<p>First all I would like to say hi to everyone here-- I just joined, although I've lurked around on this forum for some time. I'm 13, going into 8th grade, living in Ohio. I desperately want to go to a boarding school for high school. So hello!</p>
<p>And, of course, I wouldn't be joining and posting without wanting an answer to a few questions. So here they are:</p>
<p>1)What king of schools should I be looking at? I want to go to the best place I can. Here's some information that'll help:</p>
<p>Grades: All A's (mostly about 98%) except for one B+ in an excellent public school. My GPA was 4.105.</p>
<p>Extracurriculurs: I'm passionate about swimming, and in the summer I have daily (1 1/2 hr.) practice in the morning. I'm fairly good, my 50 free time is 30 flat for any swimmers. I was on my school's math team, as well as Power of the Pen, a writing competition. I also ran track, although I was injured most of the season. I might play squash next year.</p>
<p>Volunteering: I volunteer 2 hours every week for a local science museum. To be accpted as a volunteer, you have to apply and have an interview.</p>
<p>Misc. I get up at 6:30 every morning to run for an hour by myself. I design some of my own clothes. A friend and I have our own website (not like myspace, it has its own url) which I did the graphics for. I play drums and take lessons every week. </p>
<p>I also got skipped to 8th grade algebra last year and I'm taking honors geometry next year (the first 8th grader to do so in our school).</p>
<p>2.What are my chances of getting into those schools?</p>
<p>Hey... Where are you in Ohio? I live in Michigan and I'm also applying to boarding schools.</p>
<p>Your stats are pretty similar to mine, and I'm applying to Andover (MA), Exeter (NH), Deerfield (MA), St. Paul's (NH), Cate (CA), and maybe a few others. These schools are pretty much the best high schools in the country, and the world.</p>
<p>Also... are you applying for financial aid? Tuition at boarding schools typically run from $30,000 - $40,000 per year. Are you an URM? (Hispanic, Black, or Native American)</p>
<p>Look for a school that is appealing to you.
I would suggest starting at <a href="http://www.boardingschoolreview.com%5B/url%5D">www.boardingschoolreview.com</a>
If you want a larger student body, look towards those school. If you are very interested in sports (swimming), go to schools websites and look up their swimming reords for the past year. This is really a bad time to be starting this thread. There will be more people on here come fall/winter when it is time to apply.</p>
<p>Here are the most popular New England boarding schools.
Andover
Exeter
Deerfield
Milton
Taft
Hotckkiss
St. Paul's
Groton
Loomis Chaffee
Middlesex</p>
<p>I assume you were speaking of New England schools. If not, there are many good ones in the south. Ask me and I'll post about southern schools.</p>
<p>Sonja- welcome........In addition to what saolcecseer has offered, I would add that you read as much as you can about each school, as well as bs's in general. Visiting the schools imo is very important, you want a school you feel good/comfortable with. Try to stay away from formulating opinions of the schools by name only. Fit is the most important. On paper you appear to be a viable candidate for bs. By the way, Middlesex does not have a swimming program. You may want to add Peddie to your list, they have a top swimming program. GoooodLuck</p>
<p>I'm not sure what type of boarding environment you are looking for, but Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills OH (close to home) has a wonderful and fairly new (<5 years) swimming facility. If you like the idea of coming home on more weekends (they do not have Saturday classes) this may be a good fit for you. However, the boarding community is very small and mostly atheletes (hockey players et. al) and foreign students.</p>
<p>Jonathan: I'm in a suburb of Columbus. I don't think my family probably wouldn't qualify for financial aid. And I'm white-- would that make that much of a difference? I would hope not, but I know schools like diversity.</p>
<p>saolcecseer: Didn't realize it was a bad time for starting this. I just started researching boarding schools recently, when it I realized that they sounded perfect for me... Thanks for the list, I've researched most of those. I really like Exeter (for the Harkness method) and Deerfield. Don't know whether I'd be accepted or not though.</p>
<p>And thanks for the rest of you for suggesting schools. It really helped a lot. :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
And I'm white-- would that make that much of a difference? I would hope not, but I know schools like diversity.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>When they say diversity, they want blacks and hispanics. It's stupid that they'd prefer a black person or a white person just because they're black. They're trying to prevent racism and promote diversity, but they're just creating racism. It's basically like AA in college, but just not as severe. (I think...)</p>
<p>Also, at most schools, applying for financial aid will lower you chances for admission, but there are some need blind schools. You can look those up. :)</p>
<p>I have never seen a list of the top New England boarding schools that does not include Choate Rosemary Hall. By any statistical criteria it would rank among the top schools. Your lack of knowledge concerning boarding schools is indicated by your spelling of Hotchkiss.</p>
<p>"Look for a school that is appealing to you.
