereā€™s any more information that might be important to applying to Andover/Exeter, please let me know. Also, please be honest (itā€™s okay to say that I would be the last person they would want) and tell me if they would accept a student like me. (Also tips and tricks! I need those.)

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You are a really well rounded student @eekeek ! You have a slight advantage because you are from Hawaii ( not sure how many people attend PA and PEA from Hawaii) and that means geographic diversity! Have you tried looking into other schools as well, there are many great school like Exeter and Andover out there. Casting a wide net and applying to 4-5 schools can ensure that you have a better chance of getting to go to boarding school (if thatā€™s what youā€™re after). I would try to take the SSAT early, because practice tests can be deceiving, just to give yourself enough time to take it again if needed. I was accepted to Exeter with fewer ECā€™s than you, so you totally have a chance! Good Luck, and remember that no matter the results you are a great student.

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Iā€™m going to take a more cautious approach.

One thing that you have going against you is being an overrepresented minority. And a violin playing one at that. :smile:

But the biggest concern that I have is that you have not expressed why you want to attend Andover/Exeter, and equally important, what you bring these schools that other applicants canā€™t. Your current lack of challenge is not a reason. You are in (or finishing) 7th grade. HS is nothing like MS. Iā€™m assuming your current school is K-12, since all the strong HI privates are K-12. So the upper part of your current school may offer you all the challenges you want and more. And if you are truly attending the best school, it can arguably only be Punahou or 'Iolani. If one of those is not your current school, then you should check those out, as either can potentially offer you the same challenges as Andover/Exeter. Otherwise, you need to craft a better ā€œWhy Andover/Exeterā€ statement.

I do agree with the above poster, though. If boarding school is right for you, you need to cast a wide net beyond those 2 fine schools. Good luck.

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I went to a HYPM in the northeast and my best friend in college was from Hawaii (Punahou). Academically, she had no issues, so Punahou obviously prepared her well, as @skieurope noted.

She had a significant amount of culture shock coming to the NE from Hawaii, which had a huge impact on her college years.

It may be something to strongly consider as you consider BS. My friend often expressed some regret that she did not choose a college on the West Coast, which would have allowed her to go home for shorter vacations like Thanksgiving.

She also felt that the West Coast would have been more of a middle ground culturally and weather- wise between Hawaii and the northeast.

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@cmbyn02 Thanks! Iā€™m not currently looking into other schools because, frankly, they just donā€™t interest me. I guess if I donā€™t get in, Iā€™ll just continue at my current school. But anyways, do you remember what you got on the SSAT? Very very nervous that I flop that. And also whatā€™s the social life like at Exeter?

@skieurope Wow, you sure know a lot about Hawaiian private schools! The main reason I want to go to Andover or Exeter is actually because of their computer science program. (Did a lil research last night and many of their courses seem very appealing to me) Exeter, especially, has a lot of STEAM classes that seem super cool and I would learn a lot from. Idk if thatā€™s a good ā€œWhy Exeter/Andoverā€ statement, so if it isnā€™t, please let me know. But as for what I can offer to the school that the candidates cannotā€¦ Iā€™m not completely sure. I guess I really like to help others and I can balance my good grades with making friends with a lot of people (sorry if I sound conceited). Ummmmm I guess Iā€™m a pretty good leader without bossing people around. idkkkkkkkkkk Iā€™ve always struggled with this part of the application.

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@skieurope Also Harkness discussions. I did it once with the only teacher that does it in my school, and it was just 100/10

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FYI, Andover does not have Harkness. They have similar type discussions in humanities classes, but so do a lot of other schools. But you never want to say in an interview that youā€™re attracted to something that the school does not offer. While both Andover and Exeter (and many others) are strong in STEM, Exeter arguably is a bit stronger than Andover in math and CS.

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@eekeek You were wondering about my SSAT scores, so here they are! 98 overall- 93Q/99R/92V

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@mairlodi Thatā€™s pretty cool! I guess culture wonā€™t be THAT different because Iā€™m originally from SF and my brother went to college in Massachusetts and I visited him pretty often.

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Could someone chance me?

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@eekeek Youā€™re extremely well-rounded. While you mention your prowess at violin and your national French title, remember that much like college, these schools do not need well rounded students, but rather well-rounded classes. Applications should have a central point, something that connects the classes, extracurriculars, and other aspects. Speaking as someone entering Andover next year, my points were that I wanted greater diversity in my life and that I wanted somewhere that would allow me to learn in greater depth. You definitely have a strong application, but I also donā€™t see community service anywhere in your post, which is something that is very important for BS. You should also seek out ECs that can provide tangible accolades demonstrating your academic and extracurricular talents. You have a solid chance, but in order to make it a stronger one, consider some of these things.

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@kafkatamura Thanks! I did admission tour guides for my school, (which I guess is community service because I got hours for it), but Iā€™m also thinking of volunteering at my local library and Humane Society. Do you recommend any clubs or extra-curriculars? (Also does National Junior Honor Society make any difference?)

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Just wanted to add onā€“donā€™t just join clubs/find ECs for admissions purposes. Itā€™ll show.

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Do Exeter and Andover both have competitive swimming programs? Not all schools do.
I know that Mercersburg is especially well known for swimming, and perhaps Peddie, too?

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^^Yes, Peddie is big time in swimming!
In individual sports, as long as the coaching is good, the facilities are convenient, and the schedule allows you to work out most of the year, how competitive the program is may not matter as much as in a sport where your progress and "notability " will be determined by the quality of your team. Of course, it helps when your teammates can push you, but plenty of excellent swimmers and T&F stars come out of good, but not exceptional programs. Much less so for football, soccer, lax, etc.

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Most schools have tennis and cross country. Not all schools have swimming.

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^Exeter and Andover both have swimming as a sport. Most do have it although as you note, a few do not. (And oddly, some of those have decent pools!)

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@CaliMex @gardenstategal Haha thatā€™s interesting since most private schools in Hawaii and California pride themselves on having a good swim program.

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@eekeek , I would pick Hawaii any day! My sonā€™s school has a beautiful pool (and a USASwimming elite team that uses it and that many of the top swimmers join in addition to the school team.) Really, as nice a swimming environment as one could wish for. Of course, itā€™s indoor. Swimming outdoors in the sunshine would beat that for me! And for some reason, swimming is a winter sport.

I really would think through your motivation for leaving a top school in a wonderful place. You can do that for college.

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If you would like any baseline guidelines as to how competitive NEPSSA is, I think a good goal for times is to either hit AAA or AAAA time standards. Also, keep in mind that in HS swimming, there are only 100 FL, 100 BK, 100 BR, 200 IM and the 100, 200, 500 FR as individual events. Lastly, if you havenā€™t swam in a while, I feel like swimming would probably be considered more of a hobby than a hook. If you feel you need more answers, please PM me!

@CaliMex Andover actually has the best swimming program in all of the East Coast boarding/private schools!

Edit: Please keep in mind that Iā€™m speaking from the perspective of a Exeter BV swimmer. If your opinion differs, please feel free to disagree with me.