Do I have a chance?

Prep School Admissions Prep School Chances
1

<p>I'm looking to apply to boarding school for my sophmore year. My top choices are Phillips Academy Andover, Hotckiss, and Lawrenceville. I'm don't exactly stand out, but do I have a chance? I'm in 9th grade now. I'm from Alabama and I go to a public school. I may or may not need financial aid.</p>

<p>I've gotten straight A's since Kindergarten, but my eighth grade year was bad. I had a lot of family problems and suffered from an eating disorder. I got awful grades- B's, C's, and D's. However, I'm looking to turn my life around and I plan on working extremely hard and getting straight A's. I'm in mostly honors classes.</p>

<p>I've run Varsity track and cross country for the high school since the 7th grade. I'm on the dance team at my studio. My extra-cirriculars include Literary Magazine, Scholar's Bowl, and Leaders for Life. I'm about to start volentering at the hospital and nursing home once a week.</p>

<p>When I was 12 I took the ACT and got a 26. For my eighth grade SATs I was in the 93 percentile. I won an essay contest a couple years ago, and I've been told that I'm a really good writer. People also tell me I'm a charismatic person, so the interview shouldn't be a problem. I'm fluent in German and I taught myself to play guitar.</p>

<p>Do I have a shred of a chance?</p>

2

<p>You might look at the Greene Scholarship for students from Alabama at St. Paul’s School. Here is a Birmingham article that mentions it: [EDUCATION</a> BRIEFS - al.com](<a href=“http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/121940734379210.xml&coll=2]EDUCATION”>http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/121940734379210.xml&coll=2)</p>

<p>or a much longer article here: [St.Pauls</a> - Alumni News](<a href=“http://www.sps.edu/commoninc/pushpage/36/alumninews.asp?send_id=&volume_id=18007&user_id=&mode=preview&tocid=1&news_id=399105]St.Pauls”>http://www.sps.edu/commoninc/pushpage/36/alumninews.asp?send_id=&volume_id=18007&user_id=&mode=preview&tocid=1&news_id=399105)</p>

3

<p>Here is a video of a fellow Alabama student on her 1st day at St. Paul’s (3 days ago): <a href=“https://www.sps.edu/podium/tools/SlideShow.aspx?a=54794&ttl=Move+In+Day+2009[/url]”>https://www.sps.edu/podium/tools/SlideShow.aspx?a=54794&ttl=Move+In+Day+2009&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

4

<p>funny im from alabama too im trying to get that too</p>

5

<p>One Keegan at SPS already. Happy to help all of you, but afraid I am from the NE!</p>

6

<p>Wow, Winterset, thanks so much for the information! Especially about the scholarship- I was planning to apply to St. Paul’s, so I will definitely check that out.</p>

<p>But does anyone think I will even be accepted to any boarding school? I see some people on here, and they’re simply fantastic all the way around. If all of the applicants are like that, there’s so way I’ll get in</p>

7

<p>one keegan at sps already are you saying there is someone there nsameed keegan?</p>

8

<p>Bamagirl: I do not know you well enough to answer that. Scores tell part of the picture, but only a part. Grades matter also, as does your personality, other abilities and interests. How you interview and whether you truly seem interested matter. And finally, how will you do in a less structured environment. But the components of this vary from school to school. There are tough schools, there are easy schools, there are rigidly structured schools and schools where you are expected to be self-starting and responsible. They vary about as much as parents and teens do. </p>

<p>keegan: Yes my son’s best friend at SPS is a Keegan (from Connecticut). Bright, kind, good cooking, prefect and comes from a mostly military family.</p>

<p>SPS has special scholarships for teens from Alabama, Montana and Pennsylvania (and maybe another state). Function of alums that set these up. When I was there my best friend was from Mississippi.</p>