<p>I'd really like to get into a good school, but my grades are around A minus with some A's and A pluses. I think that's okay, but is it good enough for a school like Andover? What else do they look at?</p>
<p>Do you go to a public or private school? Is your school known as being a tough school?</p>
<p>Grades are grades, and they're always going to count a little bit, but the application actually consists of much, much more.
They look at your teacher recommendations, SSAT scores and essays, mainly.
I'm not sure about Andover specifically, because it just so happens that they rejected me twice... but those grades, if accompanied by impressive recommendations and SSAT scores and nicely written essays (a successful interview as well) would definitely be sufficient to get you into a school LIKE Andover.
Some may consider Andover the "best," but it's just a matter of your opinion. I suggest looking into these schools...</p>
<p>Ten</a> Schools Admission Organization</p>
<p>They're all really wonderful but I have to say that I personally think Choate is the most incredibly. Cough cough. ;)</p>
<p>extra curriculars extra curriculars extra curriculars
me thinketh.
because everyone applying (well most people) is going to be straight-a students, generally, with a few bs scattered about
okay one of my friends who applied was kind of a straight-c student with amazing sports and she got into a ten schools school</p>
<p>if you're amazing at sports or something
that will help you a LOT.
your teacher recommendations had bette be good so just...be a good student, i suppose, and don't do anything stupid to make your teachers hate you or something.
INTERVIEW--just be really upbeat and lively. you don't have to be able to answer every single one of their questions straight away just keep the conversation flowing and explain a lot about yourself
your answers don't actually need to be straightforward or concrete just make the interviewer interested in you and don't bore them :)</p>
<p>Interviews and essays are essential. And go to Andover ;)
I got into Andover and my profile was ordinary - Straight As except for a B in Art :) and no special ECs - just a couple of clubs etc and my SSATs were 99% but I've heard they don't care once you get above 90%</p>
<p>But I got into all the schools I applied to ONLY because of my interviews as I felt I 'killed' them. I know kids much more exceptional then me getting rejected at Andover/Exeter/Choate etc who just choked in the interviews</p>
<p>Interviewing just needs practice. If you're applying to like 5 or so schools, try to arrange your interviews with your favourite schools last. That way you can practice your interviewing style with 'weaker schools' before going to your Andovers or Exeters. I didn't do that as such as I had Andover first, then Groton, then Choate, then Milton and so on until Exeter but I could tell I improved as a interviewer from Andover to Exeter.</p>
<p>trust me, grades don't matter as much as you think they do... b's are good grades people!!!!!!!! don't worry...they're only a small part of the big picture..</p>
<p>ok i live in andover and go to the public school but i have friends that go to PA. its all about a little above avrg grades and ec’s. its also about money. but if ur not a preppy kid dont go, i have a friend whose super creative and unique and hates it there but got in because he was amazing at drums. (ino this is an old thread but its advice for anyone thinking about PA)</p>
<p>@shellmetaphor Cough*cough Deerfield :)</p>