For those of you who didn't apply successfully

Prep School Admissions
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<p>Like 2010 Hopeful and several others on here, I also had to apply twice. My first time applying I limited myself to only a few HADES school, got my hopes up, built my life around the certainty of attending a boarding school the next fall, then got rejected and my heart got broken. This year I decided to reapply, and guess what, yours truly is heading to Middlesex school this fall with very generous FA!</p>

<p>Looking back in retrospect, I'm so glad that things unfolded the way they did. I came out of the process stronger and better. The last year or so witnessed a tremendous transformation on my part into a mature young woman, so I'm much more well-equipped to handle boarding school, socially or academically.</p>

<p>For those of you just getting your decisions, be they positive or negative, believe me when I say that they are not everything. Last year after all the decisions were out, I was so devastated that I skipped school, cried my way through the whole day and binged on junk food. Even made a thread about how it felt like the end of the world (embarassing, now that I think of it). Especially on CC, where it seems like everyone who applies gets into some place fancy, it’s so easy for young Ccers to view non-acceptance decisions to HADES as failures. Remember that the majority of CC posters only represent the top portion of the real applicant pool, and even then, many kids stop posting when they receive anything but an acceptance to Exeter. Most importantly, remember that non-admittance letters are not failures or judgments on you as a person. They really aren’t. Admissions really is sometimes just a crapshoot since so many kids apply for only so many spots, and most of the time, the adcoms decide that despite your magnificient SSATs and splendid essays, you would be a better fit elsewhere. Acceptance letters are not certificates of perfection, nor do rejection/waitlist decisions make you any less worthy than you already was. In the end, we all pick ourselves up from the floor and move on, and that’s the whole point. </p>

<p>You can now either choose to reapply or to embark on other options. If you choose the latter, great! The vast majority of the most successful people in the world didn’t go to boarding school. If you choose the former, congrats! Must’ve taken lots of courage. To echo what others are saying, I believe you should apply to a wide range of schools since there may be great schools out there that may not be as famous as Exeter who would be better fits for you. Also, chances are you’re not going to get a different decision the second time if you turn in a similar application with the first time in terms of test scores, recs, essays, etc., though the pool could be slightly different. Work extra harder on school work and standardized tests, give it your all, be an interesting person! Don’t be intense though, don’t try too hard to wear a mask in fear of your true self not being good enough, it’s a mistake I made, and adcoms see through. Be confident in the best of yourself.</p>

<p>It’s been super long, but only ONE LAST REMINDER: make the best of every moment you have with your family. These moments are great for your personal growth. They may very well be your last, but if they don’t, well, consider yourself lucky that you have a few extra years with your family compared to your boarding school peers!</p>

<p>I rest my case. <em>super duper looong sigh</em>
*This is not the best time to post such a thread, but…who cares…</p>

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<p>Absolutely one of the best CC posts ever! Thanks for sharing. And congratulations! :)</p>

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<p>It matters not where you go, but what you do there.</p>

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<p>Assign, I cannot tell you how happy I am for you. But you know that already, don’t you? ;)</p>

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<p>Assign - I’d heard rumors you had been accepted this year and couldn’t have been more happy for you! I am now even more impressed that you’ve come forward to share your story. I know you will make the most of your time at Middlesex - enjoy it! (And you’ll be in very good CC company, too!!! :))</p>

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<p>Thanks assign! Very well articulated! Middlesex is getting a great student! I definitely have to day that applying this year, I will be much more prudent and wise. When I look back on myself last September and now, I can definitely see a growth.</p>

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<p>I agree with 100% of what you said. Excellent articulation of what I wanted to say. </p>

<p>BTW, thanks for the shout out ;)</p>

<p>For students reapplying, definitely take assign’s advice and consider schools that you didn’t the first time. There are many, many, many schools out there and it’s not worth it to limit yourself to the “top tier” schools. (I’m not saying to not apply to any HADES/GLADCHEMMS schools but you can’t expect positive results by applying to strictly these schools)</p>

<p>Good luck applying next year circlemidnight if your waitlist situation doesn’t work out! You have a great attitude and your determination to keep working towards your goal will be rewarded - the experience you’ve gained as a result of applying this year is a reward in itself!</p>

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<p>Thanks 2010 hopeful-I hope both you and assign still remain on CC to advise us about prep schools!</p>

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<p>I too was w/l last year at Andover the only school I did apply too. I was also a 5’2 sophmore who barely played jv. This year following in the footsteps of my friend last year(who introduced me to this website) I worked hard in football and it also helped I grew 8 inches and gained 30 pounds. I was a varsity football player my junior year at my school and did really well enough to get noticed. I thought it was a crapshoot but I sent in my tapes to three schools and was accepted full f/a at all three. It is a dream come true not for me but also my loving mom who raised me on her own since my father left us when I was a child. I worked hard in school and sports and never gave up hope I might one day end up at a prestigous school. It happened for me and I know if I could do it any kid can, just try your best and always keep your chin up no matter what outcome. I was devastated last year but this year to me was an incredible journey. I still remember staying up until 3:37am when I got an aceptance email to my dream school, it was mind blowing.</p>

<p>I know this is super long and Im sorry I hijacked this thread bit my message is this, never let one bad news ruin you or define you, but rather use it as a beacon of light and motivation to guide yourself across the dark abyss of the future to find your own true destiny.</p>

<p>Wow that sounds corny but what I truly feel.</p>

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<p>Well spoken, andoverhopeful. I was rejected last year to nearly all my schools, and this year I got accepted to 6, including my first choice. I wish you the best of luck at the school you attend!</p>

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<p>andoverhopefulx - that was really beautiful. You were courageous for putting yourself out there on the line again for admissions. It isn’t easy to experience rejection and then step forth with more determination. I know your mother must be very proud of you. Good luck next year!</p>

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<p>Wow, I’m so honored that even the admirable parents here like my post :). Thanks and thanks for the congratulations!</p>

<p>Circlemidnight, I appreciate your attitude. Keep up the good work and I’m sure you’ll succeed. Next year I’ll try my best to assist you guys with admissions (though I must be honest and confess that as Firefox keeps failing to remember my password and the frenzy fades away, I don’t find as much motivation to visit as regularly as before).</p>

<p>AndoverhopefulX and Prepschoolseeker, thank you so much for sharing your inspirational stories. Good luck next year!</p>

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<p>Assign - same firefox issues here. I switched to safari for CC.</p>

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<p>Assign, What about the non-admirable parents?</p>