Hotchkiss and Andover Admissions

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Ok, I am pretty sure that my chances are low, but I wanna know what you guys think. I'm applying to 10th grade at Hotchkiss and Andover</p>

<p>SSAT</p>

<p>Verbal: 737 85%
Math: 737 74%
Reading: 725 89%
Total: 2199 87%</p>

<p>National Percentile
Verbal: 95%
Math: 96%
Reading: 96%</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9 average (Plus extra grade credits from FBLA and Student Council)</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>Student Rep in Student Council
Board Member in FBLA
Freshman President in Orchestra Council
Board Member of Democrats in Action
Board Member of Asian Culture Club
Columnist of School Newspaper
Member of History Club
Member of DYAO (Nation's Top Youth Orchestra)
Student Ambassador Alumni for People to People
Honors Student (two grade levels higher)
Former member of NJHS
Pending member of NHS (Not allowed to join till junior year)</p>

<p>Is it likely that I'll get into Hotchkiss or Andover? Or should I retake my SSAT's?</p>

2

<p>Where do you live?</p>

3

<p>from a hotchkiss student (also accepted at andover):
your ssats are fine. i don't think you need to retake them unless you know for a fact you can do better.</p>

<p>do you play any sports? are you applying for financial aid? how were the interviews?</p>

4

<p>Denver, Colorado</p>

5

<p>I play volleyball and tennis, but I'm not really good at any. My interview went amazingly my interview and I clicked really well and I am applying to financial aid. I can't afford to go without a grant...</p>

6

<p>If you were my child I would not have you re-take. Honestly, the difference between an 87 and 90 for example, isn't going to make or break your application. Unless you took practice tests and your math was significantly higher, then you might consider it. Howeverm the 87 puts you in the game.</p>

<p>I assume your GPA is based on a 4.0 scale? You will get in based on your interview, recommendations and essays.</p>

7

<p>Hopefully. Yes my GPA is based on a 4.0 scale. My interview went great, the recommendations from my teachers should be pretty good and I'm pretty confident about my essays</p>

8

<p>Just a question: how long was your interview?</p>

<p>I know that for me, some went VERY long, while others look a mere 20-25 minutes. Does the length relfect what the interviewer thinks of you??</p>

9

<p>I think you should apply to one or two slightly less competitive schools.</p>

10

<p>The interview lasted about an hour. The last fifteen minutes we spent just getting to know each other and me just asking him questions about his experience. It felt very relaxed and I didn't feel pressured or stressed at all</p>

11

<p>That's what I was thinking, but Hotchkiss and the Andover give out tons of grants and even if I did apply to another less competitive school my parents couldn't afford it. That's ironic how the the best schools in the world have the largest grants, isn't it? But that's life I guess. I should just hope for the best</p>

12

<p>Well, even if you apply to a few more schools that are just as competitive, such as Exeter, St. Paul's, Deerfield, Taft, Middlesex, Choate, etc., you would have a better chance of getting admitted to at least one of them. All of these schools have excellent financial aid.</p>

13

<p>I should try that, although I'm a little late getting into the Admission game. All my teachers have already sent out their recommendation forms and it seems like too much if I hand them more forms after they completed the previous ones. And these two schools are my top choices and if I don't get in I just move on. It's not the end of the world, I just stay at my old school and get an IB diploma. :)</p>

14

<p>Even the less competitive schools give out large grants based on need. And, if you are a strong applicant there, you may even get a larger grant.<br>
We have had this disucssion here many times, but here is an example. I'm sure MANY (if not most) of the "less competitive" schools do things in a similar way. This is from Westminister, the school we found to outline it the most specifically.

[quote]
Applicants for financial aid consistently outnumber the grants available. Thus, financial aid is awarded on a competitive basis to students of significant ability and achievement whose families demonstrate financial need. This need is established through an analysis of the Parents' Financial Statement (PFS) by the School and Student Service for Financial Aid and the Financial Aid Committee.

[/quote]

[quote]
Average award
$25,477</p>

<p>Range of awards
$3,000 - 37, 450

[/quote]

The tuition there is $39,700 but those range of awards is from 2005-2006 so I'm guessing that was full tuition then. </p>

<p>In any case, you will have the opportunity, based on need and strength of application, to get large grants at ANY school, not just the ones with the largest publicity about it or the largest endowments. </p>

<p>P.S.
Sounds like your interview went really well!</p>

15

<p>Thanks Linda, that was helpful</p>

16

<p>Linda, what school was that for?</p>

17

<p>Westminister.<br>
I honestly think that most schools have policies that are similar, even if they aren't defined as clearly.</p>

18

<p>Yeah, I agree. The day school I go to has a $6M endowment and they met my family's financial needs.</p>

19

<p>I'm still quite worried about my scores. If there's any Hotchkiss alumni or students, will you look at my stats and see if I have a chance?</p>

20

<p>hey i noticed you were on a couple orchestra things. what instrument do you play? that can be a hook</p>