<p>Please help me. Right now I'm in 7th grade..still too young to apply to most boarding schools. But i've already taken the lower level SSAT's and scored overall in the 81%. I'm a straight A student, starred in my dance studios production of Cinderella, and compete in tennis. But I'm applying to some of New Englands toughest boarding schools. Such as Phillips Andover, Middlesex, Groton, Phillips Exeter, Governer Dummers, and Milton Academy. I know I still have to take the SSAT's next year in the upper level, but from what I've told you..do you think i have a chance of any of these schools? And if I do..then what ones? Please respond!!! I'm going crazyy!!</p>
<p>I think you have a chance, but I think your SSAT score might go down because the most competitive group for private schools is eighth grade applicants, just like it would probably go up if you were applying for tenth or eleventh grade.</p>
<p>What are your interests? What are you looking for in a school?</p>
<p>BTW - I was here in seventh grade as well. I sort of regret it though.</p>
<p>I don't think you should focus on the most prestigious of boarding schools. If your SSATs are in the 80s (which yours are) you could do a few prestigious ones, a couple of lower ones, and a few safeties and matches. Governor Dummers has a 50 percent SSAT, I believe, so I don't think that would be as good for you as others.</p>
<p>Here are some East Coast schools you might like that you would have a good chance at:</p>
<p>Lawrenceville, Taft, St. George's, Brooks </p>
<p>Those are great schools that have SSAT scores close to yours (low 80s, high 70s, middle 80s). Please check out those schools. You can also apply to higher schools like Andover, Exeter, Choate, Deerfield, Groton, Milton, Hothckiss, etc. but you'd have less of a chance at those.</p>
<p>Please realize that I'm just trying to be helpful, and that you sound like a great applicant. :)</p>
<p>well...I'd think you'd have just as good a chance at Choate than at Lawrenceville, so don't underestimate how good those schools (Lawrenceville, Taft, St. George's, Brooks - especially Lawrenceville) are. Like Olivia567, I think that the most prestigious schools are not necessarily the best, so open up your options a bit more.</p>
<p>Well, Julia's (jlg) is a little biased. Lawrenceville is her first choice, you see. ;) But I could say the same thing about Choate for me, haha.</p>
<p>And I'll try to find information about Taft for you! Thanks for the PM... I'm glad you found that helpful. :D I'm going to check online. I think you'd like St. George's a lot. It's a great school.</p>
<p>On boardingschooreview, Governor's Academy lists an average ssat of 75%.<br>
maevey15 -- Try to visit a variety of boarding schools in May. Many will allow you to visit without having an interview. I'm assuming that you live in the MA area based on your initial list. This will help you identify your criteria for selecting schools for fall 2007. If you have your heart set on boarding school, apply to a variety of boarding schools -- not just the most selective. Sometimes finding the schools that are great matches but less competitive is the hardest work but can be the most rewarding.</p>
<p>Really? Our school gave us an updated list this fall (they called the schools and asked) and Governor's said it was 50.</p>
<p>Are you sure you aren't confusing it with The Gunnery? I always mix up those two schools.</p>
<p>Oh, whoops, you're right, that's The Gunnery.</p>
<p>Lawrenceville is a really great school, though!</p>
<p>"well...I'd think you'd have just as good a chance at Choate than at Lawrenceville, so don't underestimate how good those schools (Lawrenceville, Taft, St. George's, Brooks - especially Lawrenceville) are."</p>
<p>selectivity wise, lawrenceville is not as SELECTIVE as choate, look at the admit rate and SSAT average, nonetheless it is a great school...It is just overlooked becoz of its location</p>
<p>bearcats, it is nevertheless just as good a school as Choate. The admit rates and the SSAT averages do not say everything about a school. Look at the college matriculation list and you'll see that a good majority of the students there matriculate to some amazing colleges. Why do you think it is overlooked because of its location? It is 5 minutes away from Princeton University! I don't understand how a location like that could be overlooked.</p>
<p>bearcats -- where are you applying, anyway?</p>
<p>Because no one likes New Jersey, Julia. </p>
<p>Thanks, bear!!</p>
<p>what's wrong with New Jersey (Joisey)??????!!??</p>
<p>
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what's wrong with New Jersey (Joisey)??????!!??
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</p>
<p>Just that when it was founded, it was meant to be as successful as New York but failed, and that it's filled with industrialized factories but still called "The Garden State". Ah, to hear my dad say it with an accent. Priceless.</p>
<p>Actually, the Garden State nickname remains apt. It's just that they threw their main highway corridors in the middle of the tank farms and the blight...where it was cheaper, promoted commerce, and -- alas for New Jerseyans who suffer from an inferiority complex -- a total disaster in terms of promoting the state's image to all those who traverse those corridors. Then again, it sure beats clear-cutting pinelands to build beautiful highways just because there are federal funds available...as so many states have roads and bridges that lead to nowhere cutting into wetlands and pristine lands. It's actually not filled with "industrialized factories" -- I'm not sure what state is as those jobs are overseas now -- and most of the state is actually scenic and undeveloped. However, that just makes the most densely populated state all the more densely populated in those places where the people do live. If there's one comment about New Jersey that's apt, it's that it's pretty much schizophrenic. There's the Dr. Jekyll side and the Mr. Hyde side...which is why the state has such an identity crisis. (No, I'm not a New Jerseyan. Used to be, but it's actually not for me.)</p>
<p>"bearcats, it is nevertheless just as good a school as Choate. The admit rates and the SSAT averages do not say everything about a school. Look at the college matriculation list and you'll see that a good majority of the students there matriculate to some amazing colleges. Why do you think it is overlooked because of its location? It is 5 minutes away from Princeton University! I don't understand how a location like that could be overlooked."</p>
<p>that's not what i meant....i mean, it's not as hard to get into. that is what i meant...
it is overlooked becoz it's not in new england where most kids focus their search on..</p>
<p>So Julia, you're saying that college matriculations are everything about a school, though SSAT scores and admit rates aren't?</p>
<p>"So Julia, you're saying that college matriculations are everything about a school, though SSAT scores and admit rates aren't?"</p>
<p>I think we should stop. But just to point out that these are different factors that measure different things.</p>
<p>College matriculations measure how colleges think about the schools' program, so logically, the more respected the program is the better it should be. ON this front, L matches C and H for sure. </p>
<p>However, average SSAT and admit rate measures how difficult it is to get into the school. ON this end, applicants to lawrenceville seems to have to advantage because
1)Lawrenceville is in NJ not in New england and therefore sometimes overlooked
2) LAwrenceville has a large student body to fill.
Therefore, it might be EASIER to get into lawrenceville, but this has nothin to do with the overall quality</p>