<p>Okay, so before I start the whole pressure and stress over applying to private schools and taking the SSAT's, I want to see if you guys think I may even have a chance. I'm going into 8th grade in September. I attend one of the top public school districts in NJ. My 6th grade year I had all A's and B's and for 7th grade, straight A's. I've been playing Basketball for about 6 years and hope to make the school Basketball team in the fall. I was in the Community Service club at school for a year. I volunteer with my towns local Arts Council when they have special events. I will also be trying to help volunteer at local medical centers when i reach the age of 14 in October. I took Broadcast Journalism as one of my courses last year (7th) and i will be taking the continuing class which is TV Production in the next school year. I will also be taking Computer Graphics or Computer Applications as an elective instead of doing what all of my friends are doing, which are easy classes like cooking.
Unfortuantly i made the wrong choice and in 5th grade when i did Band and the selective Jazz Band, i did not know what was to come in middle school so i decided to stop so that my 6th grade year wouldn't have been so hard. Yes i know, perspective students for private schools should want a challenge etc.. Anyway do you think if i do well on the SSAT's and do some more extracurricular activities that i could be accepted into private schools like, Peddie, Lawrenceville or Choate, and Exeter?</p>
<p>You should try applying to St. Andrew’s School, in DE. I am going into my senior year there as the school co-president. I went to one of the worst public schools in NC, had straight A’s and everything… but the real important thing is the essay and interview. They want to be impressed by you as a person, not as a number. That is true for any decent private school. St. Andrew’s is all boarding, which is a challenge for some, but I adore it, and would not give it up for anything. It is about 300 people, so it is very small, but they all are. </p>
<p>Honestly, I am sure you could get into one of those schools. There are so many great east coast private schools. I know it is scary, but it cannot hurt if you try. Just make sure you put a lot of yourself into your essay and interview. Don’t tell them what you think they want to hear. And if you are a good student then you will get in-- so keep working hard. It is worth the effort, trust me. And consider St. Andrew’s! Do a little research and see if you like it. It is a top tier school, graduates go to schools like Yale, Harvard, Chapel Hill, Williams, Davidson, and more.</p>