Do I have a chance to BS with good FA

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

Background

  • I’m currently in 9th grade at an Asian private school, in the international program on full scholarships, so I really want very good financial aid at these schools because my family will only be willing to pay around 8-10k per year.
  • I’m applying for boarding school in the 2022-2023 academic year
  • I have just transferred to this private school, prior to 9th grade, I spent 3 years studying at a magnet middle school (around 1000 kids) for Sciences and English, I was in the English Specialized Class
    I’m applying for most of the top 20 schools, I have interviewed for SPS (which went quite well) and St Andrews is also on the top of my list. I’m wondering where can I improve and can I get into BS with good FA.
    *Notes: I can probably reapply next year so if you see where I can improve in my CV, please recommend. Thank you very much for the help
  • Grades:
  • My 6th-8th grade is quite good, with the same GPA of 95/100 for all semesters, I have some 100s but 88s (literature) as well
  • My current GPA is around 96-97, I’m aiming to make it 97 for my first semester of 9th grade

*** Awards**

  1. Debate ( 3 years)
  • I’m the finalists for the National Debate Team
  • Break at a national debate tournament
  • Debate Captain of Middle School Team
  • Best speakers and 2nd best speaker at 2 other tournaments (regional)
  1. Schools
  • Outstanding student award for 3 years
  • In the English and Literature School’s Team to compete in regional competition but was canceled due to Covid
  • Several 1st prizes and 2nd prize school’s academic awards (out of 200 kids)
  1. Scholarships
  • Talent Scholarship for Boarding schools (this one is a national range) worth around 100,000 dollars for 4 years of highschool ( after 4 rounds of competing and won this award out of 100 kids)
  • Another full talent scholarship for a private school in Vietnam (also a national one)
  1. Sports
  • I was in the school’s badminton team for 2 years, have been playing badminton for 7 years but hasn’t competed in much competitions
  • I got 2nd and 3rd prize in the school’s Swiming competition
  • I’m practicing for school volleyball tryout
  1. Arts (4 years)
  • I was the director/active actors of more than 5 schools’s play
  • School’s choir
  1. Model United Nations (2 years)
  • Best Delegate, Hon Men at several national-range model UN conferences
  • Organizer team for a national UN conferences

*Extracurriculars: This one I think will be the most impressive part in my CV since my middle school did not offer opportunities to compete much.

  1. Student Government: Vice President / Ex- Student Representatives in StuCo at my middle school (2 years)
  2. High leadership position at student-led charity organization founded in 2016, aiming to help minorities and ensure their access to education, was the member of this org for 3 years (most impactful) (3 years)
  3. Summer Intern at a non-profit educational startup (topic: ensure access to education) - I’m still doing it (6 months)
  4. Researcher and Writer at a Feminism Campaign (3 months)
  5. Head of Finance in a project that translates English book into our language and sells it, cooperating with a Publisher Company (2 months)
  6. I have a blog for books and bullet journaling as well (1.5 years)

Application tingz

  • I go test-optional due to Covid and the urgency of the application
  • Essays: Im a quite decent writer and I think my essay topic is quite good
  • Rec-let: I think this thing will reveal a lot of parts about me so, just hoping tho
  • Interviews: I did one with SPS it went well, im a good at interviewing so much hope there , but I received good signals until the end of the interview when the interviewer ask me if i have any top school on my list and if so name it to them so that they can introduce me to them?, idk what this part means, can u guys help me

another question is; if all the schools reject me I could apply for grade 11, so how do you guys think i can improve my cvs and all that. thank you so much for reading it. have a nice day !!

2

The what other schools are you applying to question is a common one. The interviewer wants to understand how you’re picking schools. Is it a ranking list from niche? Distance from home? Do you understand the differences between schools? Did you spend the time to understand our school versus other ones?

My kid is asked this questions in most of her interviews. Because she understands why schools are included, the question doesn’t bother her. I feel like it also shows the interviewer a positive sign that she has done her research on BS and on herself to make good choices.

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3

You should also explore single gender schools such as Emma Willard, Westover, Madeira, and Miss Porter’s. They have excellent FA.

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4

Thank you very much!

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5

Just an observation, FA isn’t typically given based on what parents are “willing” to pay. True financial need is calculated and then schools figure out what to offer based on that information.

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yes thats the maximum they can pay tho. i just want to ask if schools are willing to give that huge amount of FA to an int students>

7

Many schools give little FA to international students. Often, the exceptions are students who are part of a program that the school participates in. For example, if SPS works with the organization that gave you the scholarship, they might admit you through that program.

You have a good profile, so I would really focus on schools where you would be a good fit and that may not have students from your country. Single sex schools are a great suggestion.

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