<p>At the interviews, do they just ask u questions or if for ex you play an instrument, they ask u to play a piece?</p>
<p>I mean, I wouldn’t know, since my interview isn’t 'till this weekend, but I wouldn’t think they’d ask you to play a piece. :P</p>
<p>Binghulu262: AOs aren’t crazy enough to do that kind of stuff. They just ask you simple questions. BE YOURSELF! that’s the key. If you do that, then you should be fine :D</p>
<p>This might be a stupid question, but…does anything happen if it rains during the scheduled tour time? Tours still proceed, right? Regardless of weather?</p>
<p>Myshkaful: Tour probably still goes on. Just bring a rain coat or umbrella</p>
<p>Oh okay, haha, thank you! 
I was just afraid that my tour would be rained out or something. 
Thanks for the tip, though!</p>
<p>It’s fine, I went to two schools during rain.</p>
<p>Hey swimdude, do you think it is okay that I didn’t get my essays overlooked by someone else (a teacher, professional, student, etc.)? Because I am pretty sure that I meticulously edited and proof-read mine thoroughly, but now I’m starting to doubt my submitted essays. Did you?</p>
<p>I had mine edited by my brother and my teacher, but i’m sure its fine if you didn’t. The essays are a very integral part of the application, but if you submitted them already, then there really isn’t anything you can do, so don’t worry! just be happy that the hardest part of the apps are over :D</p>
<p>Hi! </p>
<p>I am a current freshman in high school in D.C. I am Asian-American, female. I am applying to Andover, Deerfield, and Hotchkiss for fall 2012. I speak fluent Chinese. My mom went to a public university in D.C, and my dad went to a college in China, and went to grad school (got a P.h.D) at Georgetown University. I think being a first/second-generation American college is a hook? I am self-motivated. My parents have never in my life ever pushed me (my dad says it’s okay if I get a B or an F once in a while.) My EC’s are a community service club (founded/president), go green committee (president), student government association (president), and concert band (flute first chair). I have been playing the flute for four years, and the piano for ten years (I practice the piano 2-3 hours every day, so around 15 hours each week). In 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, I was in my school’s jazz band (flute and keyboard), honors band (flute first chair), and concert band (flute first chair.) I don’t think I will put that on my app though. I have won numerous piano competitions in the D.C./MD/VA area. During the fall season, I was on my school’s cross-country team. Now, for the winter season, I’m on the swim team (I have been swimming for nine years, practice five hours a week), and the track & field team (7 hours per week). Also, I’m a member of Teens Run DC (we train to run half-marathons to full marathons.) I’m on my school’s debate team (probably won’t put that on my app since we haven’t been to any tournaments) and Harvard Model Congress (probably won’t put that on my app either since it’s my first year, and the conference is in late February.) I have a 4.17 GPA (out of 4.0). I got all A’s during first advisory, and in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. I took the ISEE last year (I’m not sure what percentile I was in.) Should I take the ISEE or SSAT? I’m currently taking Honors English I, French II, Geometry (no honors offered at my school), Honors Biology, P.E., Concert Band, and World History (no honors). I plan on taking an Alg II course over the summer. Hopefully I’ll have an 85% or higher on the ISEE or the SSAT. I have done over 100 hours for community service. What are my chances in getting in? Please be honest! I know I’m not a very strong candidate. I will show a passion for piano and swimming in my essays. Thank you very much! I hope you have a wonderful day. :)</p>
<p>Pianoswim838: Wow you wrote a lot… first off, if you really like piano/flute, send a recording of you playing one of your songs to admissions. I think you are a great candidate for PA. You have pretty good ECs, and you have very good grades (better than mine lol). Just know that it is VERY hard to get into the schools. I honestly have no idea why I got into my schools (started apps 15 days before they were due). If you prepare well for your interviews, do great on the essays, and get a descent score on the ssat (that’s what I took and this test is more widely accepted, which is why schools put up the average ssat score, and not the isee), then you should be in a good place to be accepted. Just keep in mind that there are MANY outstanding applicants every year who apply and don’t get in.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>Hello swimdude006,</p>
