Do I have a chance at getting into Phillips Andovers?

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
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<p>Hi everyone, this is going to be a little long so buckle in.</p>

<p>I am currently 13 and am a year behind on studies (I'll explain why later) I came up with the idea of getting into a boarding school then applying for financial aid. I didn't know it would be this hard.</p>

<p>I'm far from what you would call an academic genius. Sure, I learn fast, but my dad wouldn't let me go to school and insisted on homeschooling me. After that he made no effort to educate me. So my mom signed me up for a cheap online learning site and got me through my first few grades.</p>

<p>I didn't start reading until I was 7-8 gets old, but now I excell greatly at reading comprehension and all thing literature. In a way being pulled out of school at such a young age was a blessing in disguise, it taught me to think for myself, to not have to rely on a teacher. My family was always moving from home to home, hardly ever staying in one place for over a year, dipping below the poverty level several times. All the while my mom tried her best to keep me educated. Although lately couldn't handle teaching me and trying to study and start her own business.</p>

<p>I went through a rough patch in my life where I could not bring myself to study. I just kept myself numb in a disbelieving state. (That's why I am a year behind on studies) remarkably I am still managing to catch up, albeit slowly.</p>

<p>I haven't taken the SSAT or any test. I never attended a school for a full year, so I can't aquire any teacher recommendations. I was wondering if could have a spot amongst all the overachievers willing to go to a prep school for a better shot at college.</p>

<p>Listed below are my strengths.</p>

<p>Maturity- having to move and never having a proper childhood made me grow up faster then any child should have to</p>

<p>Independence- my dad is gone now and my mom is working a lot of the days so I learned to take care if myself</p>

<p>Logical thinking- I think of things logically and very quickly. I will asses the situation and create a solution as fast as I can</p>

<p>Literature- Like I said above, I'm just good at it.</p>

<p>Fast thinker- My brain is always running on overdrive, allowing me to take in a lot if information. (It can be problematic when faced with simple tasks but can be really useful when learning)</p>

<p>Confident- I don't know why, I just am.</p>

<p>Now here are some of my faults</p>

<p>No leadership skills- Being isolated all my life I never learned to lead. I do feel a leader inside of me that is waiting for my moment to take command, but I don't know if that is creditable.</p>

<p>Work ethic- By having almost complete freedom of what I want to do with my time I never developed a school-like work ethic, hence my want to go to a boarding school.</p>

<p>I'm sorry if I missed some vital information but I tried my best.</p>

<p>I am working really hard to catch up in the two years I have before I enter freshman highschool.</p>

<p>Your educated honest response would be appreciated.</p>

<p>P.S the reason I chose Andovers is their need-blind policy.
If you know of other boarding schools in the US that also have a need-blind policy please state that in your reply as well. </p>

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<p>The main fault I see here is that you might not be able to handle Andover. You said you have never been to a formal school for a year yet and that you started off with cheap online courses. Also if you were living in areas where you were under poverty level, you probably didn’t go to the best schools there either. I’m just not sure that you would succeed at Andover. </p>

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<p>You certainly have had a difficult and unusual childhood. If you really want to go to a boarding school, don’t just focus on Andover (there are other schools that are generous with financial aid; Boarding School Review is a good place to start researching), and you will have to attend your local public school for at least a year, probably two, whatever the school is like. You will need to get used to the structure of a school, and you will need teacher recommendations and a transcript. You may also find a teacher or guidance counselor who is willing to help you through the process if your mother cannot. If your mother balks at sending you to school, perhaps you can find another adult with the authority to convince her. I wish you the best of luck!</p>

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<p>Hi all, thanks for your replies. Something I forgot to mention is that I love the thought of going to Phillips Andovers not only because of the financial aid, but also because of the challenging curriculum and not-so-strict atmosphere. The reason I am not going to the public school is because it is completely Japanese and I wouldn’t learn anything. I’d much rather use that time studying. As for teacher recommendations and grades, I might be able to go to the local international school for 8th grade. My mom wants me to go almost as much as I do. Keep the advice coming, WannabeBrainiac.</p>

