<p>I've applied for repeat 9th grade 2013-14 to Exeter, Hotchkiss, Choate, Milton, Lawrenceville and Deerfield and submitted all application materials by the deadline. I know decisions arrive in only 18 days, but I'm wondering how badly my current transcript would hurt my chances. I go to one of the most rigorous top private secondary schools in Hong Kong, where all subjects except Chinese are taught in English. There's no ranking, but I'm in the honors class.</p>
<p>I didn't do so well the first term this year and my current transcript has more B's than A's and a few C's in Chinese. I also got a D+ in Art because I submitted a major project late, and I wasn't the only one who got such a terrible grade from the teacher. My transcripts from last year had more A's than B's though. How much would this hurt me? I also got an overall 94% score on the SSAT that I took in the middle of my mid-year exam period. Thanks :)</p>
<p>Let’s assume that approximately 16% of all the students in a given BS are 9th graders. Then multiply the number of total 9th graders by the percentage of students that are int’l. That will give you idea of how many total openings there are for int’l students in the 9th grade. Now divide that number in half, to calculate the number of int’l girl slots and int’l boy slots. </p>
<p>So for Deerfield, I predict they have slots for roughly 16 int’l 9th graders (8 girls + 8 boys). </p>
<p>The schools will NOT fill the int’l slots with kids all from one country. So let make a VERY, VERY generous estimate and say ½ the int’l slots will be filled by kids from China/HK. So for Deerfield, that computes to 4 girl slots and 4 boy slots for the 9th grade from China/HK. </p>
<p>Now consider that you are applying from the country (China/HK) that has the most applicants by a long shot, and that your application will be put in a pool of applicants from China/HK so your application will be compared to those of your countrymen (a lot of them) for a handful of openings. </p>
<p>Because there are so very many applications from China/HK, an applicant really needs to stand out.</p>
<p>Now also consider that you have applied only to schools with among the LOWEST acceptance rate for U.S. BS’s. These far-reach schools are difficult to get into even for a domestic applicant.</p>
<p>@karenhan current transcript + last year’s @GMTplus7 thanks for your post, but I already know my chances (anyone’s, really, from here) of getting in are really low.</p>
<p>Exeter’s website is less helpful in terms of solid numbers, but here’s what I found.
[Phillips</a> Exeter Academy | Fast Facts](<a href=“http://www.exeter.edu/about_us/171_9260.aspx]Phillips”>http://www.exeter.edu/about_us/171_9260.aspx)
They accept around 350 new students every year. 9.6 are international. That’s 350 x.096 so about 34 international accepted students per year. Or 316 domestic students.
MY CAT JUST BROUGHT TWO DEAD BLEEDING MICE INTO MY ROOM AND I SCREAMED.
I can’t find anything about the specific number of 10th graders admitted every year. </p>
<p>It’s weird that you cite that Exeter has 350 students in Grade 10 overall. I believe if you look at their school profile, they only have about 250 or so in the senior class. I doubt that they lose 100 kids from sophomore year to senior year.</p>
<p>This is a late response, but I’m also applying for 9th grade from Hong Kong to about the same schools as you. From what I know and heard, usually schools accept 4 Hong Kong students, 2 boys 2 girls. This number can fluctuate, depending on the applicant. I believe that schools have begun to accept more students from China/HK though, so if your application is really strong, I’m sure you’ll be fine :D</p>
<p>@GMT+7 unfortunately, I don’t think we can apply the average number to each class. For example, at DS school this year, internationals in Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 are 8%, 18%, 12% and 21% respectively. The school’s average for internationals? 16%.
With a similar internationals % in 9th grade in the previous year, 35% of the new sophomores this year are internationals!!
Now, how about the incoming class? Since the graduating class has a high international average (21%) - if the School would like to maintain their 16% internationals average, they need to admit more international 9th and 10th graders!! </p>
<p>I never meant to predict EXACT numbers of int’l students, but to point out that a applicant is competing for a limited number of slots reserved for a particular demographic profile. </p>
<p>@GMT+7 you are right. I used the averages to calculate my guestimates for DS chances and was (nicely) surprised by the deviations.
Two other observations for internationals:
Some internationals are not “true” internationals as they have been boarding at US middle schools. I wonder if they would have advantages over true internationals.
Americans living overseas, are they pooled together with international candidates?</p>
<p>I would imagine that int’ls in Jr BS would have a considerable leg up since 1) their families have demonstrated that they are commited to sending their child overseas, 2) the child has demonstrated he/she can cope w boarding school environment, 3) the Jr BS have strong placement relationships with the high school BS</p>
and thanks!</p>