FINALLY. had interview w/ andover. now MY CHANCESSSSS!!!

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>grade:10, applying for:11
white female
location: somewhat unerrepresented region in southern california between santa barbara and LA (but has lived all over..3 towns in cali, 2 towns in new mexico, 1 town in colorado, 2 towns in new jersey) & parents are divorced (father in new mexico).</p>

<p>interviews are my strongest point because i'm very articulate and mature and independent and excited to go to boarding school.
-- the interview i had w/ an andover alumnus was amazing. he said that he "was amazed" and said i was intelligient, mature, articulate, unique, have a worldy view and approach, "am a good person", like to service my community, etc. we talked about a lot, including civil wars and ignorant americans and his art from india and my grandparents in africa. it was great. couldn't have been better. lasted 100? min. but then mother interrupted. could've gone on for 2.5 hours. was supposed to last 45 minutes.</p>

<p>essays: another strong point because i'm a good writer, logical, and creative. people really like my writing.</p>

<p>teacher recs: very strong.
personal rec: from martial arts instructor. very, very strong.</p>

<p>practice ssat (w/ timing and everything).. will take real on jan. 6
verbal: 58/60
math: 48/50
reading: 38/40
essay was good.</p>

<p>school is an "independent study" school, in which i go to school once a week, am assigned homework, do it all on my own during the next week, hand it in the next week, and then test and review w/ teacher.. you have to test to get in to the school (public magnet) and interview w/ a strong rec from guidance counselor. it's mostly for juniors and seniors who want to get ahead before college, but i've been here since i moved here as a freshman in late april). you're allowed to go at your own pace (standard time to complete one class is 3 weeks, 6 weeks for the full year. i go at about 1 week per class, 2 weeks for a class of a whole year). you teach yourself w/ the book (as you do in college).. so independence is required..it's easy to get kicked out. students do math all the time (to make sure they don't loose skills) and then choose another class (english, history, science, etc.) to concentrate on one at a time.</p>

<p>classes taken thus far (all 1 semester unless otherwise noted):
health
life skills
geography
english, 4 semesters
algebra, 4 semesters
geometry, 2 semesters
world history, 2 semesters
us history, 2 semesters</p>

<p>Classes taken at local community college (my counselor wouldn't let me take more than one challenging class):
biology.. got an A
beginning tennis----might have gotten a B because i was absent for a period of time because i broke my toe
balance & beyond (strength training class sort of)----might have gotten a B because i was absent for a period of time because i broke my toe</p>

<p>Classes to take next semester at college:
elementry physics (high school physics)
introduction to ethics
& some other challenging course.. maybe art appreciation
& ju jutsu (ancient form of martial arts)</p>

<p>Classes that will be complete by end of year (they would want to know because of my schooling situation):
algebra ii, 2 semester
all precalculus & trigonometry (i WILL be prepared for calc by sept 07)
chemistry, 2 semesters
philosophy, 1 semester
psychology, 1 semester
sociology, 1 semester
american government, 1 semester
economics, 1 semester
art, 1 semester
creative writing, 1 semester
journalism, 2 semesters
& maybe some more... this list right here leaves me 2 classes shy of diploma..</p>

<p>----> i will probably be elligible to graduate by june.. (its all based on course credit).. all requirements in one year. lol.</p>

<p>EC's (numbers indicate years of experience)
my school doesn't offer any sports or EC's so i do everything on my own (also, moving around a lot has prevented me from participating in a consistent activity, so the activities i pursue most often are ones you can do independently.</p>

<p>Community Service (Various pursuits)
10+
Volunteering at hospitals, equine therapy for mentally challenged adults and youths (I teach them how to ride and interact with horses in order to teach them responsibility, patience, independence, and the benefits of a mutual relationship), I babysit two girls whose single mother works full-time (w/o pay), and various other endeavors (my most favorite are w/ children, animals, and the mentally challenged). I also do a lot of one time pursuits, such as a week in Tiujana helping domestic abuse survivors, etc.</p>