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<p>Oh, and I’m going to apply to more than just Andover’s. </p>

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<p>BTW, no one refers to the school as Andovers</p>

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<p>How am I supposed to refer to it?</p>

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<p>Andover</p>

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<p>Oh</p>

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<p>Not plural</p>

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<p>Simple enough</p>

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<p>Anymore helpful advice anyone? </p>

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<p>If you are Japanese and in Japan, it would be almost impossible for you to get financial aid from an American boarding school and I suggest you look for options closer to home. </p>

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<p>I forgot to mention that I am an American citizen living abroad</p>

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<p>Speaking from the POV of someone who attends one of the West Coast’s most prestigious college prep schools, I think you do have a chance.</p>

<p>Yeah, formal school experience is important (and who knows, East Coast prep schools might be different than what I’m used to), but you have to remember the common goal of all prep schools: their aim is to get as many students as possible into “good colleges” (the standards for which vary somewhat, hence the quotation marks).</p>

<p>When I was applying to my current high school, I was competing with people who had much better grades, leadership, extracurriculars (heck, I never even played a sport!), etc. ad nauseum. I’d also been bullied a lot, so I was forced to become very independent and confident (while this seems counterintuitive, I had to develop a defense mechanism, which was basically a classically humanistic belief in my own abilities).</p>

<p>As it stands, you have a unique profile and a lucid writing style. Your independence, drive, and maturity will definitely stand out amongst your applicant pool. All of these aspects will greatly assist you during the college admissions process (particularly the essay), which high school admission officers do take into account. They’re looking for potential and a desire to succeed, with or without an impressive résumé.</p>

<p>I have some questions of my own - your advice and thoughts would be appreciated! <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1616630-help-with-science-music-clubs-please-will-answer-questions-chance-for-colleges-prep-schools.html?new=1”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1616630-help-with-science-music-clubs-please-will-answer-questions-chance-for-colleges-prep-schools.html?new=1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thank you for your encouraging replies! any more opinions would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Feel free to ask questions of your own in this thread ( If its not against the rules ). I don’t mind.</p>

<p>Any advice on what I can do to improve, whether it be academics, characteristics, anything really, would be appreciated.</p>

<p>Thanks all, Brainiac</p>

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<p>Dear brainiac, to increase your likelihood of a school granting you their ever so precious FA money, I think you should try to find a passion of yours and pursue it. I know a kid who started a blog and a kid who worked on a project with his science teacher. Maybe even join the local boy scout troop. Do something with the short amount of time you have left to make Andover say "Wow, this brainiac guy has a lot of personality, he is the one who needs to be on campus so let’s award him the FA money. Also start studying for the SSAT right now because starting even a month before the test could very well deprive you of that <90 score that has become the norm on prep school applications. </p>

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<p>Thank you for the great advice squash. I do, In fact, have a great passion for engineering. I have aspired to be a innovative mechanical/electrical engineer since I was 9. I believe that starting a blog would be a great idea but I’m worried I would not have the resources to make the blog interesting. As for a physical club or group, my current situation is making that next to impossible. Have you ever tried joining a sport team or club that was in a language you completely do not understand? its difficult. Do you really think I should start studying for the SSAT right now? I mean, I’m still learning sixth grade and trying to catch up before freshman year. (I’m 13, born in November) so I am naturally going to be one year older than most of the kids in my class. Thank you for your support, Brainiac</p>

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<p>Hi guys, I have a little bit of confidence that I will be able to get in if I try really hard. Now I have a sub question, Will I fit in and will I enjoy it? Because I’m not rich, I have next to no social skills, and I’ve never even been to the USA before. I’m just a little worried, that’s all. Thank you all, Brainiac</p>

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<p>Best way to judge whether you will fit in is to visit the school </p>