<p>That since I'm only applying to one school, I have a better chance of getting in?
I mean, it does show my devotion.</p>
<p>I don’t know that the school looks at it as showing your devotion. I think they look at each student and think how well that kid will fit into their school. Are you asking for financial aid? how did your interview go? How were your recommendations? How many kids usually apply to the school? What is the acceptance rate?</p>
<p>hopefully you will get in. But in the law of averages, you have a better chance of getting in to a school when you apply to more schools. Good luck though! Maybe this will be the school for you!</p>
<p>But there are no other schools I want to go to!
I think in my interview I expressed that pretty well, & I know it’s the school for me.
They accept 58% of all that apply, & I think that, from what they say they’re looking for, I have a pretty good chance of getting in.
Right now, I’m just kind of looking for reasons why I would stand out from the rest, besides the academic ones.
Like for example, I live in Florida & the school I’m applying to is in upstate New York & I went to the summer program for 2 years.
I am applying for financial aid, but almost half of all students who go there get it so I don’t think that will be a problem.
Another thing is that at the end of 7th grade, I really messed up because lots of things were happening.
Do schools mainly look at 1st & 2nd quarter grades (in 8th grade)?</p>
<p>jumpstartzoe, seriously i think we are long lost twins!!! I really messed up in 7th grade too because my life was a little out of my control then. It was a tough time, but I hope they will look past that.</p>
<p>I am sure they pay more attention to your recent grades. Did you give any kind of explanation as to why your grades were off (in 7th grade)?</p>
<p>58% is a relatively high percentage and the fact you went there for 2 summers is a real positive. I am sure you have a good chance of getting in. good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks KitKatBar, I feel a lot more positive now!
Emmers, I think we’re long lost twins too!
Your away message says you’re at boarding school for the next couple of days.
Why?</p>
<p>I’m going to Purnell in New Jersey tomorrow to sleep over and get an interview. It’s one of the other schools I’m applying to. I was supposed to go today but my dad was sick and couldn’t drive.</p>
<p>Oh cool, good luck!
So then are you on AIM right now?</p>
<p>yeah I’m on right now.</p>
<p>Are you applying to Emma Willard?? </p>
<p>Applying to one school doesn’t help - I can tell you that kids are coached to say that they’re only applying to one school in their interviews (I was). It screws you to say you’re applying to seven schools, but it doesn’t exactly help to say you’re applying to one because it’s so unrealistic that no one will believe you.</p>
<p>jumpstartzoe that is what I was thinking. I am only applying to one school as well!! That is the only school I want to go to. I know exactly what you mean.</p>
<p>Really?
Wow, I thought I was alone with that.
Most people on here are applying to at least 3 schools.
I think applying to one school shows that you’re not just interested in boarding school for the idea of boarding school, it shows that you really have passion for that school for the school.
If that makes any sense.
& maybe the school will be like “wow we’re her only school, she has nothing to fall back on so we have to let her in”.
:D</p>
<p>Hopefully thats exactly what they think.
I agree completly with the whole that specific school instead of the idea of boarding school.
I don’t know how these people are applying to all these schools.
Especially the larger ones. I wanted a smaller bs becuase I wanted it to be more like bs instead of a larger bs that might as well be private.
I think having a smaller school is way better.
if i’m making any sense.</p>
<p>Yeah, smaller schools are definitely better.
Because even though all these ultra “elite” schools pride themselves on their student:teacher ratios, there’s a major coziness factor that is lost.</p>
<p>Yep, Chatham Hall has about 135 students, I think that is awsome.
Everyone knows each other and the teachers are close to the students.
It’s just great.</p>
<p>People do this all the time: thinking that their interest shapes someone else’s reciprocal interest. </p>
<p>You see this on American Idol auditions all the time. A contestant is interviewed and says, “I want this REALLY bad!” How does that differentiate them? And if it did, why would it matter? Does any contestant’s voice sound better because they really, REALLY want to get a ticket to Hollywood? The judges aren’t listening to how badly a contestant wants to get in. That part was determined by the contestant showing up and fighting off 11,849 other hopefuls. In boarding school, that item gets checked off with the interview.</p>
<p>I think people fall into this psychological trap because they’re bad at math and/or informal logic. How many times have you read or heard about some amazingly successful person – like Michael Jordan or Tom Hanks – and had their life story coupled with the amazing “coincidence” that “he always wanted to be the world’s best __________!” No fooling! Of course they did. And so did a few million others who are flipping burgers now. I think people hear such stories and think there is a direct causal relationship between the person’s dreams and the person’s subsequent success. They ignore the overwhelming statistical weight of those who dreamed yet failed. Because dreams come cheap, many people seize on “the dream connection” to success while they tend to discount the successful person’s innate gifts and all the effort that was invested in attaining success.</p>
<p>Whether it’s boarding school, American Idol, or some other competitive process you encounter all throughout life, you either have established the necessary credentials or you don’t. The mere fact that you want to get in – no matter how badly – isn’t going to help. Not directly it won’t. If it meant that you had an inner drive to excel at the substantive things you need to bring to the table, that’s a good thing. If it boosts your expectations, that’s a bad thing. Some of the most absurd clips on American Idol occur when a rejected contestant is startled at the bad news and cries, “How could they do that? I wanted this sooooo badly!” So what?</p>
<p>For boarding school, you have to focus on making them interested in you, without mistaking your interest in them as something you need to highlight. Or, let’s put it this way, if you hope that the intensity of your desire to attend a certain school will help you out…you’re in trouble. If your application reflects that sort of thinking, it’s quite possible that your application isn’t all that it could be.</p>
<p>Think of an application like building a bridge. You have to connect two sides to each other to be successful. Focusing on your attitude towards the school and why you want to go and why the school is perfect for you and how well you will do and how it is just the thing you need to be successful…that’s half the equation. It’s a one-way street, not a bridge. And if that’s the crux of the application, it’s probably very self-indulgent.</p>
<p>A more effective application will show how the connection works going the other way. It should address points that demonstrate why the school will want to have the student. That requires you to understand and empathize with the admission counselors and what they are trying to achieve and what will make THEM happy.</p>
<p>An application that connects your wants and needs with the school’s wants and needs will make it seem practically Providential. An application that expounds on the applicant’s intense desire to get in will seem run-of-the-mill and self-centered.</p>
<p>I understand that this thread is borne out of the idle fantasizing that’s common between January 15 and March 10. I appreciate that the talk of intense desire to attend a particular school probably doesn’t capture the leitmotif of your respective applications. I’m just offering this up as something to consider the next time you apply for something you want really, REALLY badly: Use your desire to propel yourself to action rather than sitting back and believing your desire will propel someone else to make your dream come true.</p>
<p>I didn’t focus my application on my desire to go to this specific school. I did my application honestly and told them what I have to offer. I don’t expect them to see how bad I want this and then automatically let me in.I expected them to judge me just as they judge everyone else. I know if I don’t get in it’s becuase I am not right for them, not becuase they thought I didn’t want it bad enough. We were just stating how bad we wanted it and hoping they also see how bad we want it along with our other aspects to offer their school.</p>
<p>That’s good to hear! Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks I am so anxious for March 10th.</p>
<p>I got that impression.</p>