<p>Horseback riding
11
I've taught many people how to ride and have helped in training horses. I've also volunteered with equine therapy (see above). English and western riding.
Blue ribbons (1st): 25
Red ribbons (2nd): 7
White ribbons (3d): 1</p>

<p>Art (photography, graphic art, drawing, painting)
9
Was always at top of class (academic and extracurricular) and work was exhibited for other students to learn technique and appreciate perspective and creative approach.
------will attach portfolio.. mostly good digital photography (very insighful and creative), but some watercolor cards and maybe a few sketches.
note: no formal training in photography, but some people think i could make a decent living off of it.</p>

<p>Creative writing
5 (w/ regard to level of work)
Won numerous essay contests. I have tutored others on writing technique and expression.
--------will attach portfolio of poetry, good esssays, etc.</p>

<p>Cross country and track
In 4th grade, I was on cross country team for my K-8 school, with most students being in the upper school (7th & 8th graders mostly, some 6th graders). Presidential Physical Fitness Award for "superior athletic ability".
---i'm in training now as well.</p>

<p>Competitive cheerleading (not, "rah rah" sideline crap. we do stunts and tumbling)
4
Went to nationals. Captain of team. Second best in country.</p>

<p>Work Experience
4
Worked in aunt's boutique in Newport during summer. Taught yoga classes. Lots of babysitting (a lot of times free of charge).</p>

<p>Basketball
6
was on travel team. i'm a pretty good basketball player.</p>

<p>Soccer, softball, swim team
6/8 years
decent team player (above average ability compared to peers), not amazing.
JV material? sure, i guess.</p>

<p>Martial arts
good. martial arts teacher wrote an AMAZING letter of reccomendation and said that i picked it up well and was respectful, etc... noted great athletic ability.</p>

<p>Other hobbies:
surfing, 4
yoga, 4 ---- teach classes.
sailing, 0<x<1
tennis (sucky player, but i love it. i do it for fun)
camping & hiking, 8
skiing, 4
ballroom dancing, 2
belly dancing, 0<x<1
fencing, 0<x<1
riflery, 1
i read a lot. i love traveling.</p>

<p>languages: spanish, french. not fluent in either, but i used to be fluent in spanish ("por que" was my FIRST word), but then it started to slip when i took formal academic language classes in 1st grade. i'm good enough in french to tutor my brother & will go to amboise (in the loire valley in france) this summer to practice.</p>

<p>might also be a congressional page next summer!!
& maybe academic classes (thinking about harvard's summer session..).</p>

<p>sore points to note:
technically behind in math (although i am highly capable, it's because my school system.. i will be prepared for calc by next fall though.. but thats not officially on my record. plus i am on par w/ some kids at these schools.)
-not fluent in one particular language (used to be in spanish)
-not one (or three) really strong sport(s) that make me recruitable material. (though i'm a natural athlete and am above average at all sports really)
-independent study system. (they might not like it)</p>

<p>good points to note:
-traveling and living everywhere has shaped my perspective
-adapt well (noted in interviews as "your best quality?")
-2 languages
-somewhat athletic
-school is easy and i geniunely want a challenge more than anything
-i do everything independently. everything.
-i have a job and i'm 15 (or 16 today! yay lol.. got first job when i was 12!)
-teachers dig the blair.
-interviews are great for me.
-i go at a very fast pace in school. very. i'm elligible to graduate soon.</p>

<p>hypothetical list:
andover
exeter
milton
st georges
st pauls
choate rosemary
hotchkiss
tabor
blair (lol)
thacher
northfield mount hermon (lol i dont even know the name)</p>

2

<p>wow. this is really impressive.
especially since you do it all on your own.
only downside I could think of is the schools mights see this as TOO much and you're just trying to fill up your time instead of sticking to one main strong point of yours.</p>

<p>but I do think you have a very good chance, just look at your stats!
Good Luck!</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I hope you didn't put all that stuff down on your application. Not all of those are impressive enough to write down such as most of those "other hobbies."</p>