<p>I am going to have an interview with an Andover alumnus (he is quite young, though) at a coffee bar. I am very nervous right now since this is the first time I have an interview like this.</p>
<p>I am a girl. Can you please give me some suggestions of what I should wear? I think of my traditional clothes but it seems to be too formal at a coffee bar. Also, can you share with me some interview experiences? That would help me a lot!</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch!</p>
<p>swimdude006, </p>
<p>I’m applying to Andover, Hotchkiss, and Choate, but my SSAT was 80%! Do you think this will hinder my chance for acceptance? Like, do you know any kids who have had that low of a score? Or is everyone 90 or above? Thanksss :)</p>
<p>@aubreygal – I scored an 83 Percentile on the SSAT. I mean, it is definitely a contributing factor to your application, which is why they’d make you take it in the first place. But really, it is okay – after perusing some CC forums about this and talking to some kids currently at Andover, it really isn’t a huge problem. Reason? These schools understand that maybe you just had a bad day or something, or that it was a harder test or something…IDK. There are kids there that have had lower scores. The average SSAT score is a 93 for kids at PA (sorry, don’t know about Hotchkiss/Choate since I’m not applying there) but as long as you let the rest of the application speak for itself that you’re a great student and that you’d be a fantastic asset for each of the schools (have great essays and good interview and recs), you should be fine.
Best of luck for the rest of your apps! :)</p>
<p>09Ti08: Don’t stress so much about your interview. Be relaxed and try and enjoy the process. Dress like you would to an on campus interview, and approach your interviewer courtiously despite his age/looks. If you respect your interviewer, they will respect you back. My interview was on campus, and I thought it went very well. The AO asked very general questions about my life, likes, dislikes, etc. I then took the extra step and ASKED QUESTIONS (key to letting the interviewer know you are engaged in the convo). I also threaded some of my ECs/accomplishments into the interview (told her about my stem cell research project, swimming awards, my hardships, being an identical twin, etc.). I think I connected with my interviewer very well. I see her every day now and she still remembered me on the first day of school!</p>
<p>Good luck and hope this helps!</p>
<p>@swimdude006: Thank you. You are very helpful. I also have 2 problems with my application. I know it is quite late but I hope you can give me a helping hand (I am applying online through gatewaytoprepschools.com. I am very nervous right now.</p>
<p>1/ I do not know where to attach my writing assignment in part 2 of the application.
2/ I do not know where to attach my school transcripts in grade 9 and 10. I have just attended my current school for one year, so they do not have my school transcript in grade nine.</p>
<p>Thank you again!</p>
<p>I don’t think I can help you that much with what you’ve just said. Last year, Only the online profile and essays were available online. Everything else, we had to mail to the school directly. Call the the schools you’re applying to and ask them what to do.</p>
<p>sorry :(</p>
<p>09TI08, I’m sure that you have to mail them in, at the least that’s what I did. Just make sure you send in a cover sheet for both of them that contains the writing prompt for the writing. Good luck, make sure you get everything in before last week or your chances are lowered.</p>
<p>swimdude006, How much would your grades affect admission? My grades aren’t the best, but they aren’t terrible (2.5 unweighted GPA and 3.7 weighted).</p>
<p>Hey, so I read that Andover has its collection of world-class pianists, aspiring Olympic Athletes, cancer-curers, business founders, stock brokers, online sellers, computer geniuses, and self-made millionaires, and many nationally and state-ranked people in extra-curriculars.</p>
<p>I’m only nationally ranked in girl’s chess, and state ranked in math.
I haven’t done anything truly astonishing yet, besides volunteer work and 4.0 (that almost everyone has) and SSAT score (something not so uncommon.)</p>
<p>Is there room at Andover for “common” people like me? Do I have a reasonable chance of getting in?</p>
<p>Thanks
I’m hoping Andover isn’t a super-selective collection of people who have already built the world by 8th grade…</p>