I would suggest starting at <a href="http://www.boardingschoolreview.com%5B/url%5D">www.boardingschoolreview.com</a>
If you want a larger student body, look towards those school. If you are very interested in sports (swimming), go to schools websites and look up their swimming reords for the past year. This is really a bad time to be starting this thread. There will be more people on here come fall/winter when it is time to apply.</p>
<p>Here are the most popular New England boarding schools.
Andover
Exeter
Deerfield
Milton
Taft
Hotckkiss
St. Paul's
Groton
Loomis Chaffee
Middlesex</p>
<p>I assume you were speaking of New England schools. If not, there are many good ones in the south. Ask me and I'll post about southern schools.</p>
<p>CTprep, I'am sure that Choate was an oversite. It does belong on the list. Your conclusion regarding his/her spelling and their knowledge of prep schools is way off base, imho.</p>
<p>OP: I think you're in very good shape, and I don't think that your being white will be a big factor against you. Most of the prep schools have a majority of white students. You said you're interested in Exeter...if you have any questions for a recent grad., feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Woah. It WAS a mistake. I must have forgotten. I don't think it means that I know NOTHING about boarding schools. Also, please don't judge me by a type-o.</p>
<p>I'm a swimmer too!! Nice 50m time, I'm at about a 32... Be careful to check if the school has a swim team before you fall in love with it(a lot don't).</p>
<p>Being white wouldn't count aganst you--schools like diversity but the #s should prove to you that they don't require it. Actually, minority % has been the same at exeter since it suddenly went up to around where it was now at the end of the 80s. Curious, eh? Hmm...</p>
<p>Maybe I'm biased, but considering your sports, I have to put in a word for my own school. Mercersburg Academy. Yes, its in a rural area, but its swimming program is second to none... well except maybe Georgetown Prep. As an added plus, we just got a batch of 8 new squash courts last year. </p>
<p>If your into the arts... you got real lucky. I'm envious. This year we just got a brand new arts building. Its MASSIVE.</p>
<p>With your grades, you'd be a shoe-in. I was taking algebra in eigth grade and had an 85% average and I got in. If your interested, visit the website</p>
<p>that person who got snippy just cuz somebody overlooked choate should remember that there are boarding schools OUTSIDE new england that also don't like being overlooked. like the MAPL schools..lawrenceville, hill, blair, peddie, mercersburg.</p>
<p>madeinusa817, lol for many of us, we can appreciate the MAPL for its academics and athletics. Again, imo, the new england prep schools and the MAPL schools are on par academically. What separates them is geography.</p>
<p>well, in response to saolcecseer, i think this is a good time to think about schools, because once school starts, you won't have much time to research schools and such, and applications might swamp you if you are applying to 7+ schools</p>
<p>also, while boarding school review gives lots of give information, a lot of it is also either outdated or inaccurate [such as exeter's info, which i took personally, because a lot of it makes exeter seem... not as good as it really is.]</p>
<p>anywho, Sonja, i'm going to exeter this fall [as 9th grader] and i chose exeter mostly for the harkness method too [all those letters/essays/descriptions made me feel like the school was meant for me]</p>
<p>i sat in with a few classes, and the harkness method really promotes open discussion/debate, which i felt was a great way to learn</p>
<p>also, i think you don't necessarily want swimming to be the basis of your decision? i know i love soccer, and although exeter's soccer program isn't exactly top notch, i think it is good enough for me to grow in athletics as well as academically</p>
<p>your stats seem pretty strong [certainly better than mine, in my opinion], so i think you have a very good chance for exeter</p>
<p>good luck with your apps, hope to see you at exeter next year</p>
<p>Thank you Blee! Exeter is definitely my favorite right now because of the Harkness mehtod and its focus on math and science.</p>
<p>Anyway, I haven't looked at this thread so sorry if my responses are from some time ago...</p>
<p>@prepparent: I agree with you about the level of academics. I think I would be challenged anywhere, and that when you get so high academically, the differences are miniscule-- not enough to make a difference to anyone unless you're like an extreme prodigy in a specific subject.</p>
<p>@madeinusa817 and Gunadic: I'm considering several MAPL schools and I haven't really made any decisions yet. Peddie and Mercersburg look great. </p>
<p>@rbupe: Thanks! Your time is good, too. I appreciate your advice about the schools. I liked SPS, only to find it doesn't have a team. :(</p>