4

<p>is that what you meant msu?</p>

<p>i put the hobbies because i have broad interests and try new things.</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
i have broad interests and try new things.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If that's all you said and you didn't list all of those activities then I think you'll be fine.</p>

<p>Did you have a phone interview with Andover or was it an alumni representative.</p>

6

<p>alumnus. at his house.</p>

7

<p>yes that's what I meant. If you just said you have a lot of other interests because you like trying new things, like Jonathan said, you'll be fine.
For some schools, they only allow you to list a certain number of activities and if you fill up all those boxes and they're all pretty much at a mediocre level, then they'll know you're nothing special. But you do have many awards to show for it, so you don't have much of a problem. it shows that you succeed at everything you do.</p>

8

<p>Blairt -- I don't think I can comment on your chances because I don't understand the dynamics for 11th grade applications. It certainly looks like you are qualified! While many would frown on applying to 11 schools, it might not be overkill because 11th grade can be tricky. Are you aware of the common application? Here is a link to it: <a href="http://www.schools.com/apply/usecommonapp.cfm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.schools.com/apply/usecommonapp.cfm&lt;/a> . The applications are very time consuming, and I think they have deadlines from early January to Feb. 1st. Some of your schools take the common application, which you may need to do. You should call or email the school to be certain they accept it even if they are on the list. Have you visited any of the schools? Good luck</p>

9

<p>blairt, thats awesome! ^_^ keep it up- 1 down, 10 more to go lol</p>

10

<p>ps happy birthday! ^_^</p>

11

<p>Happy Birthday! Mine is on the second on January.</p>

12

<p>Though it is tough for eleventh grade applicants, I would say you have quite a good shot with those stats, and I think it's wise that you are applying to quite a few schools (with the luck factor being especially high for eleventh graders). Your riding is particulary impressive. I agree, though, that if you put on every little thing, it may seem excessive (realistically, it's hard to be passionate about all of things you listed--just not enough time), so put what you are passionate about first and formost. :) Have you gotten your SSAT scores? Post them if you have, and post then when you get them if you haven't. One minor thing, though: You don't need to say "I am intelligent", or "I am mature", because those things in themselves don't really matter. Like people have been saying, it's what you do with that intelligence, or how that maturity comes out, that matters. Happy Birthday, and good luck! :)</p>

13

<p>I think it's wise that you are applying to quite a few schools (with the luck factor being especially high for eleventh graders).</p>

<p>Pretty, what do you mean by the luck factor?</p>

14

<p>I think he means that when you apply to boarding school as a transfer for 11th grade, it is really competitive to get in. You don't know what the school is looking for and what they are lacking in their current class, so it getting in can be like a crapshoot. So, all you can do sometimes is hope you are lucky, hence your luck factor has to be especially high...hope that helps</p>

15

<p>Exactly, runawaywithme. There is a luck factor with all grades of course (perhaps they need someone who plays a specific insturment or sport), but eleventh grade is particularly high.</p>

16

<p>Alumni interviews do not count nearly as much as an interview with an adcom. I'd ask for a phone one.</p>

17

<p>Sorry; reread your thread and saw that you haven't taken your SSATs yet.</p>

<p>suze, should I follow that as a rule? Is is always better to have a (phone) interview with an adcom than a personal one with an alum? I may have to make a decision on that with Groton soon.</p>

18

<p>I think suze's point is that an adcom can recommend you in person when they're deciding your application, but an alumnus can only recommend you on paper; they have no verbal saying in the decision, and they aren't in the room when they decide to admit you or not.</p>

19

<p>Why do they even have alumni interviews if it doesn't matter as much as having an admissions officer interview you? Why don't they just have everyone have a phone interview?</p>

20

<p>phone expenses?
I dont know, but its more personal with an adcom.
When they're deciding they have a sense of who you are personally, while if you had an interview with an alumni, they could only take his or her word for it.
It's like an extra personal rec.</p>