How to choose which schools to apply to?

Prep School Admissions
1

<p>Hi,
I´m from Mid-Europe and it´s my dream to go to prep-school in the USA, because schools in my country don´t seem to offer me an education and an experience like that. I had to find out everything about prep-schools myself, but now I have to make the decision to which of these all great schools i will apply. The schools´websites don´t really help me by that, because in my opinion they are all saying very the same.</p>

<p>Do you have any general tips on this problem?</p>

<p>Unfortunately I won´t be able to visit the schools or to make an on campus interview, because my parents can´t afford the expensive airfare in the moment. The SSAT and the TOEFL are already not that cheap, so I will also only be able to apply to a maximum of 5 schools, because the application fee for international students usually is way more expensive than the one for US citizens.</p>

<p>I´m looking for a well-rounded school, which is challenging its students individually. I´m very sportive, but the typical prep school sports are uncommon in my area, so that I would have to learn them. My school doesn´t offer EC´s like American schools do, but I´m the best in athlethics in my grade and I could imagine doing crew, athlethics (but I don´t like it that much) or American Football. My grades are not that great (average of 1,8 ; 1 best: 6 worst) because I felt bored in my school and did not engage myself, until I had the dream to go to prep school, but my tests were almolst all 1s (As). I don´t have any really extraordinary hobbys. I play the (e-)guitar and love to make music with friends and I am interested in arts and literature.
I don´t think my chances of being accepted and of recieving FA at the most famous schools are that good, because of my grades and my English (I don´t have any problems to express myself in usual conversations, but I don´t know specific vocabulary and I can´t vary with words that much, as a native speaker can). So I´m looking for a maybe 2nd or 3rd tier school, I have good chances to be accepted at. Maybe you know some schools, which could suit me.</p>

<p>I´m thankful for every answer!
Best regards,
"TKD"</p>

2

<p>In this forum, you’ll get used to the acronym “HADES”, which is Hotchkiss, Andover, Deerfield, Exeter, and St. Paul’s School (SPS) that are sometimes considered to be more “first tier”.</p>

<p>There is also Choate, Milton (which has a high number of day students), and Groton, which are considered also very good but maybe not as prestigious.</p>

<p>In addition to that there is Loomis Chaffee, Peddie, Middlesex, which are a bit less prestigious than the above.</p>

<p>I don’t know much about school sports, since that’s not the part of schools I really care about (haha sorry), but I’ve heard Deerfield is good for lacrosse.</p>

<p>NOTE: these are only the rankings in my own head, they may differ from the way other people rank them or even the ‘official’ one. Take it with a grain of salt.</p>

<p>What country are you from? If you are from an under-represented country, it might give you a slight advantage.</p>

<p>Also, you seem very invested in getting into boarding school, make it clear to the schools you apply to that you are extremely determined and that it has been your dream, and all that you just told us.</p>

<p>GOOD LUCK! :D